wayde van niekirk was also denied an historic double gold.ganisers would like to see happen don't a lwa ys would like to see happen don't always come to pass in sport. dam, thank you. sir alan ayckbourn is one of britain's most successful playwrights, best known for his comic portrayals of the middle classes. but now at the age of 78 he's entering the world of science fiction for the first time. his new play, the divide, premieres at the edinburgh festival tomorrow. it's set one hundred years from now, in an england where a deadly contagion has separated men from women. 0ur arts editor will gompertz, asked the playwright what prompted his change of direction. it was, i think, an attempt by me to bridge my ageing writing personality to a younger generation, and the way to do that, i thought, was through the medium of science fiction. science fiction is a great leveller. it gives you an even playing field, where you say to your younger audience, "now this is a world that i don't know but i have created, and you don't know, and you can inhabit i

south africa's wayde van niekirk is celebrating success in the men's 400 metres semi—final. his gold medal for the men's1oo metres. but sebastian coe, the president of the athletics world governing body, says he's disappointed that gatlin won the event. the american has twice served a doping ban. he was booed by sections of the crowd as he stood on the podium. gatlin pulled off a shock win to end usain bolt‘s reign in the jamaican's final individual race. now to football. the netherlands have been crowned champions of europe after beating denmark 11—2 to win the women's euros. the hosts found themselves behind just six minutes in as nadia nadim gave denmark a lead with a penalty. but the netherlands, cheered on by a full stadium in enschede, responded quickly. vivianne miedema levelled before lieke martens finished from just inside the area to give the dutch a 2—1 lead. before half—time, it was all square again, denmark fighting back through pernille harder. but the netherlands took control after the break, sherida spitse's low free—kick restoring the lead. in the final minu