Greene to star at Palace

Maurice Greene, fresh from declaring himself the greatest sprinter of all, has agreed to take on world champion Kim Collins at Crystal Palace in what promises to be one of the most outstanding sprint contests ever witnessed on a British track.

America's swaggering Olympic champion Greene, who stamped himself as favourite to successfully defend his crown in Athens next month by winning the US trials 100metres at the weekend, will also take on his top British rivals, Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell and Mark Lewis-Francis, in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix on 30 July.

It promises to be the most significant dress rehearsal anywhere before the Olympic showdown. Also in the field will be two of Greene's major US rivals, former world indoor champion Justin Gatlin and world 200m gold medallist John Capel, as well as Trinidad's world 100m silver medallist Darrel Brown.

Greene's star had seemed to be fading before a sterling comeback this season, which climaxed with his brilliant 9.91sec win in the 100m trial in Sacramento.

After beating a field which US track chief Craig Masback described as the best ever, he raced off the track declaring: "Greatest of all time - what can I say?"

London's own new one-lap star Christine Ohuruogu will also be making her grand prix bow, with UK Athletics having laid on a 300m at the showpiece event specifically to cater for the 20-year-old and her fellow 4x400m relay runners.

*Tickets for the Norwich Union London Grand Prix are available by telephoning 0870 402 8000 or at www.ukathletics.net.