(Sub-editor, please take in copy when get to Paris).Early indications that the French are unable to cope with the demands of staging the world's biggest sporting event were evident in a press reception at the Hotel de Ville.Visitors were kept waiting for almost 10 minutes in the main square and forced to listen to a brass band. None of the music was recognisable and all requests for standard classics such as the Hovis one from the television were flatly ignored.Once inside, guests were expected to stand under chandeliers which, had they come loose, could have seriously injured or even killed them.Champagne at the reception was often poured in short measure, and it sometimes took two or three attempts to persuade the blazered bar stewards to top glasses up. Also the smoked salmon canap?soon ran out.Gate T at the Stade de France, self-styled venue to the 1998 World Cup final and the current World Athletics Championships, is directly opposite Entrance U, but upon arrival at Entrance U men in red-and-white shirts block the way and point towards Entrance T. This entails an extra walk of some 15 metres which, if multiplied by the duration of the Championships - nine days - represents several miles.A beer tent in the Stade de France precinct lost pressure on its pump for up to five minutes during the break between the morning and afternoon sessions last Tuesday, inconveniencing several thirsty people who were forced to wait in temperatures reaching up into the high 20s.

It is sadly evident that many football followers here are still harking back to the time when the French last won the World Cup, five years ago, and the European Championship, at the turn of the millennium.French impact on sports such as cricket, ten-pin bowling and curling in recent years has been negligible.It has perhaps escaped the notice of those bidding to bring the 2012 Games to Paris that the city has already had its turn at hosting an Olympics. If they look back through their record books they will see that the Games came to their capital in 1924.Paris' much-vaunted transport system regularly imposes huge strain on travellers heavily loaded with bags and backpacks. Such is the tiny margin of time between trains on the Metro and RER routes that passengers have insufficient opportunity to get comfortable on the platform seats provided.Signage in the rail system could prove confusing to the Olympic visitor. It is all in French, with a series of odd coloured numbers and initials.Bars and restaurants in the city are frequently so crowded that customers are obliged to eat at tables set out on the pavements. Unwary diners often find themselves ordering meals that bear no resemblance to what they were expecting, and coffee is served in tiny little cups.The Eiffel Tower, supposed symbol of France throughout the world, is on closer inspection nothing more than a steel infrastructure.

If Paris can't complete this project after 114 years, what hope is there for their plans to construct the huge range of facilities required for a Modern Olympic Games?Some visitors to the French capital have reported that women in shops have given them funny looks.The streets of Paris teem with miniature poodles which constitute a severe tripping hazard for the unwary pedestrian. Their owners, characteristically women of a certain age, display no regard for the potential dangers of their insistence on being accompanied by a dog at all times. The authorities clearly have a major task of public re-education to perform if this perilous practice is to be rectified in time for 2012.These dogs are also allowed to go to the toilet on the pavements, spreading germs which could threaten the health of every visitor to the Games.Cars travel at high speed throughout the capital day and night. If Olympic visitors were to step off the pavement at the wrong time, the result could be mayhem. Much hotel lift music in Paris is more than 20 years old, featuring artists such as Paul Young and Duran Duran whose songs are no longer relevant to today's charts.Many members of the press have lost pens while staying in Paris, and some have reported that their breakfast croissants have been stale.Taking into consideration all these factors, members of the 2012 London bid who have visited Paris this week will be able to return home with a growing sense of confidence..

Brad Hodge completed a triple hundred but could not force victory for Leicestershire as Nottinghamshire held out for a draw at Trent Bridge yesterday, a result which goes a long way to condemning both sides to the County Championship Second Division. The 28-year-old right-hander's 280- ball innings contained 46 fours and three sixes, and was filled with crisp drives either side of the wicket, as well as powerful cuts and pulls.His innings overshadowed Charles Shreck's maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. The Cornishman finished with five for 100 from 25 overs.Leicestershire resumed on 376 for 4 needing quick runs to get into a winning position after losing day three to rain. Damian Brandy was quickly stumped by Chris Read off Stuart MacGill for 19, but Jeremy Snape acted as an excellent foil for Hodge, making 48 quickly before an attempted pull off Shreck fell to Paul Franks on the midwicket boundary. Shreck also bagged the wicket of Leicestershire's captain Phil DeFreitas two balls later, with the experienced all-rounder caught by MacGill at midwicket for none.Rain had interrupted play before lunch and Leicestershire eventually declared on 523 for 7, 233 ahead with 62 overs left.It seemed Nottinghamshire's batsmen had little stomach for the fight when openers Darren Bicknell and Guy Welton both fell with the score on one. Bicknell was caught driving Vasbert Drakes at mid-off by DeFreitas and Welton offered no shot to the 37-year-old to be out lbw, giving DeFreitas his 50th Championship wicket of the season.The wickets continued to fall as Kevin Pietersen was out for 16 to a good ball from DeFreitas. Nottinghamshire slumped to 29 for four but staged a small recovery to reach 72 before Bilal Shafayat was caught by John Sadler off David Masters for 13.Read made a quickfire 65 from 54 balls with 13 fours before Drakes removed him leg before and Nottinghamshire's captain Chris Cairns fell soon afterwards leg before to DeFreitas for 75, just as the home side looked to have avoided defeat.