Olympics London

Great Britain's women's artistic gymnastics team competition at the 2012 Olympics

2011-10-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Great Britain's women's artistic gymnastics team competition at the 2012 Olympics in London are looking forward to after securing their place with a strong performance at the World Championships in Tokyo.

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Qualifying round to finish in the top eight was enough for the British team, edging out Italy and France.

Japan on Wednesday in their final squad not only guarantee, but it is sure to host events in women gymnasts at the Games next summer will have the full complement.

British gymnastics Olympic Performance Director Tim Jones was happy with the results.

Jones said, "This result is massive for us".

"We were very clear when we came to Tokyo that almost the sole goal was to support our men's and women's team to get the best results possible and to make the top eight.

"We didn't want to go through the second-chance saloon of having to qualify through the test event in January and so today was a job well done.

"We are clearly not at the very high level of the USA, Russia, China, Romania but we are making inroads and it's all credit to the girls that they came here and did the job, and we now look forward to London 2012."

London 2012 Olympic Games in bold double victory in next year's plan

2011-09-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

British cycling star Bradley Wiggins, as "Actions" Mark Cavendish Road Racing World Championship victory by buoyed, tour de France and London 2012 Olympic Games in bold double victory in next year's plan.

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Wiggins believes that the Tour de France and Olympic Collection "exciting", "crazy" and "challenging" but has fresh belief after winning the world time trial silver medal on the back of a three-week Vuelta a Espana tour and a broken collarbone earlier in the season.

The British rider, six Olympic medals already to his name after, clearly feels his achievements have yet to elevate him into the lofty echelons of cycling lore.

He said about the potentially unique double, "It is more achievable than ever. The challenge in doing that is the difference between being great and being mediocre.

"I’ve done the Olympics, this will be my fourth, I’ve been there and got the golds. They haven’t changed my life but winning the Tour would certainly change my life. Winning gold on the back of winning the Tour would certainly change my life and perhaps put me into a different bracket as an athlete. So as crazy as it sounds to everyone, I don’t see it as compromising one for the other. That’s what I want to do – it’s not a case of justifying why I’m doing it either. This is what I want to do."

But Wiggins said she still did not know what he will be riding event at the Olympics, although he expects team coach Shane Sutton to have already worked out the plan.

He said, "I expect a text any time telling me".

He anticipates that the program of Olympic track team are bound to follow (which would also allow him to do the individual time trial) because more than one gold medal for sure is the opportunity.

"I want to ride everything but I will ride the event where there is the most chance for gold and that will probably be the team pursuit... I have got to be able to do it at the end of the day, going for one gold medal and not compromise that by doing everything."

Great Mobile Deal that is an Olympic winner!

2011-09-07T01:52:00.000-07:00

If you are living in the UK and are looking for a great way to save your hard earned cash, you must switch to the UK’s best pay as you go deal launched by Delight Mobile. The rates offered are a real delight and they are offering triple credit on each top up you make. The cheap calls will be great for the London Olypics and calling friends and family with updated on the events you are attending. See Delightmobile.co.uk for more information.

London for the Olympic cycle track will be planning

2011-08-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

A one mile (1.6km) East London for the Olympic cycle track will be planning more open space and parkland to allow re-routed, organisers have said.

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Lee Valley in the northern part of the circuit VeloPark Queen Elizabeth Park and houses the Olympic Games will be located in the velodrome.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) said, the "world-class" route will cross the River Lee and parkland.

The company added, it will be next to mountain bike trails and a BMX track.

British Cycling and Sport England as the original groups were adjusted to include the proposal.

The other cycle routes across London will be linked with.

The OPLC added, The "exemplary" new park will be aimed at local residents and families in particular.

6000 Olympic velodrome and the fans will be able to stage events.

London 2012 Olympic Games organizers of the trip planner

2011-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

London 2012 Olympic Games, organizers of the trip planner and an online travel site has added pages, to give spectators almost a year to plan their trips to the venues.

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Ticket holders planner from anywhere in the UK by train, bus, river and land routes to London's Underground will allow. Game Time Travel, private car use to site administrators with the goal of elimination ...

How'd you prepare for the London Olympic Games?

2011-07-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 27 marks a year to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Once in the life of the gears, BBC News special arrangements if you are would like to hear from you.

Do you have tickets for London 2012? Are you living abroad and especially hope to fly to London for the Olympics?

Games room out to the people who visit will be conducted in your home? You are a volunteer for London 2012? You are training to compete in the Games?

Jerry Colangelo plans to begin filling out the roster for the 2012 Olympics

2011-07-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

The 2012 London Olympics are still almost a year away, but the leaders of USA Basketball's plan within the next month to start putting the roster.

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Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball Phoenix Suns chairman and former owner, told the Associated Press that he candidates within the next month to review plans for contact, if they would be interested in defending the team's gold medals won in the 2008 Olympics.

Colangelo told The Associated Press in a phone interview, "Just to make contact with all of the people on our list, give them a whole picture of what is coming. Basically to get a read from them as to what their interests and intentions are in advance."

Actually the entire 2008 roster through the 2012 Olympics was committed to going, but Colangelo noted in the interview that "circumstances have changed for some of the players who were on the Olympic team."

Colangelo said, "I'm really not worried about (anyone) not being available. If someone chooses not to play, that's one thing. The one thing I do know, we have an outstanding pool of players. Whoever the 12 turn out to be, they will represent our country very well."

Ghana's Olympic ban could be lifted in the coming days

2011-07-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

Ghana Olympic ban lifted in coming days may after government's efforts to amend a controversial law on sports, International Olympic Committee said on Friday.

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Pere Miro, director of relations with national Olympic committees said, "The president of the country has been in contact with the president of the IOC and the government has taken steps that the new sports law will respect the Olympic charter".

He said, "In the next weeks, probably in the next days, we will be in a position to propose lifting the suspension of Ghana".

In January, the IOC said it had suspended political interference Ghanaian National Committee.

Ghana, another country following previous year to ban Kuwait, is not eligible for any IOC funds and the Olympic athletes banned from competing until the suspension has been lifted.

Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee session of the IOC withdrew recognition of the autonomous regions within the State of the Netherlands in October last year was distributed.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said, "Of course we have accompanying measures to protect the athletes", London under the Olympic flag in the context of combat.

London 2012 Olympics bosses have revealed this week

2011-07-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

London 2012 Olympics bosses have revealed this week that the former Olympian from the 1948 Games will offer two free tickets with.

Wherever possible, the game ticket 64 years ago, competed in the Olympian will be matched.

Besides providing free tickets, team GB are planning a celebration lunch in the House, Olympic Village and Olympic torch relay to take part in special events including visits to host a series of .

Andy Hunt, Team GB Chef de Mission and BOA chief, said: “We all recognise the special opportunity presented by London 2012 to celebrate and embrace athletes from previous Games.

“I would like to thank LOCOG for their support and partnership, which has helped us to put in place an effective plan to distribute tickets to Team GB Olympians.

“These individuals have dedicated their lives to reaching the pinnacle of their sport in order to represent Team GB at the Olympics and it is absolutely right that they should be involved in this once in a generation opportunity to support Team GB on home soil.”

London Organisation (LOCOG) the last two Summer Games and Winter Olympian in Team GB for the London season of 2012 to purchase four tickets for the event will provide an opportunity.

John Peake, who represented Britain at hockey in 1948, said: “It is fantastic news that the British Olympic Association is giving us free tickets to the London 2012 Olympics.

“Having been a competitor over 60 years ago it will be truly wonderful to attend the Games as a spectator, with my wife, and support Team GB.

“It will also be extremely special to have the opportunity to meet with my fellow 1948 compatriots at the celebratory lunch, some of whom I haven’t seen since 1948.”

London Olympics for the second phase has been sold

2011-06-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Around 850,000 tickets, football, volleyball and wrestling 2012 London still seats left for the Olympics in sales for the second phase has been sold, organizers said.

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe accepted that there are other sales begin Friday at 6am, have failed since the "still some disappointment" is.

First come first served tickets for the second phase of the struggle which has 1.2 million people who have applied had completely missed out on the actual sale is open to almost two-thirds.

Around 850,000 more than 150,000 requests for tickets have been processed after Friday. Tickets subject to payment of just under 90 percent is found.

About 60% of applications requested in the first two hours and during that time was in 10 games sold out within 15 minutes more.

The demand for large-scale mean about 10% in the period were not successful. 2.3 million tickets on sale there and 24 games in the second round of 18 sales were sold by Friday evening were.

Boxing and weightlifting were sold yesterday by the London 2012 said. Football, in the second round of ticket sales was for 1.7 million is still available.

Volleyball, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling tickets remain for sale.

Lord Coe said: "Over 130,000 more people will now have tickets to the Games following the first day of the 'second chance sale' on Friday. We know there is still some disappointment from those who were not successful in their requests but we will continue to do everything we can to get them to the Games."

They were successful in the first round on July 17 and July 8 from 6pm to 6am will have the chance to buy tickets. Another important phase of ticket sales will take place in early 2012.

Champion Leigh Howard says Australia duel 'is going to win', London 2012 Olympics

2011-06-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Leigh Howard of HTC-Highroad has told Telegraph Sport Australian athletes on track next year will win the war but admitted that "it's going to be one hell of a battle. "

Howard, who with Mayor Cameron 2011 world track championships in the Netherlands won Madison said that he was confident Australia Velodrome London next year will come out on top is.

Howard said, "There's some amazing talent coming through, that's for sure".

"I don't know if there has been as much investment in cycling as say there was in Britain, but the more people we get into the sport, the more talent we're going to pick up. I think what makes us so strong is our mentality towards sport in general. In Australia we don't like losing and we're willing to fight hard to win.

"It's going to be one hell of a battle in London, there's no doubt about it. We have some serious talent coming through and we've showed promise at all the world championships over the past three years since the last Olympics. But in saying that the British have got some super-strong guys coming back from Beijing and coming back ready for London.

"Let's also not count out the other countries like Russia who are really starting to show their hand and New Zealand. But country versus country it's going to be a really closely fought battle between Australia and Great Britain on the track, that's in no doubt."

However, Howard is sure that Australia will come out on top is.

"The Aussies are going to win, we killed it in Athens then we had a bad time in Beijing and I think we put in a lot of time and investment to get our trackies back on top and I think it will pay off."

Model maker Hornbt turned by Star Wars and London Olympics

2011-06-05T04:37:00.000-07:00

Model maker Hornby is known for its Airfix, Corgi and Scalextric brands, he has jumped more than 8% despite a £1.1m fall in full year profits to £4.1m.

Investors the benefits of reduction in capital after the company said that the London 2012 Olympics and is expected to promote purchase and sale and that he also announced a range of Star Wars Scalextric products worldwide license for Was achieved.

Chief executive Frank Martin said: "As the [Star Wars] films are converted into 3D format by Lucasfilm over the next few years, we anticipate we will get an encouraging reaction to our new range of speeder bikes and X-wing fighters".

Organisers of London 2012 Games of foreign Web sites are trying to buy tickets

2011-05-23T13:43:00.001-07:00

Organisers of London 2012 Games of foreign Web sites are trying to buy tickets from fans "extremely cautious" about what brokers have warned.

The warning occurred after the Sunday Times highlighted that foreign-based ticket can be bought through agents.

A journalist in the newspaper on August 9 from Germany Dertour agent for athletics finals bought a pair of tickets.

That is, while many British if they have been allocated tickets in the ballot system used here to see wait.

A spokesman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said that a 1 million tickets out of total 200 of the UK countries has been around the Olympic Committee.

LOCOG itself has 6.6 million which are being allocated through the ballot.

The spokesman said: "There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets, we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source - if in doubt there is a url checker on our website which will identify official sources.

"There are a total of 8.8 million tickets on sale for London 2012. We have 6.6 million tickets available via our application process, whereas countries around the world have a total of approximately 1 million tickets between them for international fans."

Similar systems were used for the games in Beijing, Athens and Sydney, he said.

A full list of authorised re-sellers is available at www.tickets.london2012.com. Dertour is an authorised reseller of 2012 tickets.

Anti-terrorism was conducted in London Olympic village

2011-05-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

An anti-terrorism exercise was conducted in London Olympic village, police have confirmed.

Drill, accommodation is offered on campus for three days, Metropolitan Police, other emergency services and the Ministry of Defence (Defence Ministry) are included.

According to reports, live ammunition as part of the exercise was removed and SAS was involved.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "As part of a robust testing and exercising programme to ensure that multi-agency security arrangements for the Olympic Games are fit for purpose, an exercise was held at the Olympic Village.

"It was one of a series of counter-terrorism exercises involving the MoD, MPS and other emergency services. It was not held in response to any specific threat, but it is the latest live play exercise to be held within an Olympic venue as part of our preparations for the Games.

"Due to the nature of the exercise we are not prepared to discuss this in further detail."

London 2012 International Olympic Committee British Olympic Association

2011-04-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe and London 2012 International Olympic Committee British Olympic Association corrosive dispute over new future funds aim to launch negotiations of the population has welcomed the decision.

BOA past night to request a meeting Locog contacted, and games, in which part of any profit in 2012 from London to rule on the dispute said that the legal process at the beginning of the suspension of desire Arbitration court to inform its share of future profits.

Lord Coe welcomed the BOA’s initiative, describing the dispute as “a low level irritation”, but said he did not know BOA the proposed talks, or what they have before their barbaric sport forward through the courts resolve this issue will leave will not encouraged.

He said, "This has to be a sensible development. It is clearly better not to be in a position where you have an ongoing, admittedly low level, irritation. It has been a distraction”.

The IOC also welcomed the development, which has overshadowed the IOC executive board’s deliberations during its two-day meeting in London this week.

IOC communications director Mark Adams said: "Clearly it's a good thing that people are talking again. As Winston Churchill would say 'To jaw jaw is always better than to war war'."

London 2012 Organising Committee has revealed for blue hockey pitches

2011-03-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

The London 2012 Organising Committee has revealed that the hockey pitches at the Olympics will be blue.

This is the first Olympic or world event a different traditional green artificial turf will have to pay.

Color change for players to see has been developed to improve are officals, spectators and broadcasters alike.

GB international Alex Danson said: "It provides a strong contrast for players against a white ball and white lines."

Pitch came in pink, a striking difference in the game will provide.

Kelly Fairweather, chief executive of the International Hockey Federation stated: "The playing performance and quality of a pitch are our primary concern.

"In addition though, we're keen to innovate in the presentation of hockey to ensure, among other things, that spectators either in the stadium or on television get a good view of the exciting field action."

Hockey center by both a five and seven Paralympic soccer competition will be used to entertain.

Meanwhile, 27 former British Olympic athletes have been announced as Team GB 2012 Ambassador.

Team GB 2012 chef de mission Andy Hunt said: "The Ambassadors will play a vital role inspiring the athletes, coaches and their families."

Rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, who won five of the 27 gold medals picked up by the elite group of volunteers, added: "I can't think of any better way to support the team.

"I hope I can use my vast experience of competing in the Olympic environment to help prepare members of the team to deal with the pressure, the scrutiny, the highs and the lows."

Tickets On Sale For London Olympics 2012

2011-03-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

The London 2012 Olympics tickets will be available for sale from upcoming Tuesday - but you've only got six weeks to get your hands on a ticket.

The London 2012 Olympics tickets will go on sale from March 15th to April 26th and tickets will go on sale from www.tickets.London2012.com

For London 2012 around 8.8 millions tickets will be available to purchase.Spectators will then have six weeks to decide which Olympic event they wish to attend.

'I think the Olympics is a great opportunity to inspire and encourage people to be involved in sport and physical activity,' World Champion gymnast Beth Tweddle tells Marie Claire.

'I was lucky enough to win my 2nd World Championships at the O2 in 2009 which is where the Olympic final will be in 2012. It was amazing to have the whole crowd on your side and the noise when I won was incredible. Normally at major events its just a handful of parents cheering you on so to have 12,000 people behind you will be incredible.'

A wide variety of tickets ranging from £20 will be available for spectators.So don't sit back and waste your get your hands now on Olympics tickets.

Australia targeting top five in Olympics

2011-02-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

On the medals table at next year's London Olympics top 5 position is being target by Australian's,despite slipping to eighth on projections from 2010.

The Australian Olympic Committee released recent analysis and put Australia in eighth place behind Russia (97 projected medals), the United States (94), China (93), Britain (48), Germany (47), France (45) and Japan (43).

Following a statistics consists on results from world championships, world cups and major international events held in 2010,the committee assigned Australia number # 8 spot with a projection of 42 medals.

AOC president John Coates said : "A top five position is still very achievable," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

Coates said a federal government boost of $23 million to high performance sport late last year, along with another $2.5 million for sport, would lift performances which should equate to medals.

"I think that that's enough (money) for us to get back into the top five," he said.

"I think there's enough money and resources to be in there and give it a real shake."

Australia won 42 medals in 2010 which shape up like this , cycling won six, athletics claimed four, sailing nabbed four, rowing collected four and diving won three.

Swimming, which traditionally wins the bulk of Australia's Olympic medals, finished with 14.

At the Sydney 2000 Olympics with 58 medals they finished up at fourth position and same in the Olympincs 2004.

The nation slipped to sixth place with 46 medals at the Beijing Olympics.

Dara Torres eyes London Olympics

2011-02-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

This weekend at the Missouri Grand Prix,Dara Torres American swimmer marks her comeback to the pool.

Dara Torres have been away from the sport for more than a year and half because of knee surgery.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics at age 41,she won three silver medals and will swim Saturday in the 50 metre freestyle.

In the 2012 Summer Olympics,Dara is eying to be part of it when she would be 45 and if successful it would make her the oldest Olympic swimmer ever.

"My intention is to go to the trials and to try to make another Olympic team. That's why I am doing this," she was quoted by USA Today newspaper as saying.

Pinsent takes to the water with Iraqi Olympic hopefuls

2011-02-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

The duo have had many obstacles to conquer in search of their dream, counting bodies floating in the river and gun shots ringing out overhead, but they have managed to train throughout the last eight years and made it to Beijing in 2008.

They are now hoping that their dream of rival at London 2012 will be fulfilled. Before Sir Matthew could set foot in Iraq he had to undergo security briefings and a six day Hostile environment and First Aid Training course.

But he says all the preparation and the risk was worth it for the chance to go rowing on the Tigris with the Iraqi rowing team.

London 2012 launches tender for Olympic stadium ‘wrap’

2011-02-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics have invited formal bids from the private sector to provide a fabric wrap around the Games’ showpiece stadium.

The wrap, which was set to cost the government £7 million, was scrapped as part of budget cuts, and the 800-metre wrap was initially set to feature changing colours and iconic images of the Games. Companies are now able to register their interest by February 18.

However, sponsors will not be able to place logo or name branding on the wrap as venue advertising is banned at the Olympics.

“We have had significant interest in supplying the stadium 'wrap' from the private sector, so now is the time to start a formal tender process,” said London organising committee CEO Paul Deighton.

“There are some exciting ideas around, and we are running a process that is fair to those organisations that have expressed an interest,” he added.

Ian Thorpe eyes London 2012 Olympics

2011-02-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

Ian Thorpe five time Olympics gold medalist will now return to competitive swimming in Olympics 2012 after a six-year absence from the sport.

To compete at the London Olympics next year and seeking for a place in the Australian team is working hard.

After becoming Australia’s greatest Olympian with nine medals—five gold, three silver and a bronze—at the 2000 and 2004 Games along with 11 world championships he quits swimming due to lack of inspiration.

“I never thought I would be swimming in a competitive way again but I am glad that I am,” said Thorpe. “I have spent four years away from the pool and I needed those four years.”

Thorpe specialised in the freestyle events winning gold in the 200m, 400m and 800m at the Athens Olympics in 2004. However, he is now targeting success in the 100m and 200m freestyle and the relay events in London.

“I’m in the process of turning myself into a sprinter who can also maybe do a good 200m as well,” said Thorpe, who is ranked 35th in the all-time Olympic medal table. “I don’t think in the short time that I have that I’ll be able to go through enough training cycles to be able to prepare myself for the (400m).”

Pak eyeing good finish in London Olympics

2011-01-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

Pakistan hockey team after grabbing Asian Games hockey gold medal are now focusing a podium finish at the 2012 London Olympics.

In the 1984 Los Angeles Games,they had last won the gold medal but since they are struggling to grab one. Their last medal was the bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games and they finished fourth in 2000 Sydney after losing 3-6 to Australia in the play-off for the third place.

In order to win and beat power houses like Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain,Greenshirts has to come strong to finish on the podium.

Pakistani Hockey Federation is quiet hopeful for better performance as the Asian Games gold will boost the team’s confidence.

“Pakistan hockey has been struggling for almost twenty years but we believe that it’s time for things to change,” said Asif Bajwa, PHF secretary.

“We have put ourselves on the road to revival by winning the Asian Games title and are now setting our sights on doing well in the 2012 Olympics and the World Cup to be played in 2014,” added Bajwa.

“We’ll start our preparations with the trip to Egypt,” said Bajwa. “It will be followed by hectic assignments both at home and abroad which we believe will help us in raising a balanced team for the Olympics,” he added.

At least 2 Indian runners can qualify for London Olympics

2011-01-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Ukrainian long distance runner Ivan Babaryka sense that at least two of local runners have the ability to attain qualifying standard for the London Olympics.

Babaryka who had thrice won the Moscow marathon (2007, 2008, 2009) and the 2010Pyongyang Marathon in 2010 expressed that "I have seen them while I was participating in the Delhiand the Bangalore half-marathons. I don''t remember their namesbut I know them by their faces. A couple of them have thecapacity to qualify for the Olympics."

The timing required for the race to should be completed with in less than 2hrs and 18 minutes to qualify for Olympic said the 28-year-old athlete, whose best finishwas 2:13:56 during his winning run in Pyongyang.

During their second half of the run climate can irritate the athlete.

"The first half is quite cool, there would be no problem.

However, with the weather becoming hotter, the second halfwould pose lot of challenges," he added.

London Olympics beckon open water swimmers

2011-01-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

The first strokes towards the London Olympics has been taken by New Zealand's leading open water swimmers in Taupo this weekend.

The first step in qualifying for the 2012 Olympics will be the national 10km championships on Saturday

A top-five finish in the 10km will earn qualification for the Australian open water championships at Penrith in March.

To earn selection to the world championships in Shanghai in July one have to finish in top four or within 20 seconds of the winner in Australia and a top 10 finish there secures automatic selection for London. A second selection event will take place at a later date.

Swimming New Zealand open water national coach Philip Rush described Saturday's swim as "a very important stepping stone" for open water swimmers.

"If they want to get to London, then they have to be ready to take that important first step this weekend. The pressure will go on this weekend for sure.

"The depth of open water swimmers is noticeably improving now that this is an Olympic event and I am impressed with the improvement.

"The men's race has got seven or eight strong candidates and there's really nothing between them so it is going to be a fantastic battle."

Tom Daley planning for disaster at London Olympics 2012

2011-01-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

The 16-year-old double Commonwealth champion is currently with the group of 12 top British athletes consisting of world silver medallist gymnast Louis Smith who have become part of BMW’s London 2012 Performance Team.

They will get backing from the car giant and London 2012 sponsor, including use of a car to help with training in the run-up to the Games.

Tom Delay made his Olympic debut in 2008 and had been world champion in 2009 said: ‘My mindset going into Beijing was to get experience but with 2012 I want to do some damage.

'It is no secret I’m looking to win a gold medal at London 2012 but what I do in the run-up to the Games is as important as what I do on the day.

'There is always pressure. There always has been. I’ve got used to it and have done from an early age.’

Freire postpones retirement until London 2012 Games

2010-12-31T07:16:00.000-08:00

Oscar Freire 3 time World Race Champion has officially announced that he has postponed his retirement and will continue until the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The Spaniard champion exposed in his country's AS newspaper that the Olympics "inspire" athletes and are "totally different."

"When you are cycling, more or less, you always feel in the same environment when you go to any competition," he said. "However, being an athlete at the Olympics and meeting other athletes [from other disciplines] is worth the experience."

Freire is Spain's most successful one-day racer and has won 3 gold medal at the World Championships - 1999, 2001 and 2004.

London 2012 Olympics get 2 million request tickets

2010-12-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

For the tickets to Olympics 2012 two millions people have registered said by Olympics organizers.

8.8 million seats will be available at prices ranging from $31 for standard events to a symbolic 2,012 pounds ($3,105) for the top-priced seats at the opening ceremony,when the tickets go on sale.

Organizers are keen to achieve $700 million from ticket sales,a quarter of their operating budget.

London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton says data from the two million registered people so far shows that "by and large more females than males" have signed up and many are opting to try to see several events.

Deighton expects another 500,000 people to have registered an interest in buying tickets by March.

PRS music fundation, new music 20 X 12 in London Olympics

2010-12-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

PRS music Foundation announcement has made currently concerning 20 brilliant compositions of new music, its a part of 20 X 12 project in London 2012 celebrations.

The variety of musical life in UK all the compositions comprise of huge range of genres and finely exhibit. It includes in Scotland and Northern Ireland to contemporary classical, people and opera.

PRS Music Foundation administrator, Vanessa Reed said, “We are delighted that so many talented music creators and organisations were inspired to apply to New Music 20x12, a fantastic initiative that will see the UK's music community leaving its legacy as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The chosen 20 collaborations offer a snapshot of the UK's fantastically rich and varied new music scene and we are proud to support their contribution to this unique, international celebration.”

New music 20x12 started to Jillian Barker and David Cohe, PRS and BBC are the partnership London 2012 Organising Committee delivered it. Committed patrons and funders are encouraging to this project. Also includes in this project Arts Councils of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Creative Scotland.

Hockey team targets Olympics, World Cup

2010-12-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

It has been announced by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa that team had achieved good results after two decades now they are focusing to some bigger tasks.

“Our win in China is the first step towards more success,” said Bajwa. “Our next goals are the 2012 London Olympics the 2014 World Cup for which we will give all our best.”

Bajwa was continuously criticized by the Olympians federation because of team poor performance for long time but Bajwa has replied to their critics and successful achievement by Hockey team is the clear evidence of it.

Bajwa also said that he welcomed Olympians to give their suggestions, including the ones who criticised the federation, to improve the standard of the game in Pakistan. “We never take criticism personally and welcome all Olympians to work for the betterment of hockey.”

IOC check Games preparations and marathon route change

2010-11-21T01:02:00.000-08:00

A three day inspection of venues and preparations for the 2012 Games in London had began by IOC.

IOC will going to review ticket pricing scheme and the change of the marathon route from east London to the Mall in central London.

Inspectors would want an update on the "unhappiness in the East End", a member of the IOC executive board said.

Tower Hamlets council is seeking a judicial review of the change of route.

The original marathon route through Tower Hamlets and the East End to central London announced by the London 2012 organizers.

The new route will cover Buckingham Palace, Birdcage Walk, St Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament.

This changed was not appreciated by east London councils but London 2012 said the decision was made for operational reasons and it was "fair and legal".

The IOC has twice visit so far this year to the Olympic Park site in Stratford and also look at the security, marketing and plans for test events due to begin in 2011.About 75% of the construction at the Olympic Park in Stratford is complete.

John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: "This year is the toughest in terms of construction and we are at our busiest.

"We will enter 2011 with the confidence that more than three quarters of the construction project is complete and that all milestones to date have been achieved."

Sir Craig Reedie, who sits on the IOC's executive board, said: "In general they [inspectors] are very happy with London's preparations - now they will be wanting the organising committee to move on as quickly as possible with anything outstanding.

"They will want satisfaction that the changes to the marathon route are in place, and to know what is happening in relation to councils' unhappiness in the East End."

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "Over the next year, we look forward to seeing the changing London skyline as the Park vision becomes a reality."

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said: "Good progress has been made on the Olympic Park this year with the main stadia looking fantastic as we approach completion."

10000 Tickets for British Troops Announced....!!

2010-11-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

Upto 10000 tickets for British servicemen and women and their families, this news has been confirmed by the London Olympics 2012 organizing committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG)

Olympic Committee with the collation of "Tickets For Troop", established in 2009 and since then has provided over 200,000 tickets to top sporting, cultural, entertainment and cultural events to members of the Armed Forces and their families.

"it is fantastic that so many of our heroic troops will be able to cheer on our sporting heroes at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012", Samantha Cameron, wife to the Prime Minister and Tickets for Troops patron, welcomed the news by revealing it.

"the Games are rightly a source of great national pride - as are those who serve in the forces and I look forward to seeing some of them at the Games in the summer of 2012" said by LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe

London 2012: Millions Of Game Maker Attracts

2010-11-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

So far for volunteering at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 240,00 have to be applied for London 2010 Game Makers

According to the London 2012 organizing committee " We have received the several application from all over the world from different people and communities around the U.K. Up to 70,000 Games Makers will be needed to stage a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Committee is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic people who will undertake a wide variety of roles - from athlete escorts to stewards to radio operators.

Those who are successful through a selection and interview process will attend at least three training sessions to ensure they are fully prepared for the Games.

Up to 8000 London Ambassadors to elevate and advise all the visitors who will travel to London at Games time, and all Ambassadors will be recruit by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Sebastian Coe,Chair of LOCOG,said: 'We're thrilled with the response we've had to date for our volunteering programme and would like to thank the 240,000 people who have pledged to give their time during the Games in 2012.'Now we begin the task of finding the right people and ensuring that we match them to the most appropriate roles. This is a long process and will take time but we're asking people to be patient - this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is really worth it!'

London 2012 Olympics: volunteering for Games open to general public

2010-09-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

London 2012 needs to sign up 70,000 volunteers in what is being described as the biggest recruitment exercise since the Second World War.

''Volunteers are hugely important and it is one of the big things I remember about Vancouver,'' said Williams, the women's skeleton champion from this year's Winter Olympics.

At the Winter Games in Canada in February the whole country seemed to be gripped by a sense of achievement – and there is no reason why Britain should not feel the same, according to Williams, 27.
She said: ''London 2012 is basically an amazing opportunity for our athletes to compete in their own country and I think, judging from my experience in Vancouver, it was an amazing experience for the Canadians in Canada.
''It was something for the whole nation and it will be the same here with the bubble of excitement growing.
''It is a proud moment for a country to have the Olympics in their own country and to know as an athlete that we are part of it.
''Obviously there are only so many people who can compete and be competitive but what a good way to help with the experience and to be part of it.''
Hopefuls must be at least 18 on January 1, 2012, available to volunteer for at least 10 days during either the Olympic Games or the Paralympic Games and at least three days of training before the events.
There will be no free tickets for the 2012 competitions.

Amateur shots of the 1948 London Olympics discovered in an East End loft

2010-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

They were called 'the Austerity Olympics. With Europe still in ruins and with the host nation crippled by the expense of fighting the most bloody war in history London staged an Olympic Games to remember.

Now, with London about to host the games again, an extraordinary coincidence brings to light some long-lost images of that unique sporting event.
Lucy Bull, aged 37, from Leytonstone, London, bought the box of negatives at a car boot fair in Middlesex for just £2 when she was a photography student over 20 years ago.
'I bought the box of old negatives because I was studying photography at the time and obviously anything to do with photography was of interest to me. I remember looking through them and recalling lots of shots of family and friends, but never the Olympics.'
'They have travelled around with me, moving home over 11 times, but it was only recently when I was clearing my loft that I discovered them again and found shots of the 1948 Summer Olympics including the torch relay and Wembley stadium.'
'I think it's quite ironic finding these as I now live right next to the Olympic 2012 site in Stratford.'

London Olympics 2012 Mark Cavendish has opportunity to win Britain

2010-08-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

The London Olympics Mark Cavendish will be a strong favourite off to a flying start with Britain's first medal of the 2012 Games.

Cavendish, the good cyclist who has won more stages in the Tour de France than any other Briton, will take part in the men's road race on the morning of Saturday, July 28, the day after the opening ceremony.
From the London Organising Committee the race will be one of the first events as officials of the Olympic Games (Locog) want to have a strong British medal opportunity for the local audience, coupled with an event to showcase the capital city for an international audience of billions, to kick start the Olympics.
The 240km (150 mile) men's road race will pass much that is London starting at The Mall and heading past Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, before going through Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham, out to Surrey with a couple of loops around Box Hill before returning into the city via the King's Road. The women's road race, a shorter version at 130km (80 miles), will be held the next day.
But though the road race will be the first to start, it will not be the first to finish. Indeed the first medal of the London Olympics will come in the shooting, though the schedule for that has not yet been released.
Among other free spectator events, the marathons will be held on days nine and 16 and the triathlons on days eight and 11.
It is understood the women's triathlon will be held on the middle Saturday, Aug 4, with the men's event in midweek. The middle Saturday, with its overlap of swimming finals and the start of the athletics programme, including the men's 100m final, will be the most congested day of the Games.
Locog director of sport Debbie Jevans said the first event on the Olympic programme would be football, with matches starting two days before the opening ceremony. The ranking competition of the Olympic archery, its preliminary stage, has been moved forward a day to start on July 27, the day of the opening ceremony.
Jevans said there were 59 more sports sessions than at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, even though there would be two fewer sports, with the omission of baseball and softball. This was to maximise the number of tickets available to the public.
Meanwhile the director of Olympic security, Sir Ian Johnston, said it was probably that officials would ban spectators and officials from bringing liquids, including bottled water, into the Olympic venues.
Johnston said there would be exceptions, with items such as baby food and small bottles of suntan lotion being allowed into the Olympic Park, but added: "There will be a no liquids policy. I think people will understand that it is for their safety."
He said security arrangements were being based on a 'severe' threat level, one down from the most extreme level, 'critical'.

Olympic London: Austerity bites in London with two years to go

2010-07-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

The 2012 London Olympics opens in two years' time but while the construction of stadiums is on track, the massive project faces a financial squeeze as Britain's austerity measures bite.
The world's finest athletes will do battle from July 27, 2012 in a once depressed area of east London which has been transformed by a vast programme of stadium building and urban regeneration.
The venues may be less spectacular than at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but the arrangers of the Games in London intend to leave a legacy of improved housing and urban infrastructure rarely created by a sports event.
Sebastian Coe, the former Olympic champion credited with helping to win the Games for London and very much their public face, is treating the daunting 24 months ahead in the same way as he approached his medal laden athletics career.
Coe, the chairman of the London Organising Committee (LOCOG), likened the project's progress to being at the 600 metre point of an 800 metres race, the event in which he held the world record for 16 years.
"We are just entering the back straight on the second lap and of course the killing zone in an 800 metres is between 500 and 600 metres. That is the platform that you build for what happens in the finishing straight.
"This is where a lot of what you do in the finishing straight and what it looks like when you get across the line is shaped. This year is a very important one for us," he told AFP in an interview.

Volunteers are interested to learn new skills - London Olympics 2010

2010-07-21T03:31:00.000-07:00

Volunteers are being keen to learn new talents and increase experience of national and international events prior to the London 2012 Olympics.

The British Swimming Volunteer Training Programme, which will begin in January 2010, intent to provide volunteers with the opportunity to facilitate major s to prepare them for applying for volunteer tasks at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The programme is under the London 2012 Inspire Mark. This recognises non-commercial projects and events inspired by the Games.

Although the official London 2012 volunteer application process opens later in 2010, Saturday 19th June saw almost 60 of the 100 recruits on the programme descend on British Swimming’s offices at SportPark in Loughborough for the initial induction day.

He explained how all British Swimming athletes are confident to give workers just a smile during their day to make sure they are acknowledged and feel delightful. Through a question and answer session the Olympic medallist shared his memories of Athens and Beijing and his hopes for London in 2012.

Olympics London 2012: Chief rules out clash with soccer season

2010-07-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

London Games chiefs said on Thursday the start of the 2012-13 English soccer season will be delayed so as not to clash with the 2012 Olympics.
The Olympics start on July 27 and end on Aug. 12, while the Premier League season traditionally opens with the Community Shield curtain raiser in early August.
Organising committee chief executive Paul Deighton said he had held talks with the Football Association (FA) and Premier League to discuss the matter.
"We have been in discussions with all the sports bodies responsible for sports schedules in 2012 and we are on track to meet our obligation," Deighton told reporters at the end of a four day visit by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to inspect London's progress.
Pushed on whether the Premier League and FA would agree to a slight delay, Deighton replied: "Yes".
Olympic host cities agree to abide by IOC requirements that no other major sporting events take place at the same time.
The FA said on Thursday they were in talks with the London organising committee (LOCOG) about fixing a date for the Community Shield, traditionally played at Wembley Stadium between the league champions and FA Cup winners.
Wembley will host the gold medal match in the Olympic soccer tournament on the final weekend of the Games.

ASHES SERIES
The Olympics could also have implications for the cricket schedule. England are hosting Australia in the Ashes in 2012 with the first match of the series usually reserved for Lord's which will be the venue for Olympic archery.
Denis Oswald, the head of the IOC's co-ordination commission, said he was happy with London's progress.
"Two years before the Games you are at the turning point from conception and construction to the operational phase," Oswald told reporters.
"We are entering a crucial period in the coming months but we are convinced that London will have a very successful Games."
IOC president Jacques Rogge toured the 2012 Olympic Stadium earlier this week and met Britain's new Prime Minister David Cameron.
Oswald played down the 27 million pounds ($41.01 million) of cuts to the Games budget currently announced by Britain's new coalition government, saying: "The new government is fully backing and supporting the Games."
Asked to compare London's progress with past host cities, Oswald described it as "top of the league" after a dig at Athens.

Danny Boyle unveils 'epic and intimate' 2012 Olympic opening ceremony

2010-06-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

Danny Boyle, the Oscar-winning film director overseeing the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, has set out his vision for an "epic and intimate" launch event.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Boyle, whose films include Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting, said that the ceremony would be “full of spectacle and marvel”, and would feature pop and rock music from Britain’s greatest musical acts.
Boyle was announced as the artistic director of the opening ceremony last week, and will head up a creative team which includes the film-maker Stephen Daldry, who directed Billy Elliot and The Reader.

“Music has to play a big part in the ceremony,” he said. “For such a small country, we have the most extraordinary tradition of music, and people look to Britain as a beacon of music. It’s a big thing for young people, and the promise of the games was to bring sport and a sense of inspiration to young people. I hope one of the ways we’ll be able to do that is through music.
“Just think about who we’ve produced - the likes of David Bowie, Jimmy Page - and all the bands from Manchester where I’m from, like The Smiths, The Stone Roses and New Order. I love that world of music, it’s a big part of my life and many people’s lives, and you would imagine it would be a big part of the ceremony because pop music is freeing and inspirational.”
British films, he said, would also play a part in the opening ceremony, which will take place at the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, on July 27, 2012.
He said: “You think maybe there should be some bits of British films in the ceremony, and there are some wonderful iconic British films that you could use - Chariots of Fire would be the most obvious one for obvious reasons. But just because Stephen and I are involved in film, I don’t think it should be a movie-themed thing.”
Boyle also hinted that winning acts from the television show Britain’s Got Talent, including Diversity and Spellbound, the dance and gymnastic groups, could also feature in the ceremony.
He said: “What’s extraordinary about those talent shows is the group work. Diversity are at such a level of professionalism, and I’ve been hugely impressed by that and you would hope to harness some of that talent. People love to see that kind of group work and I think there should certainly be some of that in the ceremony.”
Boyle, 53, who lives near the Olympic Stadium in east London, said that he would not attempt to “compete” with the extravagance of Beijing’s four-hour opening ceremony in 2008 which is thought to have cost more than £70 million and featured 22,000 performers, 43,000 fireworks and a 16-ton globe rising from the ground. Instead, he will stage the event to highlight Britain’s “idiosyncracies” and to showcase London as “a welcoming city without prejudice”.
He said: “Beijing is clearly the zenith of that type of ceremonial opening - you cannot get bigger than that and I don’t think you could probably get better than that, so it’s wrong to try and compete with Beijing.
“What’s wonderful about London is we have an opportunity to show that there is something idiosyncratic about our country, and we do things our own way, and re-think some of the traditions.
“It will have scale, because 80,000 people in the stadium deserve some kind of scale. It should be full of spectacle and marvel, full of promise and looking forward.
“I’d love to be able to sit here in two years time and say that the opening ceremony felt both epic and intimate.”
Boyle, who is renowned for making low-budget films that go on to make millions at the box-office, said that there were “strict budget limitations” for the ceremony and that it would be “inappropriate” to produce an overly “extravagant” event.
He said: “Again, it’s a contrast with Beijing, it’s a different time and a different place. China’s economy was in huge expansion, but it would be greatly inappropriate to attempt to do something on that extravagant scale and spend that amount of resources.
“It’s still a huge amount we’re spending in a difficult time for the country, so it should be spent well.”
Boyle described his new role as artistic director of the opening ceremony as “a massive responsibility and honour” that was “exciting and daunting”.
“I’m a huge fan of the Olympics, and this is a way that the cultural community of Britain says “welcome” to the games and to this city. I missed the Commonwealth Games in Manchester because I was away filming, and ever since then I’ve wanted to make amends, so when they said about doing this, I was thrilled and jumped at it.
“I have spent some time in the Stadium, and found it very inspiring. We will be able to produce something wonderful.”

Danny Boyle: from Slumdog to the Olympics

2010-06-09T02:38:00.000-07:00

The job of directing the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics comes with a lingering whiff of the Leni Riefenstahls. In Beijing, the gig fell to Zhang Yimou, a one-time dissident film-maker who has since been repurposed as a kind of in-house director for the state authorities. Zhang was judged to have executed his task with aplomb. His reward was a commission to direct a state-sanctioned blockbuster to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, and to manage a firework display in Tiananmen Square.

So who is to pick up the baton in London? Reports suggest the committee's first choice is Danny Boyle, a man once accused of peddling "moral depravity" via his 1996 film Trainspotting. Today our own former dissident is reformed, largely thanks to the runaway success of Slumdog Millionaire and his endearing, Tigger-like celebrations at the 2009 Oscar ceremony. All of which has made him a favourite of Seb Coe, and the ideal person to oversee the 2012 curtain raiser in Stratford. Boyle, for his part, is playing coy but sounding positive. "I can't say any more," he cautions. "[But] it would be lovely, wouldn't it?"

London Olympics 2012: Meet Wenlock and Mandeville, drips off the old block

2010-05-24T01:53:00.000-07:00

In the end they were neither animal, vegetable nor mineral. Nor, as some cynics had predicted, did they resemble white elephants.
Instead, Wenlock and Mandeville, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots, elicited mostly baffled reactions as to just what they were at their unveiling today.
With a metallic finish, a single large eye made out of a camera lens, a London taxi light on their heads and the Olympic rings represented as friendship bracelets on their wrists, they resemble characters dreamed up for a Pixar animation.
But London 2012 organisers, for whom the launch of the mascots marks the start of a crucial period in which the games will become public property, pointed to the delighted reaction of a hall full of primary school children at today's launch as evidence that they would connect with their target audience.
"They remind you of aliens, which is really weird and cool," said 10-year-old Ali. "It reminds you of the Olympics, which is worldwide so it's something you'll want to remember forever," added 11-year-old Zanyab as they cavorted with life-size mascots for the cameras.
The pair are based on a short story by children's author Michael Morpurgo that tells how they were fashioned from droplets of the steel used to build the Olympic stadium. They will be crucial in raising funds and spreading messages about the games.
Wenlock, named after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock that helped inspire Pierre de Coubertin to launch the modern Olympics, and Mandeville, inspired by the Buckinghamshire town of Stoke Mandeville, where the Paralympics were founded, will become very familiar in the next two years. The chairman of the London organising committee of the Olympic games (Locog), Lord Coe, said the mascots were aimed squarely at children and designed with the digital age in mind. He said they had the most positive reaction in workshops to road test them.
Among the designs rejected at the start of an open pitch process were anthropomorphic pigeons, an animated tea pot and a Big Ben with arms and legs.
Children will be encouraged to interact with the characters, inviting them via Facebook, Twitter and the web to visit their school and, said Coe, inspiring them to take up different sports.
"The story itself is very rooted in the nations and regions. Young people will be able to decide where they go, what sports they pick up. There is a real interactivity there, it is a language and a flexibility that is driven by young people," he said.
The pair were introduced in an animated film that followed their story from the Bolton steelworks where the frame of the Olympic stadium was made. They will become a range of up to 30 cuddly toys, including versions based on celebrities and sports stars, as well as adorning badges, T-shirts, mugs and more.
Organisers hope Wenlock and Mandeville will rank alongside the more fondly remembered mascots, such as Waldi the dachshund from the 1972 Munich games and Misha the bear from the 1980 Moscow Olympics – rather than the much maligned Izzy of Atlanta 1996. "The games have got a few stupendous assets – the mascot, tickets, the volunteers, the torch relay – and you have got to really use those to bring home your key messages," said Locog's chief executive, Paul Deighton.
"If you link them together you begin to have a really powerful story that people will respond to."
The unveiling of the bold London Olympics logo in 2007 was controversial, with many criticising its graffiti-like design. Organisers, who hired Wolff Olins at a cost of £400,000 to design it, stood firm, arguing that it was supremely adaptable and perfect for the digital age. But they were forced to withdraw a launch film after it emerged that it had the potential to trigger epileptic seizures.
The mascots, conceived by London design agency Iris and costing, said Deighton, just "a few thousand pounds", are an important staging post from a financial and marketing point of view. They will pour up to £15m into the coffers of the organising committee via dozens of licensing deals, part of an overall licensing target of £70m to £80m towards Locog's £2bn privately raised budget.
In 1984, the Los Angeles games ushered in the money-spinning Olympic era. The event was the first to use its Disney-designed mascot to raise funds, since when they have become a cash cow for organisers.
But the story behind the mascots is also designed to help make the Olympics relevant to the whole nation. That will be crucial if organisers are to maintain support for a project that is also costing the public £9.3bn, particularly as cuts in public services begin to bite.
After a spell of behind-the-scenes work devoted to raising £700m in sponsorship revenues, Locog is entering a more public phase when everything it does, from the unveiling of the mascot to its ticket pricing policy, will come under scrutiny.

GB put to pick strong team for London 2012 Olympics

2010-04-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

GB put to pick strong team for London 2012 Olympics

Great Britain is set to be symbolized by at least 500 athletes at the London 2012 Olympics, an add to on the 311 sent to the Beijing games in 2008.

The development, which is subject to funding, was agreed at a meeting of the National Olympic Committee which also sets the qualifying criteria.

The BOA will set the selection criteria for Team GB after the International Olympic Committee and the individual sports' international federations release international qualification standards in the summer.

Olympic Stadium will use for Twenty20 cricket after the 2012 Games

2010-04-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Essex announced on Thursday that they were bearing in mind a joint offer with West Ham and Newham Council to turn the stadium in Stratford into a multi-sport venue capable of staging football, cricket and athletics.

The club would continue to play County Championship matches at their Chelmsford headquarters but would use the stadium as a 'festival ground' for Twenty20 matches.

UK's pre-Olympics increase shift to Loughborough

2010-04-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

The BOA declared on Wednesday it would now stand its pre-Games training headquarters and its uniform distribution centre at Loughborough University, rather than Aldershot.

The army could not illuminate the crash the decision would have on Aldershot's multimillion pound sporting renewals. When the initial BOA deal was released, Aldershot was allegedly earmarked for a £400 million upgrade, including two new indoor arenas, a running track and hockey centre.

Olympics enhances London housing market prices

2010-04-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

The residential property developer yesterday said full-year results will be "materially ahead of market expectations" after a sharp boost in sales during the first three months of 2010.

"The housing market in East London has shown positive signs of recovery, with regeneration surrounding the build up to the 2012 Olympics continuing to stimulate demand," said Andrew Wiseman, chief executive.

About £1.7bn has been set aside in the Olympic budget for investment in renewal, with Telford benefiting from the boost to infrastructure and stature that the project has brought.

In the year to March 31, the company got 389 completions, compared to 350 in the previous financial year, according to its trading statement.

A total of 70 pre-sales were made on developments with overseas investors, a reflection of the improved market in East London.

Skipping Worlds won't keep LeBron, Bosh out of Olympics

2010-04-06T02:01:00.000-07:00

INDIANAPOLIS — Skipping the World Basketball Championship this summer won’t necessarily keep LeBron James and others off the 2012 U.S. Olympic team after all.

Speaking to Sun Media after the 2010 hall of fame class was announced Monday, USA Basketball head honcho Jerry Colangelo clarified statements he made earlier this week that raised the ire of James.

“We appreciate the fact they’re willing to give their time. We have to be flexible,” Colangelo said. “Some players may have to miss for whatever the reason may be — contracts, injuries, family issues...free agency this year is big.”

Previously, Colangelo had said he would not provide “free passes” in terms of playing in London in 2012 for players who skipped the worlds without a valid excuse.

That had sparked an angry response from James, the likely NBA MVP.

“There’s a lot that goes on with being a professional athlete other than just basketball,” James told reporters. “I’m not trying to bash Jerry or anything like that because he’s a good guy and I respect him. I don’t respect (his statement) because of the commitment we’ve all given to the U.S.A.”

Colangelo said he realizes James, Dwyane Wade and the Raptors’ Chris Bosh will have a lot on their mind this summer — like who to accept millions of dollars from — and he wasn’t speaking particularly about them.

“The point I made regarding London is, we will give credit for all the equity people have put into it," he said. "Bosh has equity, so does Wade, so does LeBron. Things happen. We just have to be flexible."

The trio has been involved with USA Basketball since 2003.

London 2012 Olympics: Locog opens ticket registration website

2010-03-22T03:07:00.000-07:00

Locog, the London 2012 organising committee, this morning launched for UK and EU residents interested in buying tickets for the Games, which go on sale next year.

Reigning Olympic women's 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu was among those due to be present at Trafalgar Square for a media event to mark the launch and the first day of London becoming the next Olympic and Paralympic host city, following the closing ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games last night.

The ticket registration site tells its users that "they will be among the first to hear about ticketing news and other exciting events and offers" although signing up does not give users any head start in the application process.

Locog will be hoping that the launch helps begin to appease the London Assmebly, which last week issued a list of 18 hard-hitting questions amid demands for transparency and affordability in the ticketing strategy.

While London bidders promised a range of tickets at less than £30, there have been recent indications from Locog that that price barrier is too low to meet a £441 million ticketing revenue target.

The Assembly submission called for specific details about price, the availability of tickets, whether there will be any priority access and the purchasing arrangements.

Women's boxing at the London 2012 Olympics: raging belle

2010-03-09T01:57:00.000-08:00

On a chilly winter morning, just before dawn, a young woman dressed in a black tracksuit runs hard along the seafront of her home town. She shadowboxes as she runs – seven miles around the picturesque coastal town of Bray in Co Wicklow. Over the past six years this morning workout has been a daily ritual for Katie Taylor, the two-time and current amateur lightweight world boxing champion. It is part of a gruelling regime that she hopes will help her achieve her ultimate goal: to become the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal at boxing.
The London Games in 2012 will be the first time women have been allowed to compete in this most visceral of sports at Olympic level. Last August the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decreed that 36 places would be available in London to the world’s elite female fighters, who would compete across three weight classes: flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (56-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg).

Taylor knows that women’s boxing is a mystery to the majority of sports fans, but is certain that is about to change. 'People will be shocked by the standard of the sport at London 2012,’ she tells me after her run. 'We’ve been invisible up until now. I think if I had achieved what I’ve achieved and I was a man, I’d have got much more recognition. Hopefully, more recognition will come with the Olympics.’

She certainly has recognition within her own sport – other female boxers talk about Katie Taylor with awe. She is supremely skilful and has lightning reflexes. 'I like to sit in the pocket [boxing speak for fighting at close range], to fight on the inside,’ she says. 'I do like a bit of a war.’ Her hero is Sugar Ray Leonard, the flamboyant American champion of the 1980s.

Eloquent and attractive, Taylor, 23, is a promoter’s dream, tipped to be one of the stars of the 2012 Games, and the athlete who can lead women’s boxing into the mainstream. Like many of her fellow fighters, she is an all-round sports enthusiast, and has also represented Ireland at football. She started boxing at the age of 10 – one day, when it was raining too heavily to play football, her father took her to the local boxing gym instead; she was a natural. Thirteen years later, she wants to repay her father, Peter, a former amateur light-heavyweight champion of Ireland and now her trainer. 'He’s sacrificed so much to work with me full-time,’ she says. 'I wouldn’t be where I am now without him.’

Olympics-2012 stadium considered as 2018 soccer World Cup venue

2009-11-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

London's 2012 Olympic Stadium may have a future as an 80,000 seater soccer arena if city officials succeed in including it as part of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup finals.
London United, the body organising which of the capital's stadiums should be part of the World Cup bid, the Olympic Stadium have confirmed, along with Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur's proposed new stadium, is part of their plans.
Should England host the 2018 World Cup, Wembley would be used for the opening match and the final and it is unlikely that three other London venues would also be used.
"London United would like to put the Olympic stadium forward as a potential venue for the 2018 World Cup bid," a London United spokesman told Reuters.
Sebastian Coe, the London Olympic Committee (LOCOG) chairman and part of the 2018 bidding team, insists that the legacy use of the stadium will be chiefly athletics, with the Games capacity of 80,000 being scaled back to around 30,000 seats.
In July Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell ruled out the Olympic Stadium being used for the 2018 World Cup, however the newly formed Olympic Park Legacy Company, responsible for planning post-Games use of the venues, has not ruled out the idea of it being retained at its larger capacity.
"The Olympic Park Legacy Company is currently looking at the legacy use of the Olympic venues including the stadium," a spokesman said. "Nothing is ruled out and nothing is ruled in, at this stage.
"It is taken as read that the stadium will fulfil all its legacy obligations in terms of elite sport. Between now and Christmas, we will work through our review to determine the best additional uses of the stadium and its optimum size.
"We remain supportive of London's 2018 World Cup bid."
The 16 English cities bidding to be included in the 2018 bid must submit their proposals before the end of November with a decision on what 12 cities will be chosen in December.

London 2012 Olympics receives £39m Airwave boost

2009-11-04T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Home Office is spending £39m to boost the capacity of the Airwave radio system to enable emergency services to cope with the 2012 Olympics and a major incident while maintaining "business as usual" services in and around London.
The contract between Airwave Solutions and the National Policing Improvement Agency covers core communications for the police, fire and ambulance services, including additional policing requirements during Olympics events, coverage within Olympics venues, and capability to support public order operations involving several thousand police officers in a confined geographical area.
Security minister Lord West said: "Investing now means the Airwave network system can be thoroughly tested before 2012 and will ensure it remains resilient during Games time."
The expansion to the radio communication system will extend to all 2012 host venue police forces, fire and ambulance services as well as other counties which are hosting 2012 events or athletes' training camps.
"An effective radio system is vital to the delivery of a safe and secure 2012 Games, said Chris Alison, Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner responsible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The investment in the Airwave system is a significant step in achieving this aim and will benefit all emergency services."
Airwave chief executive Richard Bobbett said the contract required a number of innovations from a technical and network management point of view.
The 2012 Games is expected to be the most technology enabled Olympics ever, and thousands of wireless applications will be needed to support the events, security, athletes, TV cameras, administration and management during the seven weeks covering the build-up, the Games themselves and the subsequent Paralympics.
Ofcom last month published a Spectrum Plan detailing how radio frequencies will be made available to organisers and users from more than 150 countries to ensure services such as Airwave will not be affected by the volume of wireless services required.

Britain to hold 'world-class' sporting event every 2 weeks until start of London 2012 Olympics

2009-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Britain plans to host a "world class" sporting event at least once every two weeks from now until the start of the London 2012 Olympics. UK Sport says that 20 towns will stage at least one of the events over the 1,000 days left before the opening ceremony. The $52.9 million program covers 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports.The first of the 64 events starts Friday with the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester.

2012 London Olympics art installation for Mittal donates

2009-10-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

Lakshmi Mittal NRI steel tycoon has donated 15 million pounds towards creation of a landmark art installation in East End in honour of the 2012 Olympics.
Mittal decided to make the donation at the case of London Mayor Boris Johnson, 'Evening Standard', a tabloid has said.
The scale of the steel installation is colossal and is expected to be visible from up to 16 km away.
This year was Mittal named the eighth richest person in the world and one of the richest in UK, with a personal fortune of 12 billion pounds.