The International Olympic Committee's monitoring team has heaped praise on the progress London is making for the 2012 Games.

The team began a three-day visit to the capital on Tuesday and has awarded near-perfect marks to London.

IOC co-ordination commission chairman Denis Oswald said he'd give London '9.75 out of 10.'

Oswald added: "From what we have seen, we are very confident we will have excellent facilities for the Games."

London 2012 organisers marked the end of the visit by announcing construction has officially started on the Olympic Stadium, three months ahead of schedule.

Athens mixed doubles silver medallist Nathan Robertson has been included in Britain's six-strong Olympic squad after overcoming an ankle injury.

The 30-year-old, who will again partner Gail Emms in Beijing, underwent surgery last month but has resumed training.

Emms said: "A brilliant surgeon cleared out his ankle and Nathan was walking in two days - so all is looking good."

Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark compete in the mixed doubles, and Tracey Hallam and Andrew Smith play in the singles.

Smash masterclass with Robertson and Emms

Robertson and Emms, ranked sixth in the world, won the mixed doubles world title in 2006 beating Kellogg and Clark in the final, but they have struggled for form since, los

Walsall have appointed caretaker Jimmy Mullen as their new manager in succession to Richard Money.

The 55-year-old, who has previously managed Blackpool and Burnley, joined the Saddlers as Money's assistant in September 2007.

Mullen won two promotions with Burnley in the 1990s and was selected from a shortlist of five candidates.

"He has a proven track record and impressed everybody with his knowledge and passion," owner Jeff Bonser said.

Walsall have been without a manager since Money resigned on 22 April and the club have taken their time over naming his replacement.

"A short-list of five was drawn up by the board, all of which were given serious consideration," Bonser continued.

"We have had a number of interesting applicants but

Britain's Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in second practice for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old underlined McLaren's traditional dominance in the principality by setting a fastest lap of one minute 15.140 seconds.

Nico Rosberg was 0.393 seconds adrift for Williams with Kimi Raikkonen, who was fastest in first practice, third.

Raikkonen's Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa and McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen were fourth and fifth.

They were the only drivers to come within a second of Hamilton's flying lap, which was almost 0.6secs quicker than former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso's pole position time from last season.

Robert Kubica was sixth for BMW Sauber, with Alonso seventh for Renault, although the Spaniard, who has won th

Walsall have appointed Jimmy Mullen as their new manager, in succession to Richard Money.

The 55-year-old joined the Saddlers as Money's assistant in September last year and has previously taken charge at Blackpool and Burnley.

Mullen won two promotions with Burnley in the 1990s and was selected from a short-list of five candidates.

"He has a proven track record and impressed everybody with his knowledge and passion," owner Jeff Bonser said.

More to follow.