Veteran sports broadcaster David Coleman a 'master of his craft'

David Coleman who has died at the age of 87 Credit: PA

Legendary sports broadcaster David Coleman, who covered 11 Olympic games and six football World Cups, died aged 87 today.

The renowned athletics commentator worked for the BBC for almost 50 years, covering his final Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.

Colleagues and friends paid tribute to the commentator, a long-running host of the BBC's Question of Sport panel show. Tony Hall, BBC director-general, said:

BBC Grandstand presenters (left - right) Steve Ryder, David Coleman, Peter Dimmock, Des Lynam and Frank Bough Credit: BBC/PA Wire

Barbara Slater, BBC director of sport, added:

BBC commentator David Coleman in the Lenin Stadium, Moscow in 1980. Credit: S&G and Barratts/EMPICS Sport

Among the tributes paid to the iconic presenter, the Prime Minister paid his condolences:

Mr Coleman also found himself the subject of a regular column in satirical magazine Private Eye, with its Colemanballs feature documenting commentators' gaffes to this day.

  • "He is one of the great unknown champions because very little is known about him."

  • "We estimate, and this isn't an estimation, that Greta Waltz is 80 seconds behind."

  • "That's the fastest time ever run, but it's not as fast as the world record."