[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S7AwTmvtwo]
By Oliver Farrimond
CYCLING champ Sir Chris Hoy made a homecoming visit to Edinburgh yesterday to put sports journalists in the hot seat on their sporting knowledge.
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year grilled experts at the Edinburgh Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa as part of the annual “Turn the Tables” fundraising event to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
The gala lunch has seen Gary Lineker and Olympic czar Sebastian Coe take the lead role in recent years, and this time was hosted by comedian and Have I Got News For You regular Andy Hamilton.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist turned the tables on cycling writer and sports journalist Richard Moore, who is also his biographer, and said that the event was for a worthy cause.
He said: “I know that these events have proved very popular in the past – the format is a little bit different and unusual, and I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun.
“Like most people, my family has been touched by cancer. My dad’s parents both died of leukaemia and I have also lost friends to cancer so I’m keen to support and help in any way I can.”
“Cancer Research UK is a great charity, so it’s important to for help out in any way I can and raise money for what is a very good cause.
“Anything that raises the profile of a good cause is definitely worthwhile, and there’s an exciting bunch of people here so I’m looking forward to an entertaining afternoon.”
The star athlete added that he was keen to get back on the tracks after suffering a hip injury in a violent crash during a World Cup event in Denmark earlier this year.
The injury has kept Sir Chris sidelined since the crash, and caused the Olympian to miss out on the World Championships in Poland during March.
He said: “I’ve been off the bike completely for the last two months, it’s been really frustrating.
“The next few months are just going to be about getting back into training, getting back into shape and getting ready for the start of the season which is at the end of the summer.”
