PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing - DreamTeamDownloads1, FTP Help, Movies, Bollywood, Applications, etc. & Mature Sex Forum, Rapidshare, Filefactory, Freakshare, Rapidgator, Turbobit, & More MULTI Filehosts

online24 · 12-04-12, 16:09

July 27th. 2012 the Olympics begins in London.
Here is a link to the official site.

http://www.london2012.com

Do you have something to tell us - gossip-facts-results?
Everything is legal.

online24 · 03-05-12, 10:48

Norway's only medal candidate in swimming died 30-04-2012.

Read the story here.
'

Code: [Check Download Links]

http://www.dreamteamdownloads1.com/sport/205096-norwegian-swimming-champion-alexander-dale-oen-dies.html

online24 · 10-05-12, 18:04

In a traditional ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the Flame was lit at the Temple of Hera, next to the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games.
The High Priestess used a parabolic mirror to capture the sun’s rays to create the Flame.
It was then carried into the Ancient Olympic Stadium.

online24 · 11-05-12, 21:27

London 2012 confirms Olympic ticketing timeline
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has confirmed details for the sale of 900,000 contingency tickets for the Olympic Games, going on sale from 11am on 11 May.

Code: [Check Download Links]

http://www.tickets.london2012.com/

online24 · 12-05-12, 15:00

If you like to shop some olympic-items.

Code: [Check Download Links]

http://shop.london2012.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ldn-Site/default/Default-Start?cm_mmc=LOCOG-_-website-_-navigation-_-homepage

Ladybbird · 23-05-12, 02:49

So what teams for which countries & sports are entering please?

Ladybbird · 24-05-12, 22:32

LONDON CALLING

Are you ready for the 2012 Summer Games?

..

News from 2020 Olympic Bids Doha, Baku cut from 2020 Olympic bid

Updated 24 May, 2012

QUEBEC CITY (AP)

The race for the 2020 Olympics will come down to a contest between Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul after the IOC trimmed the field Wednesday, once again rejecting Doha's bid to take the games to tiny Qatar.

Doha and Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, were eliminated as the International Olympic Committee settled on a shortlist of three finalists. Both cities also failed to make the cut for the 2016 Games.

Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul — all former bidders — advanced to the final phase, a 17-month race that will end with the IOC vote Sept. 7, 2013, in Buenos Aires.
The executive board, chaired by IOC President Jacques Rogge, chose the finalists after examining a technical evaluation report compiled by a panel of Olympic experts. The board then voted on each candidate.
An official familiar with details of the selection told The Associated Press the board voted unanimously in favor of Tokyo and Madrid at 12-0 and supported Istanbul by 11-1. The vote was 0-12 for Baku and 3-9 for Doha, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the totals aren't being made public.
While soccer governing body FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, the IOC isn't convinced the Gulf state is equipped for the Olympics.
''This is a much more complex undertaking than a World Cup and maybe they should do that first,'' IOC board member and finance commission chairman Richard Carrion said.
Qatari officials expressed disappointment but vowed to bid again.
''It's a missed opportunity for the IOC,'' Doha bid leader Noora Al-Mannai said. ''This opportunity for 2020 has gone. There is nothing we can do. However, we don't give up. I promise you we will be back.''

Azerbaijan Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said Baku also would return.
''I can assure you that we will listen and learn from the feedback that the IOC has offered us and then we will come back again next time even stronger,'' he said.
Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time, Tokyo a second time in a row and Istanbul a fifth time overall.
Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, received the highest praise in the IOC report, which said the Japanese bid presents ''a very strong application.'' Madrid has a ''strong application,'' while Istanbul's project ''offers good potential,'' the report said.
The IOC report said Baku's bid had a ''number of weaknesses,'' including a lack of experience in hosting international sports events and a need for vast amount of infrastructure. For Qatar, the IOC cited a series of risks and challenges, notably over the proposal to hold the games in October to avoid the brutal summer heat.
The IOC had agreed to let Doha bid based on Qatar's proposal to hold the games from Oct. 2 to 18, but officials remained concerned about the weather and conflicts with television and other sports events going on during that time of year.
The IOC report also cited budget costs for Doha that would be ''significantly higher than any recent host city.''

IOC members privately were determined not to risk any ethics controversies in the wake of corruption allegations that shadowed FIFA's World Cup decision. But Swiss board member Denis Oswald insisted political reasons were not behind Doha's rejection.
''It's not at all a political decision, not at all,'' he said. ''It's really technical considerations. We want to control costs and not escalate. There are also many issues with the dates, high temperatures, problems for television.''
Asked whether Qatar would never be in position to win the games because October is the only feasible timeframe, Oswald said: ''Sometimes, life is not fair.''
The dynamics of the 2020 race changed dramatically when Rome, considered a potential 2020 favorite, pulled out of the bidding in February after the Italian government declined to provide financial guarantees at a time of economic austerity.
With Madrid bidding against the backdrop of Spain's financial crisis, the IOC report said ''careful attention would need to be paid to Spain's economic outlook.'' It said a large number of venues and infrastructure already exists, helping to ''mitigate risk.''
Madrid bid leaders said the Olympics could serve as a catalyst for economic recovery.
''We need to do this,'' said Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., son of the late former IOC president. ''It's good for our country. It gives a lot of hope and energy and stamina to a very much needed part of the world, southern Europe, at this stage. The IOC could do a great contribution to the recovery.''

Tokyo is bidding in the aftermath of last year's disastrous earthquake and tsunami.
Hosting the Olympics ''will serve as a symbol of Japan's recovery from last year's tragedy,'' Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a message following Tokyo's selection to the shortlist.
The Istanbul bid had been knocked off course by Turkey's concurrent bid for soccer's 2020 European Championship. The IOC has made clear that Turkey cannot both hold both events.
''The working group feels that for a city to organize two major sports events in the same year, and within a period of three months, presents significant risks,'' the report said.
Istanbul gained breathing room last week when UEFA extended the bidding process for the Euros and scheduled the final decision for early 2014.
While this is Istanbul's fifth bid, it's the first time the city has made the shortlist based on the recommendation of the IOC working group.
''This time, Istanbul is ready to deliver,'' senior bid official Hasan Arat said.

Ladybbird · 24-05-12, 23:28

LONDON CALLING

Japanese cat comedian causes Cambodian Olympic chaos

24 May 2012 Guy De Launey, BBC News in Phnom Penh

Every country has Olympic selection dramas, but Cambodia has gone one better.
Great Britain has to choose between Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny in the track cycling sprint. Australia's swimming legend Ian Thorpe will be missing from the Olympic pool after failing to make the cut in qualifying.

“This is normal in the world, even America buys athletes from other countries”
Vath Chamroeun National Olympic Committee of Cambodia

Cambodia? This small Southeast Asian nation selected a Japanese comedian, best known for dressing up as a cat, as its representative in the men's marathon at London 2012.
To be fair to Neko Hiroshi ("Hiroshi the Cat"), he is not a bad runner, at least by amateur standards. And visions of him pounding round the Olympic course in full costume would be wide of the mark: he generally runs his marathons in standard athletic kit.
But there are serious issues at play here. Countries with minimal resources whose athletes fail to make the Olympic qualifying standards are given a handful of Olympic places, as a gesture of "universality".
In Cambodia's case, it is likely to have only five representatives in London - so giving one of those places to a foreign-born runner is hard for local athletes to swallow.
Each morning a group of them train at the dilapidated national sports centre in Phnom Penh, universally known to locals as the Olympic Stadium (though Cambodia has never hosted the Games). And though the heat is already stifling, talk of Neko Hiroshi's selection raises the temperature even higher.
"We must be proud to select Cambodians to participate, whether we win or lose. At least Cambodians can represent the country itself," says one athlete.

"The selection's not fair - they shouldn't select a Japanese runner instead of a Cambodian," says another.
Most outraged of all is Hem Bunting.
For several years he has been Cambodia's leading athlete, winning medals at two successive editions of the Southeast Asian Games. He represented Cambodia with honour at the Beijing Olympics, carrying the flag in the opening ceremony. In last month's Paris Marathon he improved his own national record (and set the fastest time by a Southeast Asian athlete this year).
Bunting says he cannot understand why he was overlooked in favour of a Japanese athlete whose best time was seven minutes slower than his own.
"I don't know what led the Olympic committee to make their decision - they haven't really answered my questions. Sport should be based on talent - so if I'm good enough I should be selected," he said.
Ironically, Bunting's successes have contributed to his problems. His efforts have attracted private sponsors - and brought him into conflict with the national athletics authorities.
Instead of sleeping in a room behind the swimming pool at the Olympic Stadium, the sponsorship allowed Bunting to fly to Kenya for months of training with specialist distance-running coaches. But to do this, he had to withdraw from the national athletics squad. That, say the authorities, made him ineligible for Olympic selection.

In contrast, Neko Hiroshi is connected to a Japanese organisation called Cambodia Dream. Last year he personally signed an agreement with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) to sponsor the annual Phnom Penh half-marathon - and donate funds for athlete development.

Cambodian runner Hem Bunting: 'I'm the strongest marathon man'

Even so, the NOCC's general secretary, Vath Chamroeun, insists that the Japanese runner was selected entirely on merit.
"Athletes must complete two criteria - record and sporting discipline. Bunting's record is number one, Neko Hiroshi is number two. But Bunting is not in the national team - the national federation put him out because of his discipline, not his record. They're a parallel thing. We must have plus-plus, not plus and minus. That's not a good image for the nation."
But in a fresh twist, it seems that Neko Hiroshi's dream may already be over. He took Cambodian citizenship last October but the world governing body of athletics, the IAAF, says that's too late for him to qualify for London.
What the International Olympic Committee makes of all this is not clear. It did not respond to repeated requests for comment, though it has funded four Cambodian athletes through "Olympic Scholarships" and makes "solidarity" payments to the national Olympic committee.
Chamroeun accepts that Neko Hiroshi may not represent Cambodia this time. But he refuses to rule out similar arrangements in the future.

"We look for the potential athletes, the excellent ones. That is normal in the world, even America and other countries buy athletes from other countries."

As for Hem Bunting, he is trying to rebuild bridges with the national athletics authorities - although time is running out before the selection deadline.

"I know I'm the strongest marathon man in Cambodia. No one can beat me. I really want to join the London Olympics to show the rest of the world what Cambodian athletes can do."

Ladybbird · 24-05-12, 23:41

LONDON CALLING

Australian hockey team outraged at 5 a.m. Olympic wake-up calls

BBC Sports– Wed, May 23, 2012 12:05 PM EDT

(Getty Images)

The coach of Australia's top-ranked men's field hockey team is upset that his team was scheduled for three 8:30 a.m. games in the upcoming Summer Olympics, an early start that will force his team to rise at 5 a.m. on game days.
Ric Charlesworth was asked by The Age if the "imbalanced schedule" would affect his team's chances of winning Olympic gold. "Who knows?" he said.
Australia is the only team in the 12-nation tournament to have three games at the earliest start time. Teams play every other day at times ranging from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.. The only night game for Team Australia is when it faces host Great Britain at 7 p.m. on Day 9.

Charlesworth suspects his team's schedule has something to do with television and the large time difference between Great Britain and Australia. The fact that another Pacific nation, New Zealand, has three games at 10:45 a.m. or earlier seems to confirm that.*
"It's crazy," Charlesworth said. ''And it's not like we're the 12th-ranked team in the tournament. How do you develop a routine around that program?"
That's some motivational talk right out of Knute Rockne's playbook. Here's how you develop a routine around it: Don't whine about it and make it work. Television rules all at the Olympics. Michael Phelps swam his eight finals races in Beijing in the morning instead of the night because NBC wanted to air it live. Be thankful Australians care about men's field hockey enough to want to see it on TV. Set practices at 6 a.m. for the next few months and make sure you bring working alarm clocks to London.

* There's a nine-hour difference between London and Sydney, meaning those three games will be broadcast at 5:30 p.m. on the east coast of Australia. That's not exactly primetime, but it's better than having the games in the middle of the Aussie night.

Ladybbird · 30-05-12, 20:44

Usain Bolt runs slowest 100 of career, isn’t worried about it

By Chris Chase, Bleachersreport, 30 May, 2012

The world's fastest man isn't concerned that he ran the slowest final of his career two months before the Olympics.

Usain Bolt still won the Golden Spike race in Ostrava, Czech Republic, but the 10.04 was the slowest time he's ever run in a 100-meter final. His previous high was 10.03. The last time he ran over 10 seconds in any race was 2009.

There was a slight headwind at the race and it was a chilly evening, two factors which didn't help Bolt recover from his usual slow start.

"It's hard to explain," Bolt said after the race. "I don't really know what went wrong."

A few days later, he was more reflective.

"I explained to my coach that my legs were not feeling that energetic, probably through a lack of sleep and not enough food," he told reporters while in Rome preparing for this week's Diamond League meet. "Since I got here I've been trying to get a lot more sleep and eating better so everything is seeming to be on a better track. You never have a good race every time you run, you have to just put that behind you and move on."

He'll try to do that on Thursday. That race comes exactly four years after Bolt set his first world record at a meet in New York. He's a different athlete now, a long way from that brash young upstart trying to dethrone a national rival, but his goal will be the same in the Olympic tuneup: Prove he's going to be impossible to beat. This weekend gave opponents a glimmer of hope. Don't expect it to last long.

Ladybbird · 30-05-12, 21:31

Liukin makes big impression in 1st meet back

The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) Nastia Liukin sat in her hotel room and pulled out her competition leotard - hot pink, of course.

Just like that, all the jitters and the weirdness the Olympic champion had been feeling about her first meet in three years disappeared.

"I finally felt like I got back in the groove of things," she said. "It was like, 'OK, this is happening, this is real.'"

She left no doubt about that a few hours later, tying for third on balance beam at the U.S. Classic. Her score of 14.9 was just 0.10 points behind reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman, and that was with not doing all of her connections - which add to her difficulty score - and leaving room for improvement on execution.

"She was so rock solid," marveled Raisman, one of several competitors who stood and watched Liukin's routine. "I felt like I was watching the 2008 Olympics she did so well."

Next up is the U.S. championships, June 7-10 in St. Louis, where Liukin plans to add uneven bars - her signature event and the event she needs to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. National team coordinator Martha Karolyi said she's already told Liukin she'd like to see a score around 16 - a mark that would make her competitive with the best bar workers in the world.

"No pressure," Karolyi said, laughing. "Nastia is a big girl. She knows what it means."

Raisman, a member of the U.S. squad that won the team title at the world championships last fall, won her second straight title at the U.S. Classic, the final qualifier for nationals. Kyla Ross, a two-time junior champion who is in her first year as a senior, was second. Wieber, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney did not do the all-around.

While Liukin's comeback was the feel-good story of the night, 2005 world champion Chellsie Memmel's had a far sadder end. Memmel has had two shoulder surgeries since November and competed on balance beam in hopes of earning a spot at nationals and buying herself some more time. But she fell twice, and her petition was rejected by the selection committee.

Memmel's score of 11.950 was well below the score of 14 the qualifying score committee had established.

"That was very hard. All of us cried," Karolyi said of Memmel, whose career has been spoiled by untimely injuries. "But sentiment cannot be involved in the decision."

No reigning all-around champion has returned for the next Olympics since Nadia Comaneci, and there was a time Liukin looked certain to continue that streak. Though she competed at the 2009 U.S. championships in her hometown of Dallas, she found herself torn between training and the opportunities that come with being only the third American woman to win the Olympic title.

She stepped away from competition and lived as close to a normal life as an Olympic champion can. She spent time with her friends and began exploring where she wanted to go to college. She also began making the transition to the other side of the sport, taking advisory roles with both USA Gymnastics and the International Gymnastics Federation, and developing a competition for younger gymnasts, the Nastia Liukin Cup.

But last summer, Liukin found herself wondering - and worrying - that she would be tormented by questions of "What if?" as she watched the gymnastics competition in London.

So she returned to the gym, knowing that nothing is promised to anyone. Even her.

"It's possible," Karolyi said. "But it's not an easy job because the time is short."

But the U.S. weakness on bars leaves an opening for Liukin, the Olympic silver medalist on the event. She and China's He Kexin actually tied in Beijing, but He won on a complex tiebreaker.

The scoring format in team finals is unforgiving, with three gymnasts competing on each apparatus and all three scores counting. That means Karolyi has to assemble a squad that can put up three monster scores on each of the four events, and do it consistently. The challenge is even greater for London because teams have been cut from six gymnasts to five.

"If I can help the team out in any way, it would definitely be on bars," Liukin said. "My dad said great job that you did your beam routine, but if you can't do your bar routine, then that beam routine is no use. That's the reality of it. You can't make an Olympic team with one event."

She had to start somewhere, though.

Liukin had some struggles during training Friday, and admitted she was nervous about being back out on the floor. But when it came time to compete, it was if she'd never been away.

"I didn't know what to expect, to be honest," said her father and coach, Valeri. "I was hoping for this."

Liukin has the same grace and gorgeous lines as her mother Anna, a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics, making everything she does look elegant and effortless. Her landings were all whisper-soft, not heavy thuds, and one element flowed into the next, as if to say, "Oh, you thought that was nice? You might like this then." Her aerial cartwheel was done with more ease than most folks would manage on flat ground.

Her only noticeable flaw was a small balance check on her leap, though she didn't get credit for connecting elements, which makes them worth more.

When she landed her dismount, she flashed a big smile and the crowd responded with deafening shrieks and cheers.

"Today I felt more like the old Nastia," she said. "A spark of it."

Ladybbird · 30-05-12, 21:48

Sundhage Names US Olympic Roster

The US Women's Soccer team discusses the 2012 Summer Games.

Leroux, who has seven goals in just nine appearances with the US, was one of six newcomers on the 18-woman roster for the London Olympics announced Sunday. Leroux is the only player on the squad who wasn't on the US team at last summer's Women's World Cup, where the Americans lost to Japan on penalties in the title game. She also is the youngest player on the team at 22.
''These players make it very difficult to select rosters, and for this Olympic team it was a long, productive and interesting process to cut the pool down to these 18,'' Sundhage said. ''The team is a mix of very experienced players and several new fresh faces.''
Joining Leroux as first-time Olympians are Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, key members of that World Cup team, and Kelley O'Hara, Amy LePeilbet and Becky Sauerbrunn. Rapinoe had the assist on Abby Wambach's thunderous header that forced overtime in the quarterfinals against Brazil. After scoring two goals in Germany as a second-half substitute, Morgan has forced her way into Sundhage's starting lineup with 12 goals in her first 11 games of this year, along with seven assists.
Wambach returns to the Olympic squad after missing the Beijing Games with a broken leg. Eight years ago, she scored the winning goal in the final against Brazil.

Captain Christie Rampone is the first US player to be named to four Olympic teams, and needs to play in one more game to set an American record for Olympic appearances. She shares the record of 16 appearances with four other players.
Sundhage will take her 18-woman team, along with alternates Lori Lindsey, Jill Loyden, Meghan Klingenberg and forward Christen Press, to Sweden for a two-week training camp next month. The Americans will then return home for a June 30 send-off match in Sandy, Utah.
The Americans are two-time defending Olympic champions, beating Brazil in the final each time. Eleven players from the 2008 squad return, including Hope Solo, whose point-blank save of a Marta shot in the 72nd minute was the play of the tournament, and Carli Lloyd, whose goal in extra time gave the United States the gold.

''We want nothing more than a gold medal,'' Lloyd said earlier this month. ''And we're going to do everything we possibly can to be on podium at the end and receive gold medals around our necks.''

The Roster:

Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo.

Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn.

Midfielders: Shannon Boxx, Lauren Cheney, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe.
Forwards: Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach.

Forwards: Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach.

online24 · 30-05-12, 23:28

London 2012 serves up the best in British food
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today revealed details of the food and drink that will be served to the millions of spectators and thousands of athletes during the Games this summer.

• Over 14 million meals will be served during the Games, across 40 locations – the largest peace time catering operation in the world.
• 1.2 million meals will be served to athletes, comprising 1300 different dishes.
• Over 800 spectator concessions featuring more than 150 different dishes will showcase the diversity and quality of British food
• All food sourced to high environmental, ethical and animal welfare standards
• Focus on affordability – food and drinks for a family of four for under £40

Over 14 million meals will be served during the Games, across 40 locations – the largest peace time catering operation in the world.
833 spectator concessions featuring more than 150 different types of dishes will showcase the great diversity and quality of British food at affordable prices.

The food will fit into two main themes. British food will reflect the multicultural mix of flavours and foods enjoyed across the UK, including everything from Italian dishes to Indian curries,
seafood to salad and wraps as well as classic favourites like fish and chips and pie and mash.

The heritage and diversity of British regional products and recipes will be celebrated, for example lamb from Wales, charcuterie from Perthshire and sourdough bread from Tower Hamlets made in a traditional brick oven lined with peat from the Thames.

With 195 nations represented in the 6 host boroughs, London is a global city and there will be international food from every continent – from authentic Asian dishes to African Brai barbecues, Caribbean flavours to tasty Mediterranean dishes and a range of street foods from around the world.

As well as the millions of ticket holders and spectators, LOCOG is also responsible for feeding more than 15,000 athletes across both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The primary concern of the 23,900 athletes and team officials is to make sure they perform to their peak on competition days. Their ability to do this depends in no small part on the provision of familiar and nutritionally balanced food and drink, which will be available at exactly the right time of day or night.

1.2 million meals will be served to athletes, comprising 1300 different types of dishes. On the busiest day of the Games, over 65,000 meals will be served to athletes.

The main dining room seats over 5000 athletes and can fit the equivalent of 880 double decker buses. The room consists of four zones including British, European, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean dishes and caters for special diets such as Halal, Kosher, low salt and allergens.

In line with London 2012’s sustainability commitments, all fruit, vegetables and cereals are Red Tractor accredited, British and seasonal where available.

All dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry is also Red Tractor accredited as a minimum. All fish, with the sole exception of squid, is sustainable including the complete exclusion of species and stocks identified by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as ‘fish to avoid’ and all wild-caught fish meeting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

In addition, bananas, tea, coffee, sugar and white and rose wine are Fairtrade or ethically sourced and traditional cheeses are British. Eggs are British Lion mark free range and all chocolate sold is Fairtrade or ethically sourced.

Another integral part to London 2012’s sustainability commitments is the ambitious aim to become the first ever Zero Waste Games. LOCOG has partnered with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to improve packaging and recycling. During the Games, event waste from public areas will be channelled into three waste streams (recycling; food and compostable packaging; non-recyclables) depicted by colour-coded icons for the bins and packaging.

The catering industry has been quick to adopt the London 2012 Food Vision, helping to create a stronger, more sustainable catering and hospitality industry that will be a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organisations who have adopted these standards include the National Trust, London Zoo, 15 London universities, the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and a wide range of restaurants and caterers, serving well over 100 million meals a year.

London 2012 commercial partners Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Cadbury Nature Valley and Heineken will also be supplying food and drink and will provide the only branded products on sale. McDonald’s will operate at four Olympic venue restaurants: one in the Athletes’ Village, another for the media in the Main Press Centre and two in the Olympic Park for spectators. All soft drinks and mineral water will be provided by Coca-Cola, including Innocent smoothies and juices, and 75% of the drinks Coca-Cola expect to sell at the Games will be water, juice or sugar-free. In addition free drinking water will be provided at all venues.

LOCOG Chief Executive, Paul Deighton said: ‘We want everyone who attends the Games this summer to have a fantastic experience and central to this is the food and drink that’s available.

We have gone to great lengths to find top quality, tasty food that celebrates the best of Britain. We believe that our prices are more than comparable to those found at other major sporting events which because of their temporary nature are often more expensive than the high street.

We are proud that the catering and industry has been quick to adopt the standards of our Food Vision, leaving a stronger and sustainable industry as a legacy of the Games.’

SAMPLE SPECTATOR MENU

Porridge and maple syrup, made with UK oats and milk - £2.20

Toasted tea cakes, with Yorkshire butter – £2.10

Carrot and cucumber sticks with red pesto hummus - £2.50

6 Jerk Red Tractor assured chicken wings – £3.50

Red Leicester British cheese with British apple chutney and Farm assured lettuce on Oxfordshire bread - £3.80

Jacket potato with Dingley Dell bacon and Freedom Foods chicken in a herb mayonnaise, served with roquete and watercress salad - £5.80

Pole and line caught tuna and sweet potato British salad – £5.90

Freshly carved Dingley Dell hog roasted Red Tractor pork, served in Oxfordshire cross hatched bread roll with mixed leaf salad and assorted accompaniments – £6.50

Grilled Red Tractor chicken burrito - £6.50

Penne pasta Red Tractor chicken and mushroom white sauce - £6.50

Thin crust stone baked 10” pizza with spicy pepperoni, spicy beef, basil and oregano - £7.50

Farm assured Scotch Beef with Long Clawson Stilton Pie, Irish mashed potato with Red Tractor Cream and British butter and onion gravy - £8.00

Cod and chips – from £8

Singapore noodle, stir fried egg noodle, chicken, prawns, char sui Pork, chilli and shredded peppers in a hoi sin dressing – £8.50

Lamb Rogan Josh served with Pilaf or Saffron rice - £8.50

Bottled water - £1.60
Fairtrade Tea from £2.00
Fairtrade Coffee from £2.60
500ml bottle of Coca Cola - £2.30
330ml bottle of Heineken - £4.20
London 2012 red wine 18.7cl - £4.80

ENDS

Notes to editors:
Find out the latest from London 2012 on http://www.london2012.com , follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012 or download the Official London 2012 Join In app.

The Official London 2012 Join In app is a free mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience. From the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, the Official London 2012 Join In App is your essential companion. It is available now at app stores and at http://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

The LOCOG catering contractors are:

- Aramark (Olympic Villages, Weymouth)
- Baxter Storey (Main Media Centre)
- Amadeus (Olympic Park North)
- Sodexo (Olympic Park South, Hampden Park,, St James Park Royal Artillery Barracks, Lords)
- Global Infusion (Hadleigh Farm, Lee Valley, Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park)
- Arena Leisure (Eton Dorney, Greenwich Park)
- Creativevents (Retail catering at ExCeL, Earls Court)
- Compass (ExCeL, Earls Court, Millennium Stadium, North Greenwich Arena, Wembley Arena, Wimbledon, City of Coventry Stadium, Millenium Stadium )
- Manchester United (Old Trafford)
- Bon Appetit (non-competition venues)
- Delaware North (Wembley Stadium)
- Ampersand (Hampton Court)
- Motorsport

Ladybbird · 03-06-12, 02:34

London 2012: US Gymnast's Rejection from Olympic Consideration Stirs Controversy

By Bleachersreport
1 June, 2012

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Chellsie Memmel, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, will not be returning for a second shot at the upcoming London Games, and some people are angry about how she was excluded from consideration.

A controversy is quietly brewing over Memmel’s rejected petition to gain entry to the Visa National Championships—which means she won’t be eligible to compete for an Olympic spot at the U.S. Trials. Not surprisingly, Marta Karolyi, the USA Gymnastics national team coordinator, is at the center of the swirl.

Memmel, the 2005 world champion and a tenacious competitor throughout her career, is considered a solid ensemble contributor. She was a part of the U.S. team that took silver in Beijing, and her second-place finish in all-around at the 2011 U.S. Cover Girl Classic showed she still has plenty of chops.

Nevertheless, as USA Today reported on Sunday, Karolyi confirmed Memmel's removal from Olympic team consideration after her showing at the Secret U.S. Classic in Chicago. That disappointed not only Memmel’s followers, but gymnastics fans in general, who see this not as a slap in the face but a larger issue of pure hypocrisy.

Karolyi told reporters that the selection committee determined prior to the competition that Memmel would need a score of 14.000 on balance beam, her sole event, to earn an invitation to the Nationals. Memmel, back in action after recovering from a shoulder injury she suffered in last year's Nationals, fell short of that mark.

Gymnastics is by all accounts a subjective sport. There is no clock to race against, no photo finishes, just human beings who judge an athlete’s worth at any given moment.

Apparently, the same applies to the selection process. In the opinion of Dominique Moceanu, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team gold medalist, the Karolyi-led selection committee may be playing fast and loose with the rules. When it comes to who represents America at the Olympics, there is some wiggle room. In a sport where past controversy revolved around biased judging, this matter smacks of duplicity.

How can the selection committee explain turning away Memmel when Shawn Johnson competed at the 2011 Cover Girl Classic by performing on two events and failing to accumulate the 14.000 average criteria? That was the very same meet in which Memmel won silver in all-around! No offense to Johnson, but why is Memmel not worthy of a shot when she outscored her?

Furthermore, Nastia Liukin has not competed in three years, but did attend the Karolyi Ranch (aka U.S. Olympic training camp). So, how did she get to go from zero to Nationals?

Curiously, Karolyi stated that there were “no major surprises" at the Secret U.S. Classic last weekend (per ESPN). Could this mean the team had already been selected and the rest is a dog and pony show for USAG/NBC television revenue?

Perhaps things would have turned out differently had Memmel attended the U.S. Olympic training camp —which coincidentally is owned by the Karolyis.

If Memmel’s career is to end on a sad and sour note, and if you believe those who voiced their alarm with the current happenings under USA Gymnastics, then this sport that has been fighting against “subjective judging” allegations for decades has taken a major step backward.

Whatever happened to the Olympic motto—Citius, Altius, Fortius (Swifter, Higher, Stronger)? Perhaps it’s all in who has the real muscle.

.

Ladybbird · 08-06-12, 00:07

Aussie Swimmers in Hot Water-

London 2012: Australia Olympic swimmers in trouble over gun photo

• Picture of Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk causes controversy
• Australian Olympic squad members posed with shotguns

Associated Press, Thursday 7 June 2012 05.02 EDT

A photograph of Australian Olympic swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk in a US guns shop has caused controversy online.

Swimming Australia has ordered their controversial Olympic squad members Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk to remove photos of themselves posing with guns from social media sites.

The photo of Monk in a US gun shop holding two pump-action shotguns while standing beside D'Arcy, who had a pistol in each hand, spread quickly, with the Sydney Daily Telegraph asking on Twitter: "Are you offended by this photograph of Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk in a US gun shop?"

Swimming Australia issued a statement saying it "in no way condones these photos, and does not condone the posting of inappropriate content on Facebook, Twitter or any social media platform.

"This is a timely reminder for athletes to more be responsible to themselves, the public with whom they engage through social media, and the reputation of the sport.

"The athletes involved are currently returning from a training camp and competition in the US, and will be spoken to further upon their return."

D'Arcy is no stranger to controversy having been dropped from the 2008 Beijing Olympics team after assaulting fellow swimmer Simon Cowley.

Monk also landed himself in hot water when he claimed he broke his elbow in a hit-and-run incident last year, before admitting he fell off his skateboard.

D'Arcy is competing in the 200m butterfly in London while Monk is a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay team.

.

Ladybbird · 08-06-12, 00:11

Olympic Legend Dies at 52

Hockey great Vladimir Krutov dies

Vladimir Krutov led the Soviet team to gold in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Bleachersreport 7 June 2012
MOSCOW (AP)

Vladimir Krutov, one of the Soviet Union's all-time great ice hockey players and part of the national team's formidable KLM Line, has died. He was 52.

The Russian Hockey Federation said Krutov died Wednesday. It did not give a cause of death, but the ITAR-Tass news agency said he had been taken to a hospital several days earlier for stomach bleeding.

''Volodya was such a dependable and steadfast man that I would have gone anywhere with him — to war, to espionage, into peril. There are fewer and fewer guys like him in every generation of hockey players,'' federation president and former Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretyak told the Sport-Express newspaper.

Born in Moscow, Krutov gathered attention for his play with a local factory team Meteor and was then invited to the hockey school of the CSKA Moscow club. He played with the team between 1978-89.

Krutov and his CSKA teammates Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov formed one of the most potent scoring lines that hockey has ever seen, and led the Soviet team to gold in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He was also part of the team that lost to the United States at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and won five world championship titles in the 1980s.

Along with defensemen Vyacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, they became known as the ''Green Unit'' for the color of their practice jerseys.

He was one of the first Soviet players to play in the NHL, but spent only one undistinguished season with the Vancouver Canucks. He later played for Zurich and Swedish lower-league clubs Ostersund and Brunflo, and coached CSKA for one season in 2001-02.

After that, he was director at a state sports school. In 2010, he was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation's hall of fame.

.

Ladybbird · 12-06-12, 22:54

London Olympics 100m gold medal favourite Usain Bolt could face car crash charges

From: AFP
June 12, 2012 8:50AM

Can't outrun justice: Usain Bolt has been warned that no one is above the law after he crashed his car in Jamaica. Picture: AFP

GLOBAL sprinting superstar Usain Bolt could face criminal charges arising from Sunday's one-vehicle accident in Kingston.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds was quoted in a daily newspaper as saying criminal charges can be laid against the 100m and 200m world record holder if investigations suggest that he is at fault in the incident that took place early Sunday morning as the athlete drove home after attending a party the previous night.

The double Olympic sprint champion slammed his luxury BMW into a guard rail in the vicinity of the Half Way Tree, a busy transportation hub in Kingston, the island's capital city.

"No one is above the law and justice will be served with equity and thorough investigations will be undertaken just the same," Hinds is quoted as saying.

"We operate a legal regime here in Jamaica. All persons who are found guilty before the courts will go through the same process, and will be charged accordingly."

According to Jamaican law, drivers involved in accidents have 24 hours to report to the police and a police spokesman said they were expecting Bolt to report the incident by yesterday morning.

On Sunday, Bolt's publicist Carole Beckford had confirmed the incident and told members of the media that the 25-year-old had gone home to rest, having escaped any injuries.

Bolt had just returned home after a series of races in Europe, winning all three, and was expected to prepare for the Jamaican Olympic Trials set for June 29-July 1.

Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, who lost to Bolt in two of his three races, was also at the scene of the accidentbut was in another vehicle.

Sunday's crash was Bolt's second in three years after he rolled another BMW on a highway in 2009 but only walked away with minor abrasions to his foot.

Ladybbird · 12-06-12, 23:00

Zara Phillips: Queen's Granddaughter Will Be Highlight of Olympics for England

By Bleachersreport on June 12, 2012

LOCOG/Getty Images

There is about as good a chance of Zara Phillips failing to make England's Olympic roster as there is of David Beckham being left off the soccer roster.

Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter has been nominated for England's equestrian team for London 2012, according to the Associated Press, and though it's uncertain whether or not she'll be on the final roster, it would be crazy for her to be left off. She's the queen's granddaughter. Is this really a question?

Phillips even skipped the Diamond Jubilee to make sure she earned a nomination. She at least has to get credit for that.

Though Phillips was a long shot for the Olympic roster a couple of months ago, she put forth a strong showing at Bramham last weekend to seal up a nomination. Succeeding at Bramham was essential for Phillips after several events that would've given her an opportunity to showcase her skills were cancelled due to weather.

If England wants their equestrian team to earn a gold this summer, Phillips could be a crucial part of the mix, given her unique ability to handle pressure. Being the queen's granddaughter isn't going to get in her way of her riding abilities, nor is anything else. Eventing expert Jimmy Wofford told the AP's Danica Kirka:

She brings a unique ability to deal with pressure. I wouldn't want the lifestyle that produced it, but our format these days guarantees a cliffhanger finish. … You have to have Sunday afternoon nerve. … Every time Zara goes out now, she looks better.

It's not as though Phillips doesn't deserve to be competing for a gold this summer. She was tabbed to participate in the 2008 Olympics, but had to bow out when her horse got injured just a few weeks before competition began. It's been a long road back to proving she's at least deserving of consideration.

Even though her skills warrant it, though, there are some instances when a little bit of favoritism is necessary, too. This is like an ABC Family movie plot: The queen's granddaughter defies the odds to qualify for the Olympics and wins the gold medal for the host nation.

There's no way England can pass up that kind of an opportunity.

online24 · 18-06-12, 09:42

London 2012 Handball competition schedule announced

The London 2012 Olympic Handball competition schedule has been confirmed, revealing when teams will compete in the preliminary rounds of the tournaments on the Olympic Park.

Day one of the Women’s preliminary competition sees the reigning Olympic Champions Norway take on France in a repeat of the final of the 2011 World Championships.
Great Britain’s women will also play on day one against Montenegro, both teams making their Olympic Games debut.

Other notable matches on day seven include Croatia v Montenegro and Great Britain’s women against Angola. Angola are 11 times African Champions but were beaten by Great Britain 22 points to 20 at the London Test Event in November last year.

In the men’s competition, current Olympic Champions France start their tournament with a match against Great Britain on day two – the first time that the two teams will have played each other. On day four, Serbia play Croatia in a repeat of the Euro 2012 Championship match which Serbia won. Also on day four of the men’s preliminary competition, Denmark take on Spain. Spain (together with Russia) has participated in the most Olympic Handball tournaments with ten appearances and 3 bronze medals but have yet to win Gold.

The Handball competition will take place at the Copper Box on the Olympic Park which was the third Olympic Park venue to be completed. After the Games, the Copper Box will become a multi-use venue for community use, sports training and events, accommodating a variety of activities, ranging from international competition and concerts to training and competition in sports such as basketball, handball, badminton, boxing, martial arts, netball, table tennis, volleyball and goalball.

London 2012 Director of Sport, Debbie Jevans said: “The Copper Box is set to stage exciting world-class sport during the Olympic Games. We were able to test the venue through a series of test events including The London Handball Cup which was the first competition to take place in the Handball Arena on the Olympic Park and we are set for a fantastic couple of weeks of competition in the venue”

Dr Hassan Moustafa, IHF President said: “Handball has constantly been one of the major sports in the Olympic Programme since 1972, which makes the handball family very proud, as this is a clear signal for the worldwide interest in our sport. Looking upon the numbers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, handball was among the top sports concerning TV figures.

'And looking upon the ticket sales for the 2012 Olympic Games in London it is impressive how fast the handball tournament was sold out. The promotion of handball has been tremendous in Great Britain, since London was awarded as host of the 2012 Olympic Games in June 2005. We are proud to welcome the world of handball in London – and we are sure that we will see thrilling, brilliant matches with the best players of the world.”

Olympic men’s tournament:

Group A
France, Sweden, Iceland, Great Britain, Argentina, Tunisia

Group B
Spain, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Denmark, Korea

Olympic women’s tournament:

Group A
Montenegro, Russia, Croatia, Great Britain, Brazil, Angola

Group B
Norway, Spain, Denmark, France, Sweden, Korea

The full competition schedule can be viewed here

The first game at the Copper Box takes place on Saturday 28 July, with the first semi-finals taking place on Thursday 9 August for the women and Friday 10 August for the men.
The women’s gold medal match is on Saturday 11 August and the men’s on Sunday 12 August.
The men's quarter finals and all semi final and final matches will be played in the Basketball Arena.

ENDS

Ladybbird · 20-06-12, 23:09

Michael Phelps: U.S. Trials Plan Proves Swimmer Still Wants to Dominate

By Bleachersreport

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Swimming world take note: Michael Phelps is all in for London.

According to Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports, the Olympic legend will swim seven events at the U.S. Swimming Trials next week. If he qualifies for each and makes all three relay teams, he could conceivably race in 10 events at the 2012 London Olympics and break his own record for medals won at a single Olympiad (a record he shares with Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin).

Chances are that magical "10" figure won't hold. Phelps registered for nine events at the '08 trials before dropping three, and over-scheduling is a common practice at this all-important meet.

The historic and seductively rounded number that is stealing headlines today will likely fade with time. Even so, it's clear that Phelps intends to dominate London much like he did Beijing and Athens.

Those who believed that he would decelerate into retirement can now abandon that notion. Phelps may yet retire after London—as he has insisted for months now—but he isn't content to fade away.

Quite frankly, we should have seen this coming.

Phelps has always had a bipolar relationship with the water. Like many swimmers, he is susceptible to aquatic burnout—even to the point where he essentially stopped training in the fall of 2009.

Al Bello/Getty Images

But when rubber meets road and the big meets arrive, Phelps always comes front-crawling back. He can't help himself. Phelps lusts for victory in ways that can only be described as Jordan-esque.

When Bob Costas once drew that very comparison in any interview with Phelps, noting Jordan's singular ability to derive motivation from his competition, the swimming great seemed to agree.

"I welcome any comments," he said. "All they do is fire me up."

Phelps hates swimming, but he also needs swimming—if only as an outlet for his unquenchable desire to be the absolute best.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an earnest attempt for nine medals—a feat that would set him apart as the single-most decorated athlete at one Olympic Games.

Because for Phelps, a tepid first-place tie won't cut it. He has to rise above.

At least that is what I'm taking out of today's announcement. Phelps has lost some interest in swimming, but at base, he still runs on the same overzealous competitive drive that first propelled him to greatness.

In London, he is going to push his body to its physical limits one last time—because he's Michael Phelps, and that's what Michael Phelps does.

He won't opt for the graceful sendoff. He won't accept a token relay nod. He won't retire on typical terms.

And why should he?

Michael Phelps, after all, is no typical athlete.

Ladybbird · 20-06-12, 23:14

London 2012: Why NBA Must Not Give Up on Olympic Dream Team

By Bleachersreport, 20 June 2012

Just when you thought David Stern and the cabal of owners who control him were finished turning the world of professional basketball on its head, it appears that the Olympics may be the latest victim of greed gone awry (via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski):

NBA commissioner David Stern has been vague on the league’s motivation for pushing to enter an under-23 team for future Olympics and shifting the sport’s biggest stars to participation in the world championships, but the change of course is largely motivated by financial benefits, league and international sources told Yahoo! Sports.

A partnership with FIBA would be a far more lucrative endeavor given the possibility that NBA teams could get their hands on some of that World Cup revenue.

There's no question that the International Olympic Committee should rethink its monopolistic hold on the profits the Summer Games generate. Indeed, if Stern's flirtation with FIBA is simply a ploy to gain leverage in dealings with those pulling the strings at the Summer Olympics, then it would be nothing short of a well-played negotiating tactic.

However, if there's any real intent to follow through with the gesture, then we have a problem.

Wojnarowski seems to suggest this is far more than a bluff:

Stern says the NBA will take time to deliberate how it will proceed in the future, but multiple league and international sources insist there’s little chance the league will ever send its best players to the Summer Olympics beyond the 2012 London Games.

Choosing sides in the fracas between the NBA and Olympic Committee is a choice between two evils—and massively corporatized evils at that.

The Summer Olympics is a global institution that should be as much about tradition as it is dollars and cents. While all parties are surely to blame for the Games' loss of innocence, the decision to take the NBA's business elsewhere is a step in the wrong direction.

After all, the Summer Olympics date all the way back to 1896.

They have become a symbol of global cooperation and an opportunity for nations large and small to express their patriotic fervor in a spirit of peaceful camaraderie.

Mike Powell/Getty Images

Basketball was introduced as a demonstration event in the 1904 Summer Olympics and later awarded medals in 1936. The United States took home gold medals in the first seven of those events until the Soviet Union stole the show in 1972.

Twenty years later, the Games took on new meaning for the U.S., as professional players were finally allowed to play. Those players will be forever known as the Dream Team, a cast of superstars that included Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and a host of other Hall of Famers.

Since 1992, the U.S. has earned the gold medal in four of five competitions.

Sure, the Summer Olympics won't go anywhere even if the NBA's best and brightest do, but we'd still face the demise of a legacy that has shaped so many fans' appreciation of the Games.

This isn't a time for a globally scaled lockout. It's a time for pocketbooks to take a backseat to the integrity of worldwide competition, and a history of which the NBA should remain an important part.

Ladybbird · 25-07-12, 20:01

London 2012 -

Ladies Football - GB v New Zealand

Officially there are still two days to go until London 2012 begins, but the action kicks off TODAY as Team GB's women footballers, led by Hope Powell, opened the Games when they took on New Zealand in Cardiff.

Hope and glory: Can Hope Powell lead Team GB's footballers to gold?

Final score: Team GB 1-0 New Zealand

The final whistle has sounded as Team GB gave the London 2012 games a winning start for the home team. Steph Houghton was the hero with a excellently-struck free kick early in the second half.

5:54pm

Paddy Power 1-0 LOCOG

Earlier today we reported the legal wrangle between bookies Paddy Power and Olympic organisers LOCOG. We've just received a statement from Paddy Power, revealing the Olympic bosses have climbed down from their original position...

"In what must be deemed a gold medal winning U-turn, London 2012 organisers, LOCOG, have reversed their position from yesterday which demanded the removal of Paddy Power’s latest advertising campaign from poster sites around the Olympic City.
"The billboards in question were erected to promote the bookmaker’s sponsorship of an elite athletics event featuring an egg and spoon race that is scheduled to take place in the picturesque town of London, France on 01 August 2012 and is part of the bookmaker’s on-going “We Hear You” marketing campaign.
"Coincidentally today’s change of heart by LOCOG, which was communicated by their law firm Freshfields was taken just moments before Paddy Power’s law firm, Charles Russell, were set to enter the High Court in London seeking a court order against the Olympic organisers.
"The legal ruling was sought by Paddy Power on the grounds that their campaign does not breach LOCOG legislation on advertising around the 2012 Games.
"Over the past 24 hours, tens of thousands of Paddy Power fans turned to social media to show their support for the ad campaign and to vent their anger at LOCOG’s decision, resulting in the bookmaker trending on Twitter in the UK earlier today.
"Paddy Power have confirmed that they will be seeking to recoup their legal costs from LOCOG and if successful will donate the full amount to grassroots sports initiatives across the UK.
"A spokesperson from Paddy Power said “This is a victory for common sense and for each and every one of our customers and fans who supported us along the way. The athletes of London, France will be breathing a collective sigh of relief this afternoon. May the Games begin!”"
END

Well done Ladies

.

Ladybbird · 25-07-12, 20:20

London 2012: Greece expel triple jumper over racist Twitter remark

• Voula Papachristou expelled from London 2012 over tweet
• Triple jumper issued apology: 'I respect all people and races'

Guardian UK staff

Wednesday 25 July 2012 11.46 EDT

Voula Papachristou has been expelled from the Greek Olympic team. Photograph: Str/AFP/Getty Images

The Greece Olympic team have expelled their triple jumper Voula Papachristou after she made a racist remark on Twitter, days before she was due to compete at London 2012.

Papachristou, 23, who was part of the 105-strong Greek team in London, had commented on the widely reported appearance of Nile-virus-carrying mosquitoes in Athens by tweeting:

Quote:

"With so many Africans in Greece, at least the mosquitoes of West Nile will eat homemade food."

She subsequently deleted the message.

The comment provoked a furious reaction on Twitter, with responses including: "If you are serious, the Greek Olympic Team should put you on the first plane and send you back", and "Xenophobic comments from a Greek athlete in the Olympic mission are unacceptable. We are ashamed."
An announcement from the Greek Olympic Committee condemned the comment as "contrary to the values and ideals of the Olympic movement".

Papachristou later said:

Quote:

"I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.
"My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.
"I would like to apologise to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family."

Papachristou's coach, George Pomaski, said the expulsion was unduly harsh. "It's too much, the penalty should not have been so strict. She has already apologised for her remarks.
"This is a big disappointment not only for her but for her family and for myself, and anyone involved in the Greek team."
END

What a silly offensive irresponsable remark for her to make. However I do think the punishment given was too harsh.
But I feel very sorry for the Greek people, they really needed her to take part of the Olympics and win some medals, to give them all a much needed boost. They have been through such tough times of late, with the state of their economy.

Ladybbird · 25-07-12, 22:27

9 Athletes Suspended BEFORE The Olympics Begin- One Given 4 year Ban- 8 Given 2 Year Suspensions

IAAF suspends 9 athletes in 'sophisticated doping' cases ahead of the London Olympics

BBC News/AP, Wednesday, 25 July, 2012

The IAAF says it has suspended nine athletes ahead of the London Olympics for doping offences, including three who were caught in retests of samples from last year's world championships.

The governing body says six were caught in biological passport tests, which measure changes in an athlete's blood profile. The others were in retroactive testing from the championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Eight of the athletes received two-year suspensions, while one was handed a four-year ban.

The IAAF says the cases involved "sophisticated doping," including one involving human growth hormone and two of synthetic testosterone.

IAAF president Lamine Diack says the announcement shows the governing body will "do everything in our power to eradicate cheating."

A picture, (on the Attachment below this report), shows the doping control kits issued to all athletes should they be tested for banned enhancement drugs at the Team GB training camp at Loughborough University in central England on July 16;2012 ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
As athletes get ready to smash Olympic records in London;scientists are in a high-stakes race of their own to develop a test that will unmask anyone altering their genes in a desperate quest for gold.

Continued......

Doping Control Kit photo below- Credit: Lindsey Parnaby , AFP/Getty Images

Ladybbird · 25-07-12, 22:32

Drug testing may only catch one in eight athletes who take performance enhancing drugs: study

James Armstrong, Global News : Wednesday, 25 July, 2012

TORONTO – Thousands of elite athletes are descending upon London to take part in the 2012 London Olympics the concern remains that despite improvement in detection, some athletes using performance enhancing substances are still able to pass standard blood and urine tests.

The efforts to catch athletes who dope has also ramped up since Ben Johnson’s fall from grace in 1988 – gone are the days of tests after events for those who win a medal, being replaced by a record 5,600 scheduled tests in 2012 – up from 4,700 at the 2008 games in Beijing.

Though a small fraction – between 0.5 to one per cent according to experts - of elite athletes tested for prohibited substances return a positive result, a study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggests many more athletes have used prohibited drugs – most without being caught.

The study, done by Professor Heiko Striegel, and Rolf Ulrich of the University of Tübingen, and Perikles Simon from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation at the Johannes Gutenberg University surveyed elite athletes in Germany and found many athletes admitted to using prohibited substances at some point in their career – most without being caught.

The study issued a survey to 25,437 athletes tested in Germany between 2003 and 2005, of which only 205 actually tested positive for prohibited substances. Approximately 6.8 per cent of them admitted to having used doping substances – a conclusion, the study’s author note suggests “official doping tests underestimate the true prevalence of doping in elite sports by more than a factor of eight.”

Many prohibited substances, such as anabolic steroids, will become untraceable in an person’s blood after periods of no use.

“The cheating athlete has also got more sophisticated, so it’s a continuing battle if you like to make sure the scientists that we engage think like cheats, and be a jump ahead,” David Howman, Director-General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, said.

Though a new method of testing is being implemented by the CCES) in Ottawa and WADA – an agency working as a watchdog at the London games - that could effectively catch those who use prohibited substances between Olympics, or substances that are currently undetectable.

“The creative chemist can take a steroid, for example, and they can manipulate the molecular structure, change it a little bit, and then it’s harder for the lab to detect, because it’s true that the lab can only detect what it knows its looking for,” said Paul Melia from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).

The new method is a form of continuous test entitled “biological passports,” to which athletes are forced to submit.

“For each individual athlete, we establish their parameters in blood and urine for various specific parameters. With each subsequent test then, we’re comparing those parameters for that individual athlete against their own individual normal baseline parameters,“ said Melia.

The passports, through multiple sample collections, track the biological attributes of an athlete. Along with traditional blood and urine tests, doping officials are able to track an athlete throughout the off-season, regardless of whether they use substances which cannot be tracked.

“And if we see a significant deviation in the reticulates levels in their blood for example and we don’t know what substance or what method might account for that, it doesn’t matter,” said Melia.

Though some drugs or methods of cheating cannot be positively identified by blood and urine tests, the biological passport purports to detect those drugs by pointing to unusual changes compared to the athlete's normal sample measurements.

© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.

Ladybbird · 26-07-12, 16:37

Saudi Judoka Banned from Wearing Hijab at Olympics

BBC News 26 July

A competitor from Saudi Arabia, who is one of the country's first female athletes ever selected for the Olympics, will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition, the International Judo Federation said.

No headscarf: Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani arrives at Heathrow airport Photo: AFP

President Marius Vizer ruled that "according to the principles and spirit of judo," Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf.

Judo officials said they were very proud their sport was one of the first to welcome a Saudi female competitor, but announced on the eve of the London Games that she would not be allowed to fight with a headscarf

Saudi judoka Wojdan Shaherkani was on Thursday banned from wearing the hijab head scarf when she is fighting at the Olympic Games.

The 18-year-old heavyweight, part of a two-woman team sent from the conservative kingdom to an Olympics for the first time, was ordered by International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer to step onto the mat with her head uncovered.
"The Saudi Arabian athlete will take part in judo and she will fight according to the principle and spirit of judo, so without a hijab," said Vizer following Thursday's draw.
Judo applies strict safety rules and any covering on the head is deemed to present a risk to the fighter's health.
Shaherkani is due to take part in the women's judo competition on August 3.

Saudi Arabia only agreed to send a women's team to London on condition that their two athletes respect a strict dress code.
The country's most senior sports official Prince Nawaf bin Faisal had told local daily Al-Jazirah the two athletes would be allowed to compete as long as they will be "wearing suitable clothing that complies with sharia."
Additionally he added other stipulations that: "the athlete's guardian agrees and attends with her," and "there must also be no mixing with men during the Games".

Men and women share the judo training venue, warm-up area in the competition hall and fight side-by-side on the various mat areas inside the competition arena.

American-raised 800m runner Sarah Attar is the second woman in the Saudi squad in London.
She has spent little time in the Islamic kingdom and grew up mostly in California, where she took up cross country running.
Attar appears without a headscarf in her official London 2012 photo.

For Shaherkani her participation is also contentious on other safety grounds as she has only been involved in the sport for two years and is not even a black belt.
That means she very likely is nowhere near the level of the international fighters she will be coming up against.
She will fight Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica, ranked 13 in the world, in the first round.

Ladybbird · 26-07-12, 17:34

London 2012 Olympics: Egyptian athletes 'given fake Nike kits' to wear at London Games

An Egyptian athlete has claimed she had to buy her own Olympic kit after her national Olympic committee handed out fake Nike gear to participants.

Telegraph.UK, 26 July 2012

Fake stash: Egyptian athletes have reportedly paid up to £200 for 'real' kit Photo: GETTY IMAGES

It is understood the Egyptian OlympicCommittee chose a vendor for its athletes’ training and village wear who supplied counterfeit clothing bearing the Nike brand.

Yomna Khallaf, 20, a member of Egypt’s synchronised swimming team, confirmed on Twitter that the athletes were given fake Nike wear.

When asked by another user if the news was true, she wrote: “Yes it is. The bags for example have big nike logo in the front and the zippers are addidas [sic].”

Ms Khallaf added: “It’s so frustrating that we had to pay extra 2000 pounds to have other proper stuff to wear so that we can look okay not even good.” Two thousand Egyptian pounds is just over £200.

A spokesman from Nike said: “Nike was recently made aware that the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) chose a vendor for its athletes' training and village wear who is alleged to have supplied counterfeit footwear and apparel bearing the Nike trademarks.

“Nike is highly concerned that if these allegations are true, the athletes will have received products that do not meet Nike’s quality standards.
"Nike’s authorised distributor in Egypt has sent two official communications to the EOC on this issue and no response has been received.
"On July 20, 2012, Nike also sent a written communication to the EOC requesting the committee to take immediate action. To date, we have not received a response.
“We believe this issue with the EOC is an isolated incident. Nike consistently acts to protect its brand and actively engages with law enforcement agencies and Customs authorities to stop counterfeit product reaching consumers and athletes.”
Egypt is sending 117 athletes to London 2012. The Egyptian Olympic Committee could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

RELATED

London 2012 Olympics: Spanish Games team laughing stock after Bosco provide garish uniforms

If there were a gold medal on offer for most fashionable kit at the London Games it's fair to say that Spain would not manage a podium finish.

Que pasa? Saúl Craviotto took to Twitter to show his many fans what the new Spanish Olympic kit looks like Photo: TWITTER

Thumbs up: but Alex Fàbregas tweeted the words: "Olympic equipment, there are no adjectives ..." Photo: TWITTER

By Oliver Pickup, Telegraph UK

With the Spanish contingent making themselves at home in the Athletes' Village with only three days to go until the Olympic Opening Ceremony, many are making use of their time by complaining about their garish uniforms, which look like your granny's special rug – the one handed down to her by her grandmother.

Many made use of idle fingers by turning to Twitter to reveal their true feelings about their Games clothing, including reigning sprint canoe gold medallist Saúl Craviotto who accompanied a picture of him in his regalia (complete with España hat and Rucksac) with the words: "At home trying on my Olympics clothes. It's best if I don't give an opinion, I will leave it up to you ..."

Additionally former tennis world No 1 Carlos Moya wrote on Twitter: “Looking forward to seeing Feliciano Lopez wearing the official Olympic uniform. He’ll never have worn anything so ugly in his life.”

Ladybbird · 26-07-12, 17:39

London 2012 Olympics: opening Games ceremony out of this world, so cancel your plans for Friday night

Late on Monday night, a cool breeze of Olympic enthusiasm blew through a stifling Bakerloo Line train. A gaggle of passengers climbed aboard, their excitement irrepressible as they travelled home from a rehearsal of the opening ceremony that on Friday night will break the ice on London’s Olympic party.

It's a secret: spectators lucky enough to attend rehearsals at the Olympic Park were unanimous in their belief that the opening ceremony is not to be missed Photo: AP

If Danny Boyle had handed out laughing gas and tax rebates at the penultimate run-through in Stratford he could not have got warmer reviews. Strangers when they got on the train, the spectators grinned and babbled wide-eyed to each other about what they had seen.

“It was jaw dropping”, “Amazing, I didn’t know where to look”, “It makes you really want to get behind them”.

A pact among those present prevented them sharing details. Boyle asked people to keep the secret before the show, and the hashtag #savethesurprise was displayed on the screens in the stadium. In the main, the covenant has held.

Searching out the hash-tag on Twitter on Tuesday revealed a community of enthusiasts sending virtual nods and winks like parents before the best Christmas presents are opened.

“Splendidly British and magnificently bonkers,” said one. “If you’ve got plans Friday night, cancel them. Opening ceremony is out of this world,” said another.

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 02:40

LONDON CALLING
Olympics 2012

OPENING CEREMONY BEGINS

The London 2012 opening ceremony began as Tour de France winner, UK'sBradley Wiggins rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world.

London 2012: Opening Ceremony Wows the Queen and the World with Wit and Drama

The London 2012 Olympic Games were kick-started with an opening ceremony that stunned the world, showed the best of British history in a riot of colour, costume and comedy and even brought praise from the Queen. Unfortunately the only criticism came from some of the media in the US.

In Pictures: Olympic opening ceremony
Source; BBC

The Queen has declared the London Olympics open following a spectacular ceremony, featuring David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame which is formed from 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world.

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge them.

The Queen has declared the London Olympics open following a spectacular ceremony, featuring David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame which is formed from 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world.
Games chief Seb Coe welcomed the world to London, saying the event celebrates "what is best about mankind".
The three-hour spectacle, a quirky take on UK life, was viewed by TV audiences around the globe.
Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, wearing a yellow jersey, rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to start the show.
Flag-bearer Sir Chris Hoy led out Team GB, who were dressed in white and gold tracksuits, to loud applause.
The athletes taking part in the Games - led, as tradition dictates, by the Olympics' spiritual home Greece - made laps of the stadium bearing their nations' flags.
There were huge cheers for the Irish team - and for Usain Bolt, who carried the flag for Jamaica.
David Beckham took to the Thames with the Olympic Torch, making his way to the stadium by powerboat.
All four countries of the UK were represented in song, as the show capturing the best of Britain began.
A classical orchestra sitting on the grass played Elgar's Nimrod. A turning waterwheel and a game of cricket completed the pastoral scene.
A video of James Bond - actor Daniel Craig - meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace was broadcast to the audience. A helicopter then flew over the stadium to the sound of the Bond theme tune, as two figures parachuted out of the helicopter, one dressed as the monarch.
As if by magic, the Queen appeared in the stands at the stadium - part of a crowd of about 80,000 - amid cheers.
The artistic director, Danny Boyle, pledged a ceremony with a theme of This is for Everyone.
The show took viewers through great revolutions in British society, from an agricultural setting through to the Industrial Revolution.
Steelworkers began forging material that transformed into golden Olympic rings, which lifted into the air to be suspended above the performers.
The Oscar-winning film director added that it contains a celebration of the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people. He said there were to be no spectators - everyone in the stadium will be part of the magic.
One sequence - during which author JK Rowling delivered a reading - entitled Second to the right, and straight on till morning, honoured two of Britain's greatest achievements: its amazing body of children's literature and the NHS.
Spectators lucky enough to get tickets to the Olympic Stadium event braved the rain despite forecasters predicting dry weather.
A Red Arrows fly-past marked the start of the pre-show at the symbolic time of 20:12 BST (19:12 GMT).

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 03:38

LONDON CALLING
Olympics 2012

The Fireworks...
Source; Telegraph UK

London 2012 Olympics: Fireworks

London 2012 Olympics:

.

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 18:57

RESULTS AS AT 7PM GMT (2pm Canada ET)

Archery

18:01 Women's team gold medal match
South Korea 210 KOR
China 209 CHN
17:33 Women's team bronze medal match
Japan 209 JPN
Russia 207 RUS
17:05 Women's team semi-final
China 208 CHN
Russia 207 RUS
16:40 Women's team semi-final
South Korea 221 KOR
Japan 206 JPN
16:15 Women's team quarter-finals
United States 213 USA
China 218 CHN
15:50 Women's team quarter-finals
Russia 216 RUS
Chinese Taipei 216 TPE
15:25 Women's team quarter-finals
Japan 219 JPN
Mexico 209 MEX
15:00 Women's team quarter-finals
South Korea 206 KOR
Denmark 195 DEN
10:15 Women's team round of 16 eliminations
Italy 199 ITA
China 200 CHN
09:50 Women's team round of 16 eliminations
Russia 215 RUS
Great Britain 208 GBR
09:25 Women's team round of 16 eliminations
Japan 207 JPN
Ukraine 192 UKR
09:00 Women's team round of 16 eliminations
Denmark 211 DEN
India 210 IND

Badminton

15:20 Men's doubles group play stage - group b
Bodin Isara / Maneepong Jongjit THA
bt 21-15, 21-14
Sung Hyun Ko / Yeon Seong Yoo KOR
14:19 Women's singles group play stage - group j
Pui Yin Yip HKG
bt 21-8, 21-7
Sara Kvaerno NOR
14:17 Women's doubles group play stage - group b
Mizuki Fujii / Reika Kakiiwa JPN
bt 16-21, 21-10, 21-19
Shinta Mulia Sari / Lei Yao SIN
14:15 Men's doubles group play stage - group d
Kien Keat Koo / Boon Heong Tan MAS
bt 21-12, 21-14
Howard Bach / Tony Gunawan USA
13:44 Men's singles group play stage - group i
Derek Wong SIN
bt 21-9, 21-15
Misha Zilberman ISR
13:42 Women's singles group play stage - group e
Saina Nehwal IND
bt 21-9, 21-4
Sabrina Jaquet SUI
13:40 Men's singles group play stage - group e
Long Chen CHN
bt 21-12, 21-17
Boonsak Ponsana THA
13:09 Women's singles group play stage - group h
Sayaka Sato JPN
bt 22-20, 21-18
Maja Tvrdy SLO
13:07 Men's singles group play stage - group b
Simon Santoso INA
bt 21-12, 21-8
Raul Must EST
13:05 Mixed doubles group play stage - group c
Thomas Laybourn / Kamilla Rytter Juhl DEN
bt 21-12, 21-16
Diju V / Jwala Gutta IND
12:30 Women's singles group play stage - group f
Jie Yao NED
bt 21-16, 21-7
Akvile Stapusaityte LTU
12:30 Mixed doubles group play stage - group d
Sudket Prapakamol / Saralee Thoungthongkam THA
bt 21-15, 21-16
Hung Ling Chen / Wen Hsing Cheng TPE
12:30 Mixed doubles group play stage - group a
Nan Zhang / Yunlei Zhao CHN
bt 21-9, 21-18
Alexandr Nikolaenko / Valeria Sorokina RUS
09:44 Men's doubles group play stage - group a
Chieh Min Fang / Sheng Mu Lee TPE
bt 21-14, 21-13
Ross Smith / Glenn Warfe AUS
09:42 Men's doubles group play stage - group c
Biao Chai / Zhendong Guo CHN
bt 21-8, 21-13
Dorian Lance James / Willem Viljoen RSA
09:40 Women's doubles group play stage - group a
Kyung Eun Jung / Ha Na Kim KOR
bt 21-5, 21-11
Alex Bruce / Michele Li CAN
09:07 Mixed doubles group play stage - group c
Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir INA
bt 21-19, 21-12
Yong Dae Lee / Jung Eun Ha KOR
09:05 Men's singles group play stage - group j
Hyun Il Lee KOR
bt 21-12, 21-7
Rodrigo Pacheco Carrillo PER
09:00 Women's singles group play stage - group m
Ratchanok Intanon THA
bt 21-13, 21-5
Thilini Jayasinghe SRI
08:30 Women's singles group play stage - group d
Juan Gu SIN
bt 21-5, 21-11
Monika Fasungova SVK

Basketball

16:45 Men's preliminary round group B
Spain 97 ESP
China 81 CHN
14:30 Men's preliminary round group A
United States 98 USA
France 71 FRA
11:15 Men's preliminary round group B
Brazil 75 BRA
Australia 71 AUS
09:00 Men's preliminary round group A
Nigeria 60 NGR
Tunisia 56 TUN

Beach Volleyball

16:30 Women's preliminary - pool E - match 9
Germany GER
bt 21-18, 19-21, 15-8
Australia AUS
15:30 Men's preliminary - pool E - match 10
Latvia LAT
bt 19-21, 23-21, 15-9
Germany GER
14:30 Men's preliminary - pool E - match 9
Holland NED
bt 21-18, 17-21, 15-10
Venezuela VEN
12:00 Women's preliminary - pool D - match 7
Spain ESP
bt 14-21, 21-16, 15-11
Holland NED
11:00 Men's preliminary - pool A - match 1
Brazil BRA
bt 19-21, 21-17, 16-14
Austria AUT
10:00 Men's preliminary - pool B - match 3
Spain ESP
bt 25-23, 21-16
Czech Republic CZE
09:00 Women's preliminary - pool F - match 11
Italy ITA
bt 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
Russia RUS

Boxing

16:27 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Freddie Evans 18 GBR
Ilyas Abbadi 10 ALG
16:11 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Cameron Hammond 13 AUS
Moustapha Abdoulaye Hima 6 NIG
15:56 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Custio Clayton 12 CAN
Oscar Molina Casillas 8 MEX
15:39 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Alexis Vastine 16 FRA
Patrick Wojcicki 12 GER
15:23 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Tuvshinbat Byamba 17 MGL
Yannick Mitoumba Mbemy 4 GAB
15:07 Men's welterweight (69kg) round of 32
Vasilii Belous 20 MDA
Selemani Kidunda 7 TAN
14:51 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Qiang Liu 20 CHN
Luke Jackson 7 AUS
14:36 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Jai Bhagwan 18 IND
Andrique Allisop 8 SEY
14:18 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Gani Zhailauov 12 KAZ
Saylom Ardee 12 THA
14:03 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Felix Verdejo Sanchez 11 PUR
Juan Huertas Garcia 5 PAN
13:46 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Ahmed Mejri 16 TUN
Shafiq Chitou 9 BEN
13:31 Men's lightweight (60kg) round of 32
Wellington Arias Romero 17 DOM
Eduar Marriaga Campo 8 COL

Cycling Road

12:00 Women's road race

Marianne Vos 3:35:29 NED
Elizabeth Armitstead 3:35:29 GBR
Olga Zabelinskaya 3:35:31 RUS
4 Ina Teutenberg 3:35:56 GER
5 Giorgia Bronzini 3:35:56 ITA
6 Emma Johansson 3:35:56 SWE
7 Shelley Olds 3:35:56 USA
8 Pauline Ferrand Prevot 3:35:56 FRA
9 Liesbet de Vocht 3:35:56 BEL
10 Aude Biannic 3:35:56 FRA
11 Katarzyna Pawlowska 3:35:56 POL
12 Joelle Numainville 3:35:56 CAN
13 Ahreum Na 3:35:56 KOR
14 Annemiek van Vleuten 3:35:56 NED
15 Alena Amialiusik 3:35:56 BLR
16 Ashleigh Moolman 3:35:56 RSA
17 Grete Treier 3:35:56 EST
18 Linda Melanie Villumsen 3:35:56 NZL
19 Emilia Fahlin 3:35:56 SWE
20 Pia Sundstedt 3:35:56 FIN
21 Christine Majerus 3:35:56 LUX
22 Polona Batagelj 3:35:56 SLO
23 Clemilda Fernandes Silva 3:35:56 BRA
24 Evelyn Stevens 3:35:56 USA
25 Tatiana Antoshina 3:35:56 RUS
26 Evelyn Yesenia Garcia Marroquin 3:35:56 ESA
27 Denise Ramsden 3:35:56 CAN
28 Joanna van de Winkel 3:35:56 RSA
29 Maaike Polspoel 3:36:01 BEL
30 Tatiana Guderzo 3:36:01 ITA
31 Nicole Cooke 3:36:01 GBR
32 Clara Hughes 3:36:01 CAN
33 Trixi Worrack 3:36:04 GER
34 Noemi Cantele 3:36:04 ITA
35 Kristin Armstrong 3:36:16 USA
36 Amber Neben 3:36:20 USA
37 Judith Arndt 3:36:28 GER
38 Larisa Pankova 3:37:22 RUS
39 Shara Gillow 3:37:22 AUS
40 Emma Pooley 3:37:26 GBR
Ingrid Drexel MEX
Loes Gunnewijk NED
Charlotte Becker GER
Xin Liu CHN
Monia Baccaille ITA
Fernanda da Silva Souza BRA
Ellen van Dijk NED
Lucy Martin GBR
Mei Yu Hsiao TPE
Alona Andruk UKR
Audrey Cordon FRA
Ludivine Henrion BEL
Robyn de Groot RSA
Amanda Spratt AUS
Chloe Hosking AUS
Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso CUB
Emilie Moberg NOR
Isabelle Soderberg SWE
Wan Yiu Jamie Wong HKG
Mayuko Hagiwara JPN
Danielys Garcia VEN
Paola Andrea Munoz Grandon CHI
Aurelie Halbwachs MRI
Elena Tchalykh AZE
Juthatip Maneephan THA
Janildes Fernandes Silva BRA

Canoe Slalom

16:48 Men's kayak (K1) heats second run

1 Hannes Aigner 83.49 GER
2 Vavrinec Hradilek 87.66 CZE
3 Mathieu Doby 87.92 BEL
4 Peter Kauzer 88.10 SLO
5 Mike Kurt 88.48 SUI
6 Mike Dawson 88.58 NZL
7 Mateusz Polaczyk 88.60 POL
8 Daniele Molmenti 88.68 ITA
9 Richard Hounslow 89.12 GBR
10 Benjamin Boukpeti 90.52 TOG
11 Eoin Rheinisch 90.72 IRL
12 Samuel Hernanz 91.25 ESP
13 Kazuki Yazawa 92.57 JPN
14 Helmut Oblinger 92.66 AUT
15 Cunguang Huang 94.54 CHN
16 Warwick Draper 95.08 AUS
17 Hermann Husslein 95.11 THA
18 Michael Tayler 97.64 CAN
19 Scott Parsons 141.72 USA
20 Dinko Mulic 143.28 CRO
21 Jonathan Akinyemi 146.95 NGR
22 Etienne Daille 241.73 FRA

15:47 Men's canoe single (C1) heats second run

1 Michal Martikan 90.56 SVK
2 Takuya Haneda 92.72 JPN
3 Sideris Tasiadis 92.83 GER
4 David Florence 93.04 GBR
5 Grzegorz Kiljanek 93.50 POL
6 Aleksandr Lipatov 95.51 RUS
7 Zhiqiang Teng 96.06 CHN
8 Ander Elosegi 96.60 ESP
9 Kynan Maley 96.68 AUS
10 Tony Estanguet 99.20 FRA
11 Stefano Cipressi 99.74 ITA
12 Casey Eichfeld 102.02 USA
13 Christos Tsakmakis 105.22 GRE
14 Sebastian Rossi 107.52 ARG
15 Benjamin Savsek 203.42 SLO
16 Stanislav Jezek 206.82 CZE
17 Rafail Vergoyazov 225.23 KAZ

14:31 Men's kayak (K1) heats first run

1 Samuel Hernanz 87.07 ESP
2 Vavrinec Hradilek 87.44 CZE
3 Mike Kurt 88.14 SUI
4 Mateusz Polaczyk 88.51 POL
5 Helmut Oblinger 88.81 AUT
6 Eoin Rheinisch 89.97 IRL
7 Etienne Daille 90.12 FRA
8 Mike Dawson 90.90 NZL
9 Peter Kauzer 90.98 SLO
10 Daniele Molmenti 91.40 ITA
11 Hannes Aigner 92.56 GER
12 Mathieu Doby 92.74 BEL
13 Scott Parsons 94.16 USA
14 Cunguang Huang 94.40 CHN
14 Richard Hounslow 94.40 GBR
16 Warwick Draper 95.20 AUS
17 Benjamin Boukpeti 95.28 TOG
18 Kazuki Yazawa 96.66 JPN
19 Hermann Husslein 100.67 THA
20 Jonathan Akinyemi 104.70 NGR
21 Michael Tayler 155.89 CAN
22 Dinko Mulic 293.58 CRO

13:30 Men's canoe single (C1) heats first run

1 Benjamin Savsek 90.83 SLO
2 Ander Elosegi 93.24 ESP
2 Tony Estanguet 93.24 FRA
4 Stanislav Jezek 94.09 CZE
5 Zhiqiang Teng 95.68 CHN
6 Kynan Maley 96.07 AUS
7 Sideris Tasiadis 96.12 GER
8 Aleksandr Lipatov 96.13 RUS
9 Stefano Cipressi 96.40 ITA
10 Casey Eichfeld 97.04 USA
11 Grzegorz Kiljanek 101.03 POL
12 Takuya Haneda 101.13 JPN
13 David Florence 101.60 GBR
14 Sebastian Rossi 109.41 ARG
15 Rafail Vergoyazov 125.49 KAZ
16 Michal Martikan 139.46 SVK
17 Christos Tsakmakis 165.79 GRE

Diving

15:00 Women's synchronised 3m springboard final

China 346.20 CHN
United States 321.90 USA
Canada 316.80 CAN
4 Italy 314.10 ITA
5 Australia 304.95 AUS
6 Ukraine 302.40 UKR
7 Great Britain 285.60 GBR
8 Malaysia 283.50 MAS

Football

15:00 Men's group C - match 09

Brazil 3 BRA
Belarus 1 BLR

14:30 Men's group B - match 10

Mexico 2 MEX
Gabon 0 GAB

12:00 Men's group C - match 11

Egypt 1 EGY
New Zealand 1 NZL

Fencing

18:20 Men's sabre individual semi-finals semi-final 2

Diego Occhiuzzi 15 ITA
Rares Dumitrescu 11 ROU

18:00 Men's sabre individual semi-finals semi-final 1

Aron Szilagyi 15 HUN
Nikolay Kovalev 7 RUS

14:10 Men's sabre individual quarter-finals quarter-final 1

Nikolay Kovalev 15 RUS
Nicolas Limbach 12 GER

14:10 Men's sabre individual quarter-finals quarter-final 2

Aron Szilagyi 15 HUN
Max Hartung 13 GER

14:10 Men's sabre individual quarter-finals quarter-final 3

Diego Occhiuzzi 15 ITA
Timothy Morehouse 9 USA

14:10 Men's sabre individual quarter-finals quarter-final 4

Rares Dumitrescu 15 ROU
Daryl Homer 13 USA

13:30 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Nikolay Kovalev 15 RUS
Woo Young Won 11 KOR

13:30 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Max Hartung 15 GER
Bongil Gu 14 KOR

13:30 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Timothy Morehouse 15 USA
Dmitri Lapkes 13 BLR

13:30 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Daryl Homer 15 USA
Alexey Yakimenko 14 RUS

13:10 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Nicolas Limbach 15 GER
Benedikt Wagner 7 GER

13:10 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Aron Szilagyi 15 HUN
Man Zhong 10 CHN

13:10 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Diego Occhiuzzi 15 ITA
Aldo Montano 13 ITA

13:10 Men's sabre individual round of 16

Rares Dumitrescu 15 ROU
Aliaksandr Buikevich 6 BLR

12:30 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Woo Young Won 15 KOR
Jingzhi Wang 6 CHN

12:30 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Bongil Gu 15 KOR
Florin Zalomir 12 ROU

12:30 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Timothy Morehouse 15 USA
Veniamin Reshetnikov 6 RUS

12:30 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Alexey Yakimenko 15 RUS
Hernan Jansen Brito 4 VEN

12:10 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Nikolay Kovalev 15 RUS
James Williams 12 USA

12:10 Men's sabre individual round of 32

Max Hartung 15 GER
Luigi Tarantino 14 ITA

Handball

16:15 Men's group B - match 4

Spain 26 ESP
Serbia 21 SRB

14:30 Men's group A - match 3

Sweden 28 SWE
Tunisia 21 TUN

11:15 Men's group B - match 2

Croatia 31 CRO
South Korea 21 KOR

09:30 Men's group A - match 1

Iceland 31 ISL
Argentina 25 ARG
Hockey

16:00 Women's pool B match 4

Argentina 7 ARG
South Africa 1 RSA

13:45 Women's pool A match 3

China 4 CHN
South Korea 0 KOR

10:45 Women's pool A match 2

Holland 3 NED
Belgium 0 BEL

08:30 Women's pool B match 1

New Zealand 1 NZL
Australia 0 AUS

Judo

16:10 Men's -66 kg final - gold medal contest

Lasha Shavdatuashvili 001 GEO
Miklos Ungvari 0001 HUN

16:00 Women's -52 kg final - gold medal contest

Kum Ae An 001 PRK
Yanet Bermoy Acosta 000 CUB

15:17 Men's -66 kg bronze medal contest B

Jun-Ho Cho 000 KOR
Sugoi Uriarte 0001 ESP

15:10 Men's -66 kg bronze medal contest A

Masashi Ebinuma 110 JPN
Pawel Zagrodnik 0101 POL

15:03 Women's -52 kg bronze medal contest B

Priscilla Gneto 1012 FRA
Ilse Heylen 0012 BEL

14:56 Women's -52 kg bronze medal contest A

Rosalba Forciniti 000 ITA
Marie Muller 0001 LUX

14:49 Men's -66 kg semi-final of table B

Lasha Shavdatuashvili 100 GEO
Masashi Ebinuma 000 JPN

14:42 Men's -66 kg semi-final of table A

Miklos Ungvari 0011 HUN
Sugoi Uriarte 000 ESP

14:35 Men's -66 kg repechage contest

Jun-Ho Cho 0021 KOR
Colin Oates 0002 GBR

14:28 Men's -66 kg repechage contest

Pawel Zagrodnik 010 POL
Tarlan Karimov 000 AZE

14:21 Women's -52 kg semi-final of table B

Kum Ae An 101 PRK
Rosalba Forciniti 000 ITA

14:14 Women's -52 kg semi-final of table A

Yanet Bermoy Acosta 011 CUB
Ilse Heylen 0002 BEL

14:07 Women's -52 kg repechage contest

Priscilla Gneto 0021 FRA
Kyung-Ok Kim 0002 KOR

14:00 Women's -52 kg repechage contest

Marie Muller 101 LUX
Christianne Legentil 0002 MRI

12:25 Men's -66 kg quarter-final

Miklos Ungvari 001 HUN
Pawel Zagrodnik 0002 POL

12:18 Men's -66 kg quarter-final

Sugoi Uriarte 0021 ESP
Tarlan Karimov 0001 AZE

12:18 Men's -66 kg quarter-final

Masashi Ebinuma 0001 JPN
Jun-Ho Cho 0001 KOR

12:11 Men's -66 kg quarter-final

Lasha Shavdatuashvili 100 GEO
Colin Oates 000 GBR

12:11 Women's -52 kg quarter-final

Ilse Heylen 002 BEL
Christianne Legentil 0002 MRI

12:04 Women's -52 kg quarter-final

Yanet Bermoy Acosta 0011 CUB
Marie Muller 0002 LUX

Rowing

12:00 Women's eight heat 2

1 Canada 6:13.91 CAN Qualified
2 Romania 6:16.61 ROU Qualified
3 Holland 6:18.98 NED Qualified

11:50 Women's eight heat 1

1 United States 6:14.68 USA Qualified
2 Australia 6:20.89 AUS Qualified
3 Great Britain 6:23.51 GBR Qualified
4 Germany 6:34.32 GER Qualified

11:40 Lightweight men's double sculls heat 4

1 France 6:40.89 FRA Qualified
2 Germany 6:49.44 GER Qualified
3 Japan 6:54.01 JPN Qualified
4 Uruguay 6:58.63 URU Qualified
5 Hong Kong 6:59.52 HKG Qualified
11:30 Lightweight men's double sculls heat 3

1 Denmark 6:33.11 DEN Qualified
2 Norway 6:34.00 NOR Qualified
3 Cuba 6:36.31 CUB Qualified
4 Hungary 6:39.80 HUN Qualified
5 Greece 6:42.13 GRE Qualified

11:20 Lightweight men's double sculls heat 2

1 Great Britain 6:36.29 GBR Qualified
2 New Zealand 6:37.02 NZL Qualified
3 Australia 6:47.33 AUS Qualified
4 China 6:57.67 CHN Qualified
5 Argentina 7:01.76 ARG Qualified

11:10 Lightweight men's double sculls heat 1

1 Italy 6:35.72 ITA Qualified
2 Portugal 6:37.91 POR Qualified
3 Canada 6:42.59 CAN Qualified
4 India 6:56.60 IND Qualified
5 Egypt 6:59.57 EGY Qualified

11:00 Lightweight women's double sculls heat 3

1 China 7:15.57 CHN Qualified
2 Germany 7:19.24 GER Qualified
3 Japan 7:30.29 JPN Qualified
4 South Korea 7:31.98 KOR Qualified
5 Vietnam 7:50.06 VIE Qualified

10:50 Lightweight women's double sculls heat 2

1 Greece 7:03.66 GRE Qualified
2 Australia 7:05.30 AUS Qualified
3 United States 7:08.46 USA Qualified
4 Holland 7:10.49 NED Qualified
5 Canada 7:10.89 CAN Qualified
6 Brazil 7:34.37 BRA Qualified

10:40 Lightweight women's double sculls heat 1

1 Great Britain 6:56.97 GBR Qualified
2 Denmark 6:59.94 DEN Qualified
3 New Zealand 7:02.78 NZL Qualified
4 Cuba 7:12.99 CUB Qualified
5 Argentina 7:33.37 ARG Qualified
6 Egypt 7:45.23 EGY Qualified

10:30 Women's single sculls repechage 2

1 Camila Vargas Palomo 7:53.38 ESA Qualified
2 Soulmaz Abbasiazad 8:05.99 IRI Qualified
3 Shwe Zin Latt 8:09.59 MYA Qualified
4 Racha Soula 8:10.76 TUN Qualified

10:20 Women's single sculls repechage 1

1 Yeji Kim 7:50.64 KOR Qualified
2 Lucia Palermo 7:52.49 ARG Qualified
3 Svetlana Germanovich 7:53.63 KAZ Qualified
4 Amina Rouba 8:12.83 ALG Qualified

10:10 Men's single sculls repechage 3

1 Anderson Nocetti 7:07.17 BRA Qualified
2 Oscar Vasquez Ochoa 7:09.12 CHI Qualified
3 Sau Wah So 7:13.75 HKG Qualified
4 Vladislav Yakovlev 7:22.00 KAZ Qualified
5 Roberto Lopez 7:27.75 ESA Qualified

10:00 Men's single sculls repechage 2

1 Mindaugas Griskonis 7:00.19 LTU Qualified
2 Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh 7:11.55 IRI Qualified
3 James Fraser-Mackenzie 7:19.85 ZIM Qualified
4 Hamadou Djibo Issaka 8:39.66 NIG Qualified
5 Ming-Hui Wang TPE Qualified

09:50 Men's single sculls repechage 1

1 Sawarn Singh 7:00.49 IND Qualified
2 Dongyong Kim 7:03.91 KOR Qualified
3 Victor Aspillaga Alayza 7:10.54 PER Qualified
4 Aymen Mejri 7:11.94 TUN Qualified
5 Paul Etia Ndoumbe 7:24.15 CMR Qualified

09:40 Lightweight men's coxless four repechage 1

1 United States 6:00.86 USA Qualified
2 Italy 6:01.66 ITA Qualified
3 Czech Republic 6:02.23 CZE Qualified
4 Poland 6:04.46 POL

09:30 Men's double sculls repechage 1

1 Australia 6:25.36 AUS Qualified
2 Ukraine 6:30.19 UKR Qualified
3 Canada 6:30.74 CAN Qualified
4 Estonia 6:38.50 EST

Sailing

16:40 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 12
Spain 1 ESP
United States 0 USA
16:35 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 11
Australia 1 AUS
France 0 FRA
16:30 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 10
Finland 1 FIN
Portugal 0 POR
15:10 Star - Men's keelboat - race 2
1 Brazil 1 BRA
2 Great Britain 2 GBR
3 Poland 3 POL
4 Sweden 4 SWE
5 Norway 5 NOR
6 Ireland 6 IRL
7 New Zealand 7 NZL
8 Switzerland 8 SUI
9 Germany 9 GER
10 Canada 10 CAN
11 Denmark 11 DEN
12 Croatia 12 CRO
13 France 13 FRA
14 United States 14 USA
15 Portugal 15 POR
16 Greece 16 GRE
15:40 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 9
Spain 1 ESP
Great Britain 0 GBR
15:35 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 8
United States 1 USA
Denmark 0 DEN
15:30 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 7
Russia 1 RUS
Holland 0 NED
14:40 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 6
New Zealand 1 NZL
Sweden 0 SWE
14:35 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 5
France 1 FRA
Portugal 0 POR
14:30 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 4
Australia 1 AUS
Finland 0 FIN
13:30 Star - Men's keelboat - race 1
1 France 1 FRA
2 Ireland 2 IRL
3 Greece 3 GRE
4 Brazil 4 BRA
5 United States 5 USA
6 Germany 6 GER
7 Norway 7 NOR
8 Croatia 8 CRO
9 Poland 9 POL
10 Sweden 10 SWE
11 Great Britain 11 GBR
12 Denmark 12 DEN
13 Switzerland 13 SUI
14 Portugal 14 POR
15 New Zealand 15 NZL
16 Canada 16 CAN
13:40 Finn - Men's one person dinghy (heavyweight) - race 2
1 Jonas Hogh-Christensen 1 DEN
2 Ben Ainslie 2 GBR
3 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 3 CRO
4 Jonathan Lobert 4 FRA
5 Daniel Birgmark 5 SWE
6 Vasilij Zbogar 6 SLO
7 Brendan Casey 7 AUS
8 Eduard Skornyakov 8 RUS
9 Deniss Karpak 9 EST
10 Pieter-Jan Postma 10 NED
11 Dan Slater 11 NZL
12 Rafael Trujillo Villar 12 ESP
13 Tapio Nirkko 13 FIN
14 Alican Kaynar 14 TUR
15 Zach Railey 15 USA
16 Piotr Kula 16 POL
17 Lei Gong 17 CHN
18 Michael Maier 18 CZE
19 Florian Raudaschl 19 AUT
20 Jorge Zarif 20 BRA
21 Ioannis Mitakis 21 GRE
22 Filippo Baldassari 22 ITA
23 Greg Douglas 23 CAN
Oleksiy Borysov 25 UKR
13:50 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 3
Russia 1 RUS
Sweden 0 SWE
13:45 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 2
Holland 1 NED
New Zealand 0 NZL
13:40 Women's Elliott 6m - round robin - match 1
Great Britain 1 GBR
Denmark 0 DEN
12:00 Finn - Men's one person dinghy (heavyweight) - race 1
1 Jonas Hogh-Christensen 1 DEN
2 Ben Ainslie 2 GBR
3 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 3 CRO
4 Ioannis Mitakis 4 GRE
5 Pieter-Jan Postma 5 NED
6 Florian Raudaschl 6 AUT
7 Dan Slater 7 NZL
8 Vasilij Zbogar 8 SLO
9 Jonathan Lobert 9 FRA
10 Zach Railey 10 USA
11 Tapio Nirkko 11 FIN
12 Rafael Trujillo Villar 12 ESP
13 Eduard Skornyakov 13 RUS
14 Deniss Karpak 14 EST
15 Jorge Zarif 15 BRA
16 Greg Douglas 16 CAN
17 Daniel Birgmark 17 SWE
18 Alican Kaynar 18 TUR
19 Michael Maier 19 CZE
20 Filippo Baldassari 20 ITA
Lei Gong 25 CHN
Brendan Casey 25 AUS
Piotr Kula 25 POL
Oleksiy Borysov 25 UKR

Shooting

14:00 Women's skeet final
Kimberly Rhode 25 USA
Ning Wei 23 CHN
Danka Bartekova 20 SVK
4 Marina Belikova 21 RUS
5 Chiara Cainero 22 ITA
6 Christine Wenzel 21 GER
09:00 Women's skeet qualification
1 Kimberly Rhode 74 USA Olympic Record
2 Danka Bartekova 70 SVK
3 Marina Belikova 69 RUS
4 Ning Wei 68 CHN
5 Christine Wenzel 68 GER
6 Chiara Cainero 67 ITA
7 Therese Lundqvist 67 SWE
8 Francisca Crovetto Chadid 66 CHI
9 Angelina Michshuk 66 KAZ
10 Veronique Girardet 66 FRA
11 Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit 65 THA
12 Lucia Liliana Mihalache 65 ROU
13 Cigdem Ozyaman 63 TUR
14 Elena Allen 60 GBR
15 Lauryn Mark 59 AUS
16 Panagiota Andreou 57 CYP
17 Mona Elhawary 51 EGY
11:45 Women's 10m air pistol final
Wenjun Guo 100.1 CHN
Celine Goberville 99.6 FRA
Olena Kostevych 99.6 UKR
4 Liubov Yaskevich 101.0 RUS
5 Viktoria Chaika 100.2 BLR
6 Yuling Su 98.6 CHN
7 Zorana Arunovic 98.5 SRB
8 Lenka Maruskova 97.6 CZE
09:00 Women's 10m air pistol qualification
1 Wenjun Guo 388 CHN
2 Olena Kostevych 387 UKR
3 Celine Goberville 387 FRA
4 Yuling Su 386 CHN
5 Zorana Arunovic 385 SRB
6 Viktoria Chaika 385 BLR
7 Lenka Maruskova 385 CZE
8 Liubov Yaskevich 385 RUS
9 Antoaneta Boneva 384 BUL
10 Yong Suk Jo 384 PRK
11 Tanyaporn Prucksakorn 383 THA
12 Heena Sidhu 382 IND
13 Jangmi Kim 382 KOR
14 Dina Aspandiyarova 382 AUS
15 Joana Castelao 381 POR
16 Zsofia Csonka 381 HUN
17 Byunghee Kim 381 KOR
18 Gundegmaa Otryad 380 MGL
19 Alejandra Zavala 380 MEX
20 Claudia Verdicchio Krause 380 GER
21 Thi Hoang Ngoc Le 379 VIE
22 Bobana Velickovic 379 SRB
23 Annu Raj Singh 378 IND
24 Maria Grozdeva 378 BUL
25 Munkhbayar Dorjsuren 378 GER
26 Sonia Franquet 378 ESP
27 Chia Chen Tien 378 TPE
28 Sandra Uptagrafft 378 USA
29 Marina Zgurscaia 377 MDA
30 Noura Nasri 377 TUN
31 Yukari Konishi 377 JPN
32 Mira Suhonen 377 FIN
33 Nino Salukvadze 376 GEO
34 Dorothy Ludwig 376 CAN
35 Heidi Diethelm Gerber 375 SUI
36 Ai Wen Yu 375 TPE
37 Natalia Paderina 375 RUS
38 Stephanie Tirode 375 FRA
39 Irada Ashumova 372 AZE
40 Lalita Yauhleuskaya 371 AUS
41 Naphaswan Yangpaiboon 370 THA
42 Athina Douka 369 GRE
43 Ana Luiza Souza Lima 367 BRA
44 Beata Bartkow Kwiatkowska 366 POL
45 Maribel Pineda 365 VEN
46 Noor Amer Al Ameri 360 IRQ
47 Georgina Geikie 359 GBR
48 Claudia Carolina Fajardo Rodriguez 348 HON
49 Pui Yi Ip 346 HKG

Swimming

12:01 Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay - heat 2
1 Australia 3:12.29 AUS
2 United States 3:12.59 USA
3 Russia 3:12.77 RUS
4 Germany 3:13.51 GER
5 Belgium 3:13.89 BEL
6 China 3:17.00 CHN
7 Serbia 3:18.79 SRB
8 Hungary 3:21.91 HUN
11:56 Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay - heat 1
1 France 3:13.38 FRA
2 South Africa 3:13.93 RSA
3 Italy 3:15.78 ITA
4 Brazil 3:16.14 BRA
5 Canada 3:16.42 CAN
6 Great Britain 3:17.08 GBR
7 Venezuela 3:22.68 VEN
11:49 Women's 400m freestyle - heat 5
1 Camille Muffat 4:03.29 FRA
2 Allison Schmitt 4:03.31 USA
3 Lauren Boyle 4:03.63 NZL
4 Lotte Friis 4:04.22 DEN
5 Melania Costa Schmid 4:06.75 ESP
6 Bronte Barratt 4:07.99 AUS
7 Boglarka Kapas 4:10.01 HUN
8 Elena Sokolova 4:12.19 RUS
11:43 Women's 400m freestyle - heat 4
1 Coralie Balmy 4:03.56 FRA
2 Brittany Maclean 4:05.06 CAN
3 Federica Pellegrini 4:05.30 ITA
4 Kylie Palmer 4:07.27 AUS
5 Yiwen Shao 4:08.41 CHN
6 Andreina Pinto Perez 4:08.45 VEN
7 Savannah King 4:10.93 CAN
8 Grainne Murphy 4:19.07 IRL
11:37 Women's 400m freestyle - heat 3
1 Rebecca Adlington 4:05.75 GBR
2 Chloe Sutton 4:07.07 USA
3 Mireia Belmonte Garcia 4:08.23 ESP
4 Eva Risztov 4:09.08 HUN
5 Xuanxu Li 4:10.95 CHN
6 Camelia Potec 4:11.43 ROU
7 Joanne Jackson 4:11.50 GBR
8 Wendy Trott 4:11.63 RSA
11:31 Women's 400m freestyle - heat 2
1 Nina Rangelova 4:11.71 BUL
2 Kristel Kobrich 4:12.02 CHI
3 Aya Takano 4:12.33 JPN
4 Julia Hassler 4:12.99 LIE
5 Susana Escobar Torres 4:14.78 MEX
6 Natthanan Junkrajang 4:16.45 THA
7 Lynette Lim 4:18.64 SIN
8 Gaeul Kim 4:43.46 KOR
11:23 Women's 400m freestyle - heat 1
1 Mojca Sagmeister 4:21.55 SLO
2 Andrea Cedron Rodriguez 4:24.18 PER
3 Jennet Saryyeva 5:40.29 TKM
11:18 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 6
1 Matthew Grevers 52.92 USA
2 Feiyi Cheng 53.22 CHN
3 Ryosuke Irie 53.56 JPN
4 Nick Driebergen 53.62 NED
5 Hayden Stoeckel 53.88 AUS
6 Gareth Kean 54.26 NZL
7 Daniel Arnamnart 54.28 AUS
8 Charl Crous 55.37 RSA
11:15 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 5
1 Camille Lacourt 53.51 FRA
2 Liam Tan**** 53.86 GBR
3 Arkady Vyatchanin 54.01 RUS
4 Jan-Philip Glania 54.07 GER
5 Charles Francis 54.08 CAN
6 Aristeidis Grigoriadis 54.52 GRE
7 Marcin Tarczynski 55.06 POL
8 Benjamin Stasiulis 55.36 FRA
11:12 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 4
1 Nick Thoman 53.48 USA
2 Helge Meeuw 53.83 GER
3 Vladimir Morozov 54.01 RUS
4 Aschwin Wildeboer Faber 54.36 ESP
5 Bastiaan Lijesen 54.88 NED
6 Yakov Toumarkin 54.91 ISR
7 Juan Miguel Rando Galvez 54.93 ESP
8 Daniel Orzechowski 55.16 BRA
11:09 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 3
1 Pavel Sankovich 54.53 BLR
2 Mirco di Tora 54.70 ITA
3 Chris Walker-Hebborn 54.78 GBR
4 Jianbin He 54.81 CHN
5 Richard Bohus 54.84 HUN
6 Lavrans Solli 55.00 NOR
7 Mathias Gydesen 55.31 DEN
8 Daniel Bell 55.53 NZL
11:06 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 2
1 George Richard Bovell 55.22 TRI
2 Omar Pinzon Garcia 55.37 COL
3 Pedro Medel 55.40 CUB
4 Oleksandr Isakov 55.43 UKR
5 Seonkwan Park 55.51 KOR
6 Alexandr Tarabrin 55.55 KAZ
7 I Gede Sudartawa 55.99 INA
8 Federico Grabich 56.56 ARG
11:03 Men's 100m backstroke - heat 1
1 Bradley Ally 56.27 BAR
2 Heshan Unamboowe 57.94 SRI
3 Zane Jordan 58.77 ZAM
10:58 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 6
1 Rebecca Soni 1:05.75 USA
2 Iuliia Efimova 1:06.51 RUS
3 Sarah Poewe 1:07.12 GER
4 Jennie Johansson 1:07.14 SWE
5 Moniek Nijhuis 1:08.31 NED
6 Siobhan-Marie Oconnor 1:08.32 GBR
7 Daria Deeva 1:08.44 RUS
8 Concepcion Badillo Diaz 1:12.58 ESP
10:55 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 5
1 Breeja Larson 1:06.58 USA
2 Satomi Suzuki 1:07.08 JPN
3 Rikke Pedersen 1:07.23 DEN
4 Tera van Beilen 1:07.85 CAN
5 Xiaoyu Liu 1:07.99 CHN
6 Joline Hostman 1:08.28 SWE
7 Caroline Ruhnau 1:08.43 GER
8 Kate Haywood 1:09.22 GBR
10:52 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 4
1 Ruta Meilutyte 1:05.56 LTU
2 Leisel Jones 1:06.98 AUS
3 Leiston Pickett 1:07.41 AUS
4 Jin Zhao 1:07.68 CHN
5 Mina Matsushima 1:07.69 JPN
6 Jillian Tyler 1:07.81 CAN
7 Marina Garcia Urzainqui 1:08.64 ESP
8 Sycerika Mcmahon 1:08.80 IRL
10:49 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 3
1 Alia Atkinson 1:07.39 JAM
2 Suzaan van Biljon 1:07.54 RSA
3 Sara El Bekri 1:08.21 MAR
4 Petra Chocova 1:08.59 CZE
5 Michela Guzzetti 1:08.83 ITA
6 Dilara Buse Gunaydin 1:09.43 TUR
7 Hyejin Kim 1:09.79 KOR
8 Mariia Liver 1:11.23 UKR
10:46 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 2
1 Tjasa Vozel 1:09.63 SLO
2 Anna Sztankovics 1:09.65 HUN
3 Fanny Babou 1:09.76 FRA
4 Jenna Laukkanen 1:09.92 FIN
5 Ana Rodrigues 1:10.62 POR
6 Danielle Beaubrun 1:11.12 LCA
7 I-Chuan Chen 1:11.28 TPE
8 Tatiana Chisca 1:13.30 MDA
10:43 Women's 100m breaststroke - heat 1
1 Ivana Ninkovic 1:14.04 BIH
2 Pilar Shimizu 1:15.76 GUM
3 Matelita Buadromo 1:16.33 FIJ
4 Oksana Hatamkhanova 1:25.52 AZE
5 Oyungerel Gantumur 1:27.17 MGL
6 Dede Camara 1:38.54 GUI
10:35 Men's 200m freestyle - heat 6
1 Yannick Agnel 1:46.60 FRA
2 Taehwan Park 1:46.79 KOR
3 Kenrick Monk 1:46.94 AUS
4 Sebastiaan Verschuren 1:47.31 NED
5 Thomas Fraser-Holmes 1:47.50 AUS
6 Artem Lobuzov 1:47.91 RUS
7 Matthew Stanley 1:48.19 NZL
8 Shaune Fraser 1:48.53 CAY

Tennis

16:00 Women's singles first round
Maria Sharapova RUS
bt 6-2, 6-0
Shahar Peer ISR
14:00 Men's singles first round
Andy Murray GBR
bt 6-3, 6-3
Stanislas Wawrinka SUI
12:00 Women's singles first round
Julia Goerges GER
bt 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
Agnieszka Radwanska POL

Table Tennis

18:00 Women's singles third round
Ning Ding CHN
bt 11-4, 11-3, 11-9, 11-6
Daniela Dodean ROU
18:00 Women's singles third round
Ai Fukuhara JPN
bt 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3
Anna Tikhomirova RUS
15:30 Men's singles second round
Werner Schlager AUT
bt 10-12, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 14-12, 12-10
Mihai Bobocica ITA
15:30 Men's singles second round
Bojan Tokic SLO
bt 11-0, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 9-11, 11-8
Song Liu ARG
15:30 Men's singles second round
Panagiotis Gionis GRE
bt 11-5, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
Omar Assar EGY
15:30 Men's singles second round
Marcos Freitas POR
bt 11-6, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3
Ju Lin DOM
14:30 Men's singles second round
Zhiwen He ESP
bt 8-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 14-12
Zengyi Wang POL
14:30 Men's singles second round
Noshad Alamiyan IRI
bt 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 12-10
Peng Tang HKG
14:30 Men's singles second round
Daniel Zwickl HUN
bt 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10
Aleksandar Karakasevic SRB
14:30 Men's singles second round
Andrej Gacina CRO
bt 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
Jorgen Persson SWE
13:30 Men's singles second round
El-Sayed Lashin EGY
bt 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8
Zoran Primorac CRO
13:30 Men's singles second round
Kalinikos Kreanga GRE
bt 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
Jean-Michel Saive BEL
13:30 Men's singles second round
Paul Drinkhall GBR
bt 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9
Zi Yang SIN
13:30 Men's singles second round
Weixing Chen AUT
bt 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7
Oleksandr Didukh UKR
11:00 Men's singles second round
Bora Vang TUR
bt 6-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-2, 12-10, 12-10
Quadri Aruna NGR
11:00 Men's singles second round
William Henzell AUS
bt 2-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10
Joao Monteiro POR
11:00 Men's singles second round
Hyok Bong Kim PRK
bt 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7
Soumyajit Ghosh IND
11:00 Men's singles second round
Alexey Smirnov RUS
bt 11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Matiss Burgis LAT
10:00 Women's singles second round
Yifang Xian FRA
bt 11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6
Myong Sun Ri PRK
10:00 Women's singles second round
Ariel Hsing USA
bt 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10
Xia Lian Ni LUX

Volleyball

16:45 Men's pool B match 5
United States USA
bt 25-17, 25-22, 25-21
Serbia SRB
14:45 Men's pool A match 2
Argentina ARG
bt 25-21, 25-22, 25-20
Australia AUS
11:30 Men's pool B match 3
Russia RUS
bt 31-29, 25-18, 25-17
Germany GER
09:30 Men's pool A match 1
Bulgaria BUL
bt 25-18, 25-20, 26-24
Great Britain GBR

Water Polo

15:30 Men's group B match
Serbia 14 SRB
Hungary 10 HUN
14:10 Men's group A match
Italy 8 ITA
Australia 5 AUS
11:20 Men's group A match
Spain 14 ESP
Kazakhstan 6 KAZ
10:00 Men's group A match
Croatia 8 CRO
Greece 6 GRE

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 19:01

MEDAL Table AS AT 7PM GMT (2pm Canada ET)

See Attached Screenshots Below;

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 19:18

SCHEDULE

See Attachments Below. All Hours Shown are in GMT Format, which is 5 hrs + of (Canada/US ET);

Ladybbird · 29-07-12, 23:41

London 2012 Gymnastics: Stunning Show by Great Britain's Men

By BBC Sports
July 28, 2012

Louis Smith held nothing back after he nailed his pommel horse routine during the first subdivision of the men’s gymnastics preliminaries during the London 2012 Olympics Saturday morning. When he looked up at the scoreboard and saw the 15.8 flash—a nearly unreal score on what’s arguably the toughest male apparatus—he couldn’t stop the tears from gushing out.

Smith’s score gave him a spot in the pommel horse finals and propelled Great Britain to take the early lead over defending Olympic champion China.
Great Britain was only good enough to send two gymnasts to Beijing four years ago, and Smith, the current team captain, took a bronze medal on pommel horse in Beijing—Britain’s first gymnastics medal in 80 years.
Britain scored a 272.42, which should be enough to send the country to the team final for the first time since 1924. This is the first time Britain has qualified full men's and women's teams since the boycotted 1984 Olympics.

Kristian Thomas and Daniel Purvis finished first and second in the all-around standings after the first subdivision.

The top 24 athletes advance to the all-around final.

Thomas placed second on the vault and is looking to make the event finals there. The top eight athletes on each apparatus fight for medals in the final.

Great Britain gymnastics has seen improvement in the past four years, but something was on Saturday morning, whether it was team chemistry, the home crowd or the thrill of catching gymnastics powerhouse China.

Smith expressed his excitement for Great Britain’s success in an interview with BBC Sport:

Quote:

It's been an emotional four years. There's been a lot of pressure since Beijing to perform at this Olympics. There was a lot riding on it. I couldn't help thinking about the future—providing for my family, the expectation.
I said "Come on" to myself twice in my pommel horse routine, and I've never done that before. It's hard to explain what I felt when I landed that routine. It came close in Beijing, but this time—I've never experienced anything like it in my life.
It was the best feeling in the world.

The Chinese, who were expected to take first handily, had a surprisingly poor showing. The defending world and Olympic champion, China ran away with the 2008 gold medal by more than seven points.
Everybody gets a do-over during Monday’s team finals, though.
Nancy Armour wrote in an article for the Associated Press that China didn’t seem overly concerned with its second-place finish:

Quote:

When the standings flashed before the final rotation, showing Britain ahead of China, Feng Zhe looked into the camera and gave a little shrug, as if to say, "Oh well."
"We're not really disappointed because it's been four years and the competitors are improving, there's less discrepancy in their level," Chen Yibing, one of carryovers from the Beijing squad, said through a translator. "We are still confident in the final."

China has been a gymnastics powerhouse, but that strength has been crumbling as of late.
The Chinese finished third, behind Japan and Team USA, in the qualifications for last year’s world championships. They did come back to win the meet, but it was the first time since Athens that they failed to finish first in every phase of a major competition. Now the chain continues, as it has happened a second time.
The one-slot deduction for the team roster has hurt China because they historically rely on event specialists. They don’t have standout all-arounders like Purvis and Thomas, Japan’s Kohei Uchimura or America’s John Orozco and Danell Leyva.

China was just sloppy during Saturday’s competition. Guo Weiyang, an alternate who replaced 2004 pommel horse gold medalist Teng Haibin, fell on his face on his dismount on floor exercise and fell off the pommel horse. China had to count two scores below 14 on pommel horse. Zou Kai, the 2008 high-bar gold medalist, will probably not make the high-bar finals.
The Brits were elated by their finish, though, and have established themselves as a podium contender.
Team USA needs to watch out for them. They don’t have style like the Japanese, tradition like the Chinese or depth like the Americans, but they are seemingly steady and consistent with a few clutch routines, like Smith’s pommel-horse set.

The fire of never having major gymnastics success along with the support of a home crowd and the elation of finishing above China could be just enough to propel Great Britain to the podium.

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 01:17

Swiss soccer player kicked off Olympic team for discriminatory tweet
BBC Sport 30 July 2012

Michel Morganella (right) during Switzerland's match against South Korea. (Getty)

Following Switzerland's 2-1 loss to South Korea in the Olympic men's soccer tournament on Sunday, 23-year-old Swiss defender Michel Morganella expressed his frustration with a discriminatory tweet that has gotten him expelled from the squad and sent home by Swiss team officials. The message, which said that Koreans should "burn themselves" and described them as "retards" was followed by an apology in English before Morganella's @morgastoss account was deleted from the social networking site, but after a quick investigation, the Swiss team chief decided that this required further action.

From Reuters:

"He discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and the South Korean people," Swiss team chief Gian Gilli told reporters.

This makes Morganella the second Olympic athlete to be dropped from the Games for a racially charged tweet after Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was left in Athens last week for her attempt at a joke about Africans in Greece.

Continued....

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 01:24

Related:

Americans risk DQ over IOC social media ban

American athletes lead revolt against IOC ban on social media use to promote sponsors

9 hours ago 30 July 2012

U.S. runner Sanya Richards-Ross is part of a campaign demanding changes in Olympic social media rules. (AP Photo) …

LONDON – American athletes risked disqualification by leading a revolt against the International Olympic Committee on Monday and its draconian laws of forbidding competitors from using social media to promote their sponsors.
Spurred on by the outspoken words of members of the United States team, Olympians from around the world launched a Twitter campaign under the hashtags #Rule40 and #WeDemandChange in an attempt to pressure the IOC into action.

Rule 40 is the section in the athletes’ code of conduct that warns anyone flouting the strict guidelines on the use of social media as a promotional tool will be expelled from the Games.

Dozens of athletes responded angrily, including U.S. 400-meter star runner Sanya Richards-Ross.

"I'd love to show my great sponsors love," Richards-Ross said. "I am one of the very fortunate athletes that work with wonderful sponsors during the Olympic year. [This is an] injustice."

Others took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, although most were careful to avoid any direct mention of the companies that endorse them.

The IOC also frowns upon strong criticism of the organization. National committees warned their athletes that any act of dissent, such as the Rule 40 tweets, could be grounds for disqualification.

That did not stop U.S. 20-kilometer race walker Maria Michta, who gave a heartfelt and eloquent description of how the regulations have affected her.

[ Related: Greek competitor alleges biting in judo loss to Cuban opponent ]

"I have no big brand corporate sponsor who gives me free gear, pays me a salary and gives me a bonus for making it to events like the Olympics," Michta wrote on her personal blog. "My sponsors are my family, my friends, my high school community, the family of race walkers around the country. My sponsor bonus comes from each and every dollar thrown in my bucket, every donation on my website. Those are the sponsors that I represent.

"And because of rules like Rule 40 and others I could not use the image of myself at Olympic Trials or the title U.S. Olympian in any pictures, posts or tweets to fundraise money to help pay for my travel expenses and get my family, the family that has sponsored me from day one, over to London to watch me compete."

The campaign seemed to be gathering pace throughout Monday, with American middle distance runner Leo Manzano complaining about being ordered to remove a photograph of his shoes from his social media page. Others spoke out, as well.

"I am honored to be an Olympian," U.S. javelin thrower Kara Patterson added. "But I can’t tweet about my only sponsor."

The IOC had not yet addressed the issue as of Monday afternoon, but president Jacques Rogge is expected to face questions about it when he visits the Olympic Park on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

The stance of the IOC has attracted criticism before, but the organization claims such measures are necessary to protect the income it receives from its own affiliate sponsors.

[ Related: Dutch field hockey team gains attention for being hot ]

"Ambush marketers have, in the past, used their association with athletes to suggest or imply that they have an association with the Olympic Games," reads the code of conduct. "This undermines the exclusivity that Organizing Committees can offer official Games and team sponsors, without whose investment the Games could not happen.

"The implication of an association with the Games through use of athletes is particularly powerful during and immediately before the Games. Participants who do not comply with Rule 40 may be sanctioned by the IOC in accordance with the Team Members’ Agreement which provides for wide ranging sanctions, including amongst other things removal of accreditation and financial penalties."

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 01:30

Men's Gymnastics Olympic Controversy: Japan Takes Silver, Great Britain Snubbed

By Bleachersreport
July 30, 2012

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

There was serious controversy at the North Greenwich Arena in London on Monday, when the judges of the men's gymnastics team final awarded the silver medal to Japan after the team made an inquiry late in the competition.

According to the Daily Mail UK, the Japanese team protested a score given to Kohei Uchimura on the pommel horse, and the judges ultimately decided to accept the team's appeal and award Japan the silver at the expense of Great Britain.

China won the gold, while Great Britain had seemed to have the silver medal locked up. Ukraine was in the bronze position as well until the protest from the Japanese team ultimately moved them from fourth place onto the podium.

The result of the controversial protest: Japan is awarded the silver medal, and the host nation, Great Britain, must settle for bronze after a gutsy performance as an underdog in the team competition.
The Americans finished fifth in Day 3's final, but their poor performance takes a back seat to the controversy, which cost Ukraine a podium finish and Great Britain a much-deserved silver medal.

Team GB was snubbed; there is no denying that. Regardless of whether the judges made the right decision, the manner in which Japan was handed silver was unacceptable.

Great Britain had an historic finish at the Olympics on Monday, but it was rudely and brutally bumped back down to size by the judges who made a mistake either way you slice it.

On the bright side, the bronze finish is Great Britain's best men's gymnastics team result since 1912, not too shabby.

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 01:37

South Korean fencer stages sit-down protest of controversial loss

By Jerry Hinnen, Bleachersreport

July 30, 2012 4:48 pm ET

South Korean fencer Shin Lam sits on the fencing piste while officials hear a Korean appeal over her controversial loss in the invididual epee semifinals. (Getty Images)

In what's emerged as one of the biggest controversies of the Olympics, South Korean fencer Shin Lam remained on the piste for around an hour after she lost in highly controversial circumstances in the individual epee semifinals.

Shin had been locked in the sudden death period of her match against German No. 1 Britta Heidemann, one on which Heidemann was required to score a point or Shin would advance to the gold medal finals. The clock reportedly ran out on Heidemann, only for a timing error to reset the clock from zero to one second. When play resumed, Heidemann's last-gasp attack scored for the win.

Shin's coach Shim Jaesung launched a furious appeal during which Shin burst into tears and remained on the fencing piste. As officials conferred, an announcement told spectators that Shin would be acknowledging her defeat if she left the piste, leaving her there as the appeal continued.
After apporoximately half an hour, Heidemann was declared the winner. But Shin remained where she was as the appeal dragged on, and another announcement was made that -- incredibly -- the Koreans would have to provide a financial deposit for their appeal to be heard.
Eventually Olympics officials appeared to escort the distraught Shin off the piste:

After being hugged and consoled by her coach following her departure and the ruling in favor of Heidemann, Shin still had to compete in the bronze medal match. She lost to China's Sun Yujie, 15-11, and finished off the podium.

Heidemann would lose the gold-medal match 9-8 to Ukranian Yana Shemyakina.

The images of Shin's protest will remind many of the iconic sit-down protest of Korean boxer Byun Jong-il, who remained in the boxing ring for 45 minutes after losing by judges' decision at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 14:12

UPDATE on this previous report:

Saudi Judoka Banned from Wearing Hijab at Olympics

BBC News 26 July

A competitor from Saudi Arabia, who is one of the country's first female athletes ever selected for the Olympics, will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition, the International Judo Federation said.

No headscarf: Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani arrives at Heathrow airport Photo: AFP

President Marius Vizer ruled that "according to the principles and spirit of judo," Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf.

------------------------------------------------------

It has now been decided that Saudi Judoka can compete wearing a Hijab.

The decision was reversed when her Father said she would have to withdraw from the games. The Olympic Committee relented after it also took into account that this was the first Olympic Games that Saudi Arabia had sent athletes to take part in it.

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 15:59

SCHEDULE

Todays Schedule can be viewed here;

SCHEDULE

Ladybbird · 31-07-12, 16:21

MEDAL Table AS AT 5.15pm GMT (12.15pm Canada ET)

See Attached Screenshots Below;

Ladybbird · 01-08-12, 23:23

MEDAL Table Today, AS AT Midnight GMT (7pm Canada ET)

See Attached Screenshots Below

Ladybbird · 01-08-12, 23:48

Pedestrian Killed by Olympic Media Bus

BBC Sport 1 August 2012

Man arrested after cyclist struck by Olympic bus

The accident happened close to the Olympic Park hockey pitches

A man has been arrested after the death of a cyclist who was struck by an Olympic bus close to the Olympic Park.
The man, aged in his mid-60s, was detained after the cyclist, 28, died at the scene, at the junction of Ruckholt Road and East Cross Road, Hackney.

Police and an air ambulance attended the scene after the crash, which happened at about 1945 BST.
Scotland Yard said the suspect was being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was taken to an east London police station.
The crash, involving an Olympic media bus, happened close to the Olympic hockey centre, velodrome and Paralympic tennis arena.

The victim has not yet been identified, but an International Olympic Committee source told BBC London he was not an Olympic competitor.
"The police are investigating and our thoughts are with the cyclist's family," Olympic organisers Locog said.
"We can confirm that a cyclist tragically died as a result of a collision with a bus carrying media from the Olympic Park this evening."
Following the collision no buses were allowed to arrive or depart from the Media Transport Mall's multi-story car park.
The Olympic Park internal shuttle remains operational.
The incident is being investigated by the Met's Traffic Investigation Unit.

Ladybbird · 08-08-12, 02:25

MEDAL Table AS AT 3am GMT (10pm Canada ET)

Ladybbird · 09-08-12, 03:40

Defending Gold Medalist Banned for Doping

8th August, 2012, Bleachersreport

Alex Schwazer, defending gold-medal champion race walker, banned for positive EPO test

There will be a new Olympic champion 50-kilometer race walker. That much is certain a full four days before the event takes place, even though the defending champ, Italian race walking superstar Alex Schwazer, qualified to defend his title.

Defending gold medal race walker Alex Schwazer, who was banned for EPO use — Getty Images

Instead of lining up along the starting line for the 50K race on Saturday, Schwazer will be back in Italy after he failed a doping test for using the blood-boosting agent erythropoietin, more commonly called EPO. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, Schwazer's positive test was confirmed by CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee.

Italian Olympic race waker Alex Schwazer — Getty Images

"[Schwazer] wanted the gold again at all costs," he told Italian TV, according to the AP.

EPO scandals have hit other endurance events hard, most notably racking the Tour de France in recent years. Still, the concept of a race walker doping strikes many as patently ridiculous. After all, this is race walking, not running.

As it turns out, blood doping scandals are nothing new in the wild world of race walking. Most notably, in September of 2008, not long after the conclusion of the Beijing Games, five leading Russian race walkers all tested positive for EPO, with the then-world-record holder for the 20k race walk, Vladimir Kanaikin, among the guilty racers.

Those past scandals have left Schwazer in the unenviable position of having to ensure fans across the world that his 2008 gold medal was rightfully earned in clean competition. The Italian also set a world record in that same race, leaving both his gold medal and still-standing record in peril.

On Tuesday, Schwazer took to the Italian airwaves to plead his case, admitting that he used the banned substance as a desperate attempt to defend his Olympic crown. Now he'll remain silent for the next two years, the penalty for a positive test that may taint his legacy forever, whether he used it before his most famous race or not.

Ladybbird · 09-08-12, 03:57

MEDAL Table AS AT 4am GMT (11pm Canada ET)

Ladybbird · 09-08-12, 23:57

MEDAL Table AS AT 1am GMT (8pm Canada ET)

Ladybbird · 10-08-12, 00:05

US Cyclist Stripped of Gold

IOC Reportedly Will Strip USA Cyclist Tyler Hamilton of 2004 Olympic Gold Medal

By Bleachersreport
August 9, 2012

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Nearly eight years after the fact, the International Olympic Committee is going to strip American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his 2004 gold medal from the Athens Olympics after he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report from the Associated Press (h/t NBC Sports).

With the eight-year deadline approaching, the official told The Associated Press the IOC executive board will meet Friday to readjust the standings from the road race time trial and award the gold to retired Russian rider Viatcheslav Ekimov.

American Bobby Julich will be moved up from bronze to silver, and Michael Rogers of Australia from fourth to bronze.

This is just the latest black eye for American cycling. Back in June, the United States Anti-Doping Agency filed doping charges against Lance Armstrong that could result in him losing all seven of his Tour de France titles.

Unlike Hamilton, who was open about his use of performance-enhancing drugs, Armstrong still maintains that he is innocent and has never used any kind of illegal substance to gain an advantage.

This is an interesting decision for the IOC, as the AP report says it "could have decided to disqualify Hamilton but not readjust the medals."

I wonder how the athletes feel about being handed medals so far after the fact, but the IOC has apparently made its decision, and the new medalists will likely not lose any sleep over it.

Ladybbird · 11-08-12, 12:14

MEDALS Table - Closer to The Finale;

Ladybbird · 12-08-12, 20:15

2012 Olympics Results: Winners and Losers from Day 15

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Day 15 at the 2012 Olympics means that we're almost to the end of what has thus far been a phenomenal display of athletics, national pride, courage and sportsmanship.
It also means we have another series of winners and losers to talk about.

Kudos to Mexico's men's football team for defeating Brazil in the gold-medal match. It's the first Olympic medal in national history in the sport of football, and for Mexicans around the world, it's one of the proudest sports-related moments in national history.
In the immortal words of Charlie Sheen, "Winning!"
Keep reading to find out which athletes and nations ended up on our winners and losers list on the second-to-last day of the London Games.

Winner: Mexico's Men's Football Team

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Mexico had never previously won an Olympic medal in football. It hadn't won a single gold medal in London before this.
Then, the men's football team defeated the mighty team from Brazil to change history forever.

Loser: U.S. Wrestler Jake Herbert

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

In case you're wondering, Jake Herbert isn't the guy on top in this picture.
Herbert had gold-medal aspirations, but he was brutally and decisively dismantled by eventual gold-medal winner and reigning world champion Sharif Sharifov of Azerbaijan.

Winner: American Diver David Boudia

Adam Pretty/Getty Images

David Boudia has just done the impossible. He won the gold medal in men's 10-meter platform diving, defeating the Chinese duo of Qiu Bo and Lin Yue, the world's top platform divers.
It's the first medal by an American man in this event since 1992, and the first gold by an American man since Greg Louganis in 1988.

Loser: Chinese Men's Diving

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Heading into the men's 10-meter final, Chinese divers Qiu Bo and Lin Yue were considered to be the best bets for the top two spots. After all, Qiu is the reigning world champion in the event, while Lin won gold in 10-meter synchronized diving in Beijing four years ago.
They also finished one and two in the semifinals.
Then, the unexpected happened.
American diver David Boudia put together the meet of his life and stole the gold, relegating Qiu to the silver medal, while Lin fell all the way down to sixth place.

Winner: Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Nineteen-year-old javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott from the tiny island nation of Trinidad and Tobago won the gold medal, defeating men with at least 10 years of training and experience more than him.

Not only that, but he won the first non-sprinting medal in his nation's Olympic track-and-field history.

It's also the nation's first gold medal of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Yeah, Walcott pretty much rocked the Olympics on Day 15.

Loser: Chaunte Lowe

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Chaunte Lowe was a favorite to medal in the women's high jump after winning the indoor world championship earlier this year.

Things didn't go according to plan, though, as Lowe failed to even clear 2.0 meters in the final, causing her to finish in the middle of the pack.

It's a disappointing finish to what has been a hyped buildup to the London Games for the 28-year-old Lowe.

Winner: Great Britain's Mo Farah

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Great Britain has had a fantastic showing as the host nation these Summer Olympics, and Mo Farah has been one of its stars.
Farah capped off a brilliant showing in the men's 10,000-meter, which earned him a gold medal, with another one in the 5,000-meter on Saturday. The Somali international defeated Ethiopians and Kenyans alike for the second-straight event to win his second gold medal of 2012.
What he's done this year is no less impressive than what Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has done. Impressive performances by both men have secured their status as the world's best.

Loser: Ethiopia's Long-Distance Runners

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Dejen Gebremeskel, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yenew Alamirew posted times in the men's 5,000-meter final that were close to a full minute behind their respective bests of the season.
No disrespect to Mo Farah, but these guys really blew it.
Gebremeskel's best time in 2012 is 12 minutes, 48.61 seconds, Gebrhiwet's best time is 12:47.53, and Alamirew's best time is 12:48.77.
They all finished the race on Saturday with times at or over 13:41.98.

After results like that, I wonder if the Ethiopian team needs to see a doctor. They underperformed so badly that the only way to rationalize their performances is to think they must be sick or something.

Winner: Allyson Felix

Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

The U.S. women's sprint team dismantled the field with a dominant performance in the women's 4x400-meter relay. They beat the Russian team, which finished in second place, by about three-and-a-half seconds.
Allyson Felix had a lot to do with that stunning result, posting a time of 47.80 seconds in her leg—the fastest time by far of any woman in the field.
Her performance caps off an unbelievable run for her at the London Games that saw her win three gold medals in four events—including the world-record time set by the 4x100-meter relay team.

Winner: Usain Bolt

Stu Forster/Getty Images

I kid. Allyson Felix is awesome, but there will never be anyone to compare to Usain Bolt
Bolt and the Jamaican sprinters blew the competition away in the men's 4x100-meter relay on Saturday, setting a new world record for the gold medal.
Bolt is now 3-for-3 once again, equalling his gaudy performance of four years ago. He is now the unquestioned greatest sprinter of all time, and all I can say is this: I hope he comes back in 2016.

Loser: Bernard Lagat

John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE

Like his Ethiopian counterparts, U.S. distance runner Bernard Lagat failed to come anywhere close to his best in the final, finishing in fourth place and outside medal contention.
This is a huge disappointment after Lagat's recent success in the World Championships, and it's likely going to be the last chance he gets to win another Olympic medal. He'll be 41-years old by the time the Rio Games roll around, and I don't see him coming back.
END

There you have it, folks. The highs and lows of Day 15.

A thanks would be nice, throughout all this thread not ONE member has said thanks or clicked my thanks button & it has taken a LOT of work to provide this thread for you and its' content - from a peeved Ladybbird

12-04-12, 16:09	#1
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing July 27th. 2012 the Olympics begins in London. Here is a link to the official site. Code: [Check Download Links] http://www.london2012.com Do you have something to tell us - gossip-facts-results? Everything is legal. __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi) Last edited by online24; 06-05-12 at 10:31.

03-05-12, 10:48	#2
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games in London - INFO, News, & Results. Norway's only medal candidate in swimming died 30-04-2012. Read the story here. ' Code: [Check Download Links] http://www.dreamteamdownloads1.com/sport/205096-norwegian-swimming-champion-alexander-dale-oen-dies.html __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi)

10-05-12, 18:04	#3
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games in London - INFO, News, & Results. In a traditional ceremony organised by the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the Flame was lit at the Temple of Hera, next to the historic ruins of the home of the ancient Olympic Games. The High Priestess used a parabolic mirror to capture the sun’s rays to create the Flame. It was then carried into the Ancient Olympic Stadium. __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi) Last edited by online24; 28-03-13 at 15:44.

11-05-12, 21:27	#4
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. London 2012 confirms Olympic ticketing timeline The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has confirmed details for the sale of 900,000 contingency tickets for the Olympic Games, going on sale from 11am on 11 May. Code: [Check Download Links] http://www.tickets.london2012.com/ __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi)

12-05-12, 15:00	#5
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. If you like to shop some olympic-items. Code: [Check Download Links] http://shop.london2012.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ldn-Site/default/Default-Start?cm_mmc=LOCOG-_-website-_-navigation-_-homepage __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi)

23-05-12, 02:49	#6
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. So what teams for which countries & sports are entering please? __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

24-05-12, 22:32	#7
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. LONDON CALLING Are you ready for the 2012 Summer Games? .... News from 2020 Olympic Bids Doha, Baku cut from 2020 Olympic bid Updated 24 May, 2012 QUEBEC CITY (AP) The race for the 2020 Olympics will come down to a contest between Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul after the IOC trimmed the field Wednesday, once again rejecting Doha's bid to take the games to tiny Qatar. Doha and Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, were eliminated as the International Olympic Committee settled on a shortlist of three finalists. Both cities also failed to make the cut for the 2016 Games. Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul — all former bidders — advanced to the final phase, a 17-month race that will end with the IOC vote Sept. 7, 2013, in Buenos Aires. The executive board, chaired by IOC President Jacques Rogge, chose the finalists after examining a technical evaluation report compiled by a panel of Olympic experts. The board then voted on each candidate. An official familiar with details of the selection told The Associated Press the board voted unanimously in favor of Tokyo and Madrid at 12-0 and supported Istanbul by 11-1. The vote was 0-12 for Baku and 3-9 for Doha, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the totals aren't being made public. While soccer governing body FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, the IOC isn't convinced the Gulf state is equipped for the Olympics. ''This is a much more complex undertaking than a World Cup and maybe they should do that first,'' IOC board member and finance commission chairman Richard Carrion said. Qatari officials expressed disappointment but vowed to bid again. ''It's a missed opportunity for the IOC,'' Doha bid leader Noora Al-Mannai said. ''This opportunity for 2020 has gone. There is nothing we can do. However, we don't give up. I promise you we will be back.'' Azerbaijan Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said Baku also would return. ''I can assure you that we will listen and learn from the feedback that the IOC has offered us and then we will come back again next time even stronger,'' he said. Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time, Tokyo a second time in a row and Istanbul a fifth time overall. Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, received the highest praise in the IOC report, which said the Japanese bid presents ''a very strong application.'' Madrid has a ''strong application,'' while Istanbul's project ''offers good potential,'' the report said. The IOC report said Baku's bid had a ''number of weaknesses,'' including a lack of experience in hosting international sports events and a need for vast amount of infrastructure. For Qatar, the IOC cited a series of risks and challenges, notably over the proposal to hold the games in October to avoid the brutal summer heat. The IOC had agreed to let Doha bid based on Qatar's proposal to hold the games from Oct. 2 to 18, but officials remained concerned about the weather and conflicts with television and other sports events going on during that time of year. The IOC report also cited budget costs for Doha that would be ''significantly higher than any recent host city.'' IOC members privately were determined not to risk any ethics controversies in the wake of corruption allegations that shadowed FIFA's World Cup decision. But Swiss board member Denis Oswald insisted political reasons were not behind Doha's rejection. ''It's not at all a political decision, not at all,'' he said. ''It's really technical considerations. We want to control costs and not escalate. There are also many issues with the dates, high temperatures, problems for television.'' Asked whether Qatar would never be in position to win the games because October is the only feasible timeframe, Oswald said: ''Sometimes, life is not fair.'' The dynamics of the 2020 race changed dramatically when Rome, considered a potential 2020 favorite, pulled out of the bidding in February after the Italian government declined to provide financial guarantees at a time of economic austerity. With Madrid bidding against the backdrop of Spain's financial crisis, the IOC report said ''careful attention would need to be paid to Spain's economic outlook.'' It said a large number of venues and infrastructure already exists, helping to ''mitigate risk.'' Madrid bid leaders said the Olympics could serve as a catalyst for economic recovery. ''We need to do this,'' said Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., son of the late former IOC president. ''It's good for our country. It gives a lot of hope and energy and stamina to a very much needed part of the world, southern Europe, at this stage. The IOC could do a great contribution to the recovery.'' Tokyo is bidding in the aftermath of last year's disastrous earthquake and tsunami. Hosting the Olympics ''will serve as a symbol of Japan's recovery from last year's tragedy,'' Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a message following Tokyo's selection to the shortlist. The Istanbul bid had been knocked off course by Turkey's concurrent bid for soccer's 2020 European Championship. The IOC has made clear that Turkey cannot both hold both events. ''The working group feels that for a city to organize two major sports events in the same year, and within a period of three months, presents significant risks,'' the report said. Istanbul gained breathing room last week when UEFA extended the bidding process for the Euros and scheduled the final decision for early 2014. While this is Istanbul's fifth bid, it's the first time the city has made the shortlist based on the recommendation of the IOC working group. ''This time, Istanbul is ready to deliver,'' senior bid official Hasan Arat said. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

24-05-12, 23:28	#8
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. LONDON CALLING Japanese cat comedian causes Cambodian Olympic chaos 24 May 2012 Guy De Launey, BBC News in Phnom Penh Every country has Olympic selection dramas, but Cambodia has gone one better. Great Britain has to choose between Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny in the track cycling sprint. Australia's swimming legend Ian Thorpe will be missing from the Olympic pool after failing to make the cut in qualifying. “This is normal in the world, even America buys athletes from other countries” Vath Chamroeun National Olympic Committee of Cambodia Cambodia? This small Southeast Asian nation selected a Japanese comedian, best known for dressing up as a cat, as its representative in the men's marathon at London 2012. To be fair to Neko Hiroshi ("Hiroshi the Cat"), he is not a bad runner, at least by amateur standards. And visions of him pounding round the Olympic course in full costume would be wide of the mark: he generally runs his marathons in standard athletic kit. But there are serious issues at play here. Countries with minimal resources whose athletes fail to make the Olympic qualifying standards are given a handful of Olympic places, as a gesture of "universality". In Cambodia's case, it is likely to have only five representatives in London - so giving one of those places to a foreign-born runner is hard for local athletes to swallow. Each morning a group of them train at the dilapidated national sports centre in Phnom Penh, universally known to locals as the Olympic Stadium (though Cambodia has never hosted the Games). And though the heat is already stifling, talk of Neko Hiroshi's selection raises the temperature even higher. "We must be proud to select Cambodians to participate, whether we win or lose. At least Cambodians can represent the country itself," says one athlete. "The selection's not fair - they shouldn't select a Japanese runner instead of a Cambodian," says another. Most outraged of all is Hem Bunting. For several years he has been Cambodia's leading athlete, winning medals at two successive editions of the Southeast Asian Games. He represented Cambodia with honour at the Beijing Olympics, carrying the flag in the opening ceremony. In last month's Paris Marathon he improved his own national record (and set the fastest time by a Southeast Asian athlete this year). Bunting says he cannot understand why he was overlooked in favour of a Japanese athlete whose best time was seven minutes slower than his own. "I don't know what led the Olympic committee to make their decision - they haven't really answered my questions. Sport should be based on talent - so if I'm good enough I should be selected," he said. Ironically, Bunting's successes have contributed to his problems. His efforts have attracted private sponsors - and brought him into conflict with the national athletics authorities. Instead of sleeping in a room behind the swimming pool at the Olympic Stadium, the sponsorship allowed Bunting to fly to Kenya for months of training with specialist distance-running coaches. But to do this, he had to withdraw from the national athletics squad. That, say the authorities, made him ineligible for Olympic selection. In contrast, Neko Hiroshi is connected to a Japanese organisation called Cambodia Dream. Last year he personally signed an agreement with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) to sponsor the annual Phnom Penh half-marathon - and donate funds for athlete development. Cambodian runner Hem Bunting: 'I'm the strongest marathon man' Even so, the NOCC's general secretary, Vath Chamroeun, insists that the Japanese runner was selected entirely on merit. "Athletes must complete two criteria - record and sporting discipline. Bunting's record is number one, Neko Hiroshi is number two. But Bunting is not in the national team - the national federation put him out because of his discipline, not his record. They're a parallel thing. We must have plus-plus, not plus and minus. That's not a good image for the nation." But in a fresh twist, it seems that Neko Hiroshi's dream may already be over. He took Cambodian citizenship last October but the world governing body of athletics, the IAAF, says that's too late for him to qualify for London. What the International Olympic Committee makes of all this is not clear. It did not respond to repeated requests for comment, though it has funded four Cambodian athletes through "Olympic Scholarships" and makes "solidarity" payments to the national Olympic committee. Chamroeun accepts that Neko Hiroshi may not represent Cambodia this time. But he refuses to rule out similar arrangements in the future. "We look for the potential athletes, the excellent ones. That is normal in the world, even America and other countries buy athletes from other countries." As for Hem Bunting, he is trying to rebuild bridges with the national athletics authorities - although time is running out before the selection deadline. "I know I'm the strongest marathon man in Cambodia. No one can beat me. I really want to join the London Olympics to show the rest of the world what Cambodian athletes can do." __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

24-05-12, 23:41	#9
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. LONDON CALLING Australian hockey team outraged at 5 a.m. Olympic wake-up calls BBC Sports– Wed, May 23, 2012 12:05 PM EDT (Getty Images) The coach of Australia's top-ranked men's field hockey team is upset that his team was scheduled for three 8:30 a.m. games in the upcoming Summer Olympics, an early start that will force his team to rise at 5 a.m. on game days. Ric Charlesworth was asked by The Age if the "imbalanced schedule" would affect his team's chances of winning Olympic gold. "Who knows?" he said. Australia is the only team in the 12-nation tournament to have three games at the earliest start time. Teams play every other day at times ranging from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.. The only night game for Team Australia is when it faces host Great Britain at 7 p.m. on Day 9. Charlesworth suspects his team's schedule has something to do with television and the large time difference between Great Britain and Australia. The fact that another Pacific nation, New Zealand, has three games at 10:45 a.m. or earlier seems to confirm that.* "It's crazy," Charlesworth said. ''And it's not like we're the 12th-ranked team in the tournament. How do you develop a routine around that program?" That's some motivational talk right out of Knute Rockne's playbook. Here's how you develop a routine around it: Don't whine about it and make it work. Television rules all at the Olympics. Michael Phelps swam his eight finals races in Beijing in the morning instead of the night because NBC wanted to air it live. Be thankful Australians care about men's field hockey enough to want to see it on TV. Set practices at 6 a.m. for the next few months and make sure you bring working alarm clocks to London. * There's a nine-hour difference between London and Sydney, meaning those three games will be broadcast at 5:30 p.m. on the east coast of Australia. That's not exactly primetime, but it's better than having the games in the middle of the Aussie night. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

30-05-12, 20:44	#10
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympics: Bad News for Bolt Usain Bolt runs slowest 100 of career, isn’t worried about it By Chris Chase, Bleachersreport, 30 May, 2012 The world's fastest man isn't concerned that he ran the slowest final of his career two months before the Olympics. Usain Bolt still won the Golden Spike race in Ostrava, Czech Republic, but the 10.04 was the slowest time he's ever run in a 100-meter final. His previous high was 10.03. The last time he ran over 10 seconds in any race was 2009. There was a slight headwind at the race and it was a chilly evening, two factors which didn't help Bolt recover from his usual slow start. "It's hard to explain," Bolt said after the race. "I don't really know what went wrong." A few days later, he was more reflective. "I explained to my coach that my legs were not feeling that energetic, probably through a lack of sleep and not enough food," he told reporters while in Rome preparing for this week's Diamond League meet. "Since I got here I've been trying to get a lot more sleep and eating better so everything is seeming to be on a better track. You never have a good race every time you run, you have to just put that behind you and move on." He'll try to do that on Thursday. That race comes exactly four years after Bolt set his first world record at a meet in New York. He's a different athlete now, a long way from that brash young upstart trying to dethrone a national rival, but his goal will be the same in the Olympic tuneup: Prove he's going to be impossible to beat. This weekend gave opponents a glimmer of hope. Don't expect it to last long. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

30-05-12, 21:31	#11
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympics: Nastia Liukin Returns Liukin makes big impression in 1st meet back The Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) Nastia Liukin sat in her hotel room and pulled out her competition leotard - hot pink, of course. Just like that, all the jitters and the weirdness the Olympic champion had been feeling about her first meet in three years disappeared. "I finally felt like I got back in the groove of things," she said. "It was like, 'OK, this is happening, this is real.'" She left no doubt about that a few hours later, tying for third on balance beam at the U.S. Classic. Her score of 14.9 was just 0.10 points behind reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman, and that was with not doing all of her connections - which add to her difficulty score - and leaving room for improvement on execution. "She was so rock solid," marveled Raisman, one of several competitors who stood and watched Liukin's routine. "I felt like I was watching the 2008 Olympics she did so well." Next up is the U.S. championships, June 7-10 in St. Louis, where Liukin plans to add uneven bars - her signature event and the event she needs to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. National team coordinator Martha Karolyi said she's already told Liukin she'd like to see a score around 16 - a mark that would make her competitive with the best bar workers in the world. "No pressure," Karolyi said, laughing. "Nastia is a big girl. She knows what it means." Raisman, a member of the U.S. squad that won the team title at the world championships last fall, won her second straight title at the U.S. Classic, the final qualifier for nationals. Kyla Ross, a two-time junior champion who is in her first year as a senior, was second. Wieber, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney did not do the all-around. While Liukin's comeback was the feel-good story of the night, 2005 world champion Chellsie Memmel's had a far sadder end. Memmel has had two shoulder surgeries since November and competed on balance beam in hopes of earning a spot at nationals and buying herself some more time. But she fell twice, and her petition was rejected by the selection committee. Memmel's score of 11.950 was well below the score of 14 the qualifying score committee had established. "That was very hard. All of us cried," Karolyi said of Memmel, whose career has been spoiled by untimely injuries. "But sentiment cannot be involved in the decision." No reigning all-around champion has returned for the next Olympics since Nadia Comaneci, and there was a time Liukin looked certain to continue that streak. Though she competed at the 2009 U.S. championships in her hometown of Dallas, she found herself torn between training and the opportunities that come with being only the third American woman to win the Olympic title. She stepped away from competition and lived as close to a normal life as an Olympic champion can. She spent time with her friends and began exploring where she wanted to go to college. She also began making the transition to the other side of the sport, taking advisory roles with both USA Gymnastics and the International Gymnastics Federation, and developing a competition for younger gymnasts, the Nastia Liukin Cup. But last summer, Liukin found herself wondering - and worrying - that she would be tormented by questions of "What if?" as she watched the gymnastics competition in London. So she returned to the gym, knowing that nothing is promised to anyone. Even her. "It's possible," Karolyi said. "But it's not an easy job because the time is short." But the U.S. weakness on bars leaves an opening for Liukin, the Olympic silver medalist on the event. She and China's He Kexin actually tied in Beijing, but He won on a complex tiebreaker. The scoring format in team finals is unforgiving, with three gymnasts competing on each apparatus and all three scores counting. That means Karolyi has to assemble a squad that can put up three monster scores on each of the four events, and do it consistently. The challenge is even greater for London because teams have been cut from six gymnasts to five. "If I can help the team out in any way, it would definitely be on bars," Liukin said. "My dad said great job that you did your beam routine, but if you can't do your bar routine, then that beam routine is no use. That's the reality of it. You can't make an Olympic team with one event." She had to start somewhere, though. Liukin had some struggles during training Friday, and admitted she was nervous about being back out on the floor. But when it came time to compete, it was if she'd never been away. "I didn't know what to expect, to be honest," said her father and coach, Valeri. "I was hoping for this." Liukin has the same grace and gorgeous lines as her mother Anna, a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics, making everything she does look elegant and effortless. Her landings were all whisper-soft, not heavy thuds, and one element flowed into the next, as if to say, "Oh, you thought that was nice? You might like this then." Her aerial cartwheel was done with more ease than most folks would manage on flat ground. Her only noticeable flaw was a small balance check on her leap, though she didn't get credit for connecting elements, which makes them worth more. When she landed her dismount, she flashed a big smile and the crowd responded with deafening shrieks and cheers. "Today I felt more like the old Nastia," she said. "A spark of it." __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

30-05-12, 21:48	#12
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympics: USWNT Announces Roster Sundhage Names US Olympic Roster The US Women's Soccer team discusses the 2012 Summer Games. Leroux, who has seven goals in just nine appearances with the US, was one of six newcomers on the 18-woman roster for the London Olympics announced Sunday. Leroux is the only player on the squad who wasn't on the US team at last summer's Women's World Cup, where the Americans lost to Japan on penalties in the title game. She also is the youngest player on the team at 22. ''These players make it very difficult to select rosters, and for this Olympic team it was a long, productive and interesting process to cut the pool down to these 18,'' Sundhage said. ''The team is a mix of very experienced players and several new fresh faces.'' Joining Leroux as first-time Olympians are Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, key members of that World Cup team, and Kelley O'Hara, Amy LePeilbet and Becky Sauerbrunn. Rapinoe had the assist on Abby Wambach's thunderous header that forced overtime in the quarterfinals against Brazil. After scoring two goals in Germany as a second-half substitute, Morgan has forced her way into Sundhage's starting lineup with 12 goals in her first 11 games of this year, along with seven assists. Wambach returns to the Olympic squad after missing the Beijing Games with a broken leg. Eight years ago, she scored the winning goal in the final against Brazil. Captain Christie Rampone is the first US player to be named to four Olympic teams, and needs to play in one more game to set an American record for Olympic appearances. She shares the record of 16 appearances with four other players. Sundhage will take her 18-woman team, along with alternates Lori Lindsey, Jill Loyden, Meghan Klingenberg and forward Christen Press, to Sweden for a two-week training camp next month. The Americans will then return home for a June 30 send-off match in Sandy, Utah. The Americans are two-time defending Olympic champions, beating Brazil in the final each time. Eleven players from the 2008 squad return, including Hope Solo, whose point-blank save of a Marta shot in the 72nd minute was the play of the tournament, and Carli Lloyd, whose goal in extra time gave the United States the gold. ''We want nothing more than a gold medal,'' Lloyd said earlier this month. ''And we're going to do everything we possibly can to be on podium at the end and receive gold medals around our necks.'' The Roster: Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo. Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn. Midfielders: Shannon Boxx, Lauren Cheney, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe. Forwards: Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach. Forwards: Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

30-05-12, 23:28	#13
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. London 2012 serves up the best in British food The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today revealed details of the food and drink that will be served to the millions of spectators and thousands of athletes during the Games this summer. • Over 14 million meals will be served during the Games, across 40 locations – the largest peace time catering operation in the world. • 1.2 million meals will be served to athletes, comprising 1300 different dishes. • Over 800 spectator concessions featuring more than 150 different dishes will showcase the diversity and quality of British food • All food sourced to high environmental, ethical and animal welfare standards • Focus on affordability – food and drinks for a family of four for under £40 Over 14 million meals will be served during the Games, across 40 locations – the largest peace time catering operation in the world. 833 spectator concessions featuring more than 150 different types of dishes will showcase the great diversity and quality of British food at affordable prices. The food will fit into two main themes. British food will reflect the multicultural mix of flavours and foods enjoyed across the UK, including everything from Italian dishes to Indian curries, seafood to salad and wraps as well as classic favourites like fish and chips and pie and mash. The heritage and diversity of British regional products and recipes will be celebrated, for example lamb from Wales, charcuterie from Perthshire and sourdough bread from Tower Hamlets made in a traditional brick oven lined with peat from the Thames. With 195 nations represented in the 6 host boroughs, London is a global city and there will be international food from every continent – from authentic Asian dishes to African Brai barbecues, Caribbean flavours to tasty Mediterranean dishes and a range of street foods from around the world. As well as the millions of ticket holders and spectators, LOCOG is also responsible for feeding more than 15,000 athletes across both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The primary concern of the 23,900 athletes and team officials is to make sure they perform to their peak on competition days. Their ability to do this depends in no small part on the provision of familiar and nutritionally balanced food and drink, which will be available at exactly the right time of day or night. 1.2 million meals will be served to athletes, comprising 1300 different types of dishes. On the busiest day of the Games, over 65,000 meals will be served to athletes. The main dining room seats over 5000 athletes and can fit the equivalent of 880 double decker buses. The room consists of four zones including British, European, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean dishes and caters for special diets such as Halal, Kosher, low salt and allergens. In line with London 2012’s sustainability commitments, all fruit, vegetables and cereals are Red Tractor accredited, British and seasonal where available. All dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry is also Red Tractor accredited as a minimum. All fish, with the sole exception of squid, is sustainable including the complete exclusion of species and stocks identified by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as ‘fish to avoid’ and all wild-caught fish meeting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. In addition, bananas, tea, coffee, sugar and white and rose wine are Fairtrade or ethically sourced and traditional cheeses are British. Eggs are British Lion mark free range and all chocolate sold is Fairtrade or ethically sourced. Another integral part to London 2012’s sustainability commitments is the ambitious aim to become the first ever Zero Waste Games. LOCOG has partnered with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to improve packaging and recycling. During the Games, event waste from public areas will be channelled into three waste streams (recycling; food and compostable packaging; non-recyclables) depicted by colour-coded icons for the bins and packaging. The catering industry has been quick to adopt the London 2012 Food Vision, helping to create a stronger, more sustainable catering and hospitality industry that will be a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organisations who have adopted these standards include the National Trust, London Zoo, 15 London universities, the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and a wide range of restaurants and caterers, serving well over 100 million meals a year. London 2012 commercial partners Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Cadbury Nature Valley and Heineken will also be supplying food and drink and will provide the only branded products on sale. McDonald’s will operate at four Olympic venue restaurants: one in the Athletes’ Village, another for the media in the Main Press Centre and two in the Olympic Park for spectators. All soft drinks and mineral water will be provided by Coca-Cola, including Innocent smoothies and juices, and 75% of the drinks Coca-Cola expect to sell at the Games will be water, juice or sugar-free. In addition free drinking water will be provided at all venues. LOCOG Chief Executive, Paul Deighton said: ‘We want everyone who attends the Games this summer to have a fantastic experience and central to this is the food and drink that’s available. We have gone to great lengths to find top quality, tasty food that celebrates the best of Britain. We believe that our prices are more than comparable to those found at other major sporting events which because of their temporary nature are often more expensive than the high street. We are proud that the catering and industry has been quick to adopt the standards of our Food Vision, leaving a stronger and sustainable industry as a legacy of the Games.’ SAMPLE SPECTATOR MENU Porridge and maple syrup, made with UK oats and milk - £2.20 Toasted tea cakes, with Yorkshire butter – £2.10 Carrot and cucumber sticks with red pesto hummus - £2.50 6 Jerk Red Tractor assured chicken wings – £3.50 Red Leicester British cheese with British apple chutney and Farm assured lettuce on Oxfordshire bread - £3.80 Jacket potato with Dingley Dell bacon and Freedom Foods chicken in a herb mayonnaise, served with roquete and watercress salad - £5.80 Pole and line caught tuna and sweet potato British salad – £5.90 Freshly carved Dingley Dell hog roasted Red Tractor pork, served in Oxfordshire cross hatched bread roll with mixed leaf salad and assorted accompaniments – £6.50 Grilled Red Tractor chicken burrito - £6.50 Penne pasta Red Tractor chicken and mushroom white sauce - £6.50 Thin crust stone baked 10” pizza with spicy pepperoni, spicy beef, basil and oregano - £7.50 Farm assured Scotch Beef with Long Clawson Stilton Pie, Irish mashed potato with Red Tractor Cream and British butter and onion gravy - £8.00 Cod and chips – from £8 Singapore noodle, stir fried egg noodle, chicken, prawns, char sui Pork, chilli and shredded peppers in a hoi sin dressing – £8.50 Lamb Rogan Josh served with Pilaf or Saffron rice - £8.50 Bottled water - £1.60 Fairtrade Tea from £2.00 Fairtrade Coffee from £2.60 500ml bottle of Coca Cola - £2.30 330ml bottle of Heineken - £4.20 London 2012 red wine 18.7cl - £4.80 ENDS Notes to editors: Find out the latest from London 2012 on http://www.london2012.com , follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/london2012 or download the Official London 2012 Join In app. The Official London 2012 Join In app is a free mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience. From the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, the Official London 2012 Join In App is your essential companion. It is available now at app stores and at http://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/ London 2012 Games partners: The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa. LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield. There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and one domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Supplier, Otto Bock. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery. The LOCOG catering contractors are: - Aramark (Olympic Villages, Weymouth) - Baxter Storey (Main Media Centre) - Amadeus (Olympic Park North) - Sodexo (Olympic Park South, Hampden Park,, St James Park Royal Artillery Barracks, Lords) - Global Infusion (Hadleigh Farm, Lee Valley, Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park) - Arena Leisure (Eton Dorney, Greenwich Park) - Creativevents (Retail catering at ExCeL, Earls Court) - Compass (ExCeL, Earls Court, Millennium Stadium, North Greenwich Arena, Wembley Arena, Wimbledon, City of Coventry Stadium, Millenium Stadium ) - Manchester United (Old Trafford) - Bon Appetit (non-competition venues) - Delaware North (Wembley Stadium) - Ampersand (Hampton Court) - Motorsport __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi)

03-06-12, 02:34	#14
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	VIDEO- Olympic Games in London - INFO, News, & Results. London 2012: US Gymnast's Rejection from Olympic Consideration Stirs Controversy By Bleachersreport 1 June, 2012 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Chellsie Memmel, a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, will not be returning for a second shot at the upcoming London Games, and some people are angry about how she was excluded from consideration. A controversy is quietly brewing over Memmel’s rejected petition to gain entry to the Visa National Championships—which means she won’t be eligible to compete for an Olympic spot at the U.S. Trials. Not surprisingly, Marta Karolyi, the USA Gymnastics national team coordinator, is at the center of the swirl. Memmel, the 2005 world champion and a tenacious competitor throughout her career, is considered a solid ensemble contributor. She was a part of the U.S. team that took silver in Beijing, and her second-place finish in all-around at the 2011 U.S. Cover Girl Classic showed she still has plenty of chops. Nevertheless, as USA Today reported on Sunday, Karolyi confirmed Memmel's removal from Olympic team consideration after her showing at the Secret U.S. Classic in Chicago. That disappointed not only Memmel’s followers, but gymnastics fans in general, who see this not as a slap in the face but a larger issue of pure hypocrisy. Karolyi told reporters that the selection committee determined prior to the competition that Memmel would need a score of 14.000 on balance beam, her sole event, to earn an invitation to the Nationals. Memmel, back in action after recovering from a shoulder injury she suffered in last year's Nationals, fell short of that mark. Gymnastics is by all accounts a subjective sport. There is no clock to race against, no photo finishes, just human beings who judge an athlete’s worth at any given moment. Apparently, the same applies to the selection process. In the opinion of Dominique Moceanu, a 1996 U.S. Olympic team gold medalist, the Karolyi-led selection committee may be playing fast and loose with the rules. When it comes to who represents America at the Olympics, there is some wiggle room. In a sport where past controversy revolved around biased judging, this matter smacks of duplicity. How can the selection committee explain turning away Memmel when Shawn Johnson competed at the 2011 Cover Girl Classic by performing on two events and failing to accumulate the 14.000 average criteria? That was the very same meet in which Memmel won silver in all-around! No offense to Johnson, but why is Memmel not worthy of a shot when she outscored her? Furthermore, Nastia Liukin has not competed in three years, but did attend the Karolyi Ranch (aka U.S. Olympic training camp). So, how did she get to go from zero to Nationals? Curiously, Karolyi stated that there were “no major surprises" at the Secret U.S. Classic last weekend (per ESPN). Could this mean the team had already been selected and the rest is a dog and pony show for USAG/NBC television revenue? Perhaps things would have turned out differently had Memmel attended the U.S. Olympic training camp —which coincidentally is owned by the Karolyis. If Memmel’s career is to end on a sad and sour note, and if you believe those who voiced their alarm with the current happenings under USA Gymnastics, then this sport that has been fighting against “subjective judging” allegations for decades has taken a major step backward. Whatever happened to the Olympic motto—Citius, Altius, Fortius (Swifter, Higher, Stronger)? Perhaps it’s all in who has the real muscle. . __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

08-06-12, 00:07	#15
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. Aussie Swimmers in Hot Water- London 2012: Australia Olympic swimmers in trouble over gun photo • Picture of Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk causes controversy • Australian Olympic squad members posed with shotguns Associated Press, Thursday 7 June 2012 05.02 EDT A photograph of Australian Olympic swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk in a US guns shop has caused controversy online. Swimming Australia has ordered their controversial Olympic squad members Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk to remove photos of themselves posing with guns from social media sites. The photo of Monk in a US gun shop holding two pump-action shotguns while standing beside D'Arcy, who had a pistol in each hand, spread quickly, with the Sydney Daily Telegraph asking on Twitter: "Are you offended by this photograph of Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk in a US gun shop?" Swimming Australia issued a statement saying it "in no way condones these photos, and does not condone the posting of inappropriate content on Facebook, Twitter or any social media platform. "This is a timely reminder for athletes to more be responsible to themselves, the public with whom they engage through social media, and the reputation of the sport. "The athletes involved are currently returning from a training camp and competition in the US, and will be spoken to further upon their return." D'Arcy is no stranger to controversy having been dropped from the 2008 Beijing Olympics team after assaulting fellow swimmer Simon Cowley. Monk also landed himself in hot water when he claimed he broke his elbow in a hit-and-run incident last year, before admitting he fell off his skateboard. D'Arcy is competing in the 200m butterfly in London while Monk is a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay team. . __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

08-06-12, 00:11	#16
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. Olympic Legend Dies at 52 Hockey great Vladimir Krutov dies Vladimir Krutov led the Soviet team to gold in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Bleachersreport 7 June 2012 MOSCOW (AP) Vladimir Krutov, one of the Soviet Union's all-time great ice hockey players and part of the national team's formidable KLM Line, has died. He was 52. The Russian Hockey Federation said Krutov died Wednesday. It did not give a cause of death, but the ITAR-Tass news agency said he had been taken to a hospital several days earlier for stomach bleeding. ''Volodya was such a dependable and steadfast man that I would have gone anywhere with him — to war, to espionage, into peril. There are fewer and fewer guys like him in every generation of hockey players,'' federation president and former Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretyak told the Sport-Express newspaper. Born in Moscow, Krutov gathered attention for his play with a local factory team Meteor and was then invited to the hockey school of the CSKA Moscow club. He played with the team between 1978-89. Krutov and his CSKA teammates Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov formed one of the most potent scoring lines that hockey has ever seen, and led the Soviet team to gold in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He was also part of the team that lost to the United States at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and won five world championship titles in the 1980s. Along with defensemen Vyacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov, they became known as the ''Green Unit'' for the color of their practice jerseys. He was one of the first Soviet players to play in the NHL, but spent only one undistinguished season with the Vancouver Canucks. He later played for Zurich and Swedish lower-league clubs Ostersund and Brunflo, and coached CSKA for one season in 2001-02. After that, he was director at a state sports school. In 2010, he was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation's hall of fame. . __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

12-06-12, 22:54	#17
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympics: Bolt Facing Charges? London Olympics 100m gold medal favourite Usain Bolt could face car crash charges From: AFP June 12, 2012 8:50AM Can't outrun justice: Usain Bolt has been warned that no one is above the law after he crashed his car in Jamaica. Picture: AFP GLOBAL sprinting superstar Usain Bolt could face criminal charges arising from Sunday's one-vehicle accident in Kingston. Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds was quoted in a daily newspaper as saying criminal charges can be laid against the 100m and 200m world record holder if investigations suggest that he is at fault in the incident that took place early Sunday morning as the athlete drove home after attending a party the previous night. The double Olympic sprint champion slammed his luxury BMW into a guard rail in the vicinity of the Half Way Tree, a busy transportation hub in Kingston, the island's capital city. "No one is above the law and justice will be served with equity and thorough investigations will be undertaken just the same," Hinds is quoted as saying. "We operate a legal regime here in Jamaica. All persons who are found guilty before the courts will go through the same process, and will be charged accordingly." According to Jamaican law, drivers involved in accidents have 24 hours to report to the police and a police spokesman said they were expecting Bolt to report the incident by yesterday morning. On Sunday, Bolt's publicist Carole Beckford had confirmed the incident and told members of the media that the 25-year-old had gone home to rest, having escaped any injuries. Bolt had just returned home after a series of races in Europe, winning all three, and was expected to prepare for the Jamaican Olympic Trials set for June 29-July 1. Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, who lost to Bolt in two of his three races, was also at the scene of the accidentbut was in another vehicle. Sunday's crash was Bolt's second in three years after he rolled another BMW on a highway in 2009 but only walked away with minor abrasions to his foot. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

12-06-12, 23:00	#18
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympics: Royal Family Makes Team GB Zara Phillips: Queen's Granddaughter Will Be Highlight of Olympics for England By Bleachersreport on June 12, 2012 LOCOG/Getty Images There is about as good a chance of Zara Phillips failing to make England's Olympic roster as there is of David Beckham being left off the soccer roster. Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter has been nominated for England's equestrian team for London 2012, according to the Associated Press, and though it's uncertain whether or not she'll be on the final roster, it would be crazy for her to be left off. She's the queen's granddaughter. Is this really a question? Phillips even skipped the Diamond Jubilee to make sure she earned a nomination. She at least has to get credit for that. Though Phillips was a long shot for the Olympic roster a couple of months ago, she put forth a strong showing at Bramham last weekend to seal up a nomination. Succeeding at Bramham was essential for Phillips after several events that would've given her an opportunity to showcase her skills were cancelled due to weather. If England wants their equestrian team to earn a gold this summer, Phillips could be a crucial part of the mix, given her unique ability to handle pressure. Being the queen's granddaughter isn't going to get in her way of her riding abilities, nor is anything else. Eventing expert Jimmy Wofford told the AP's Danica Kirka: She brings a unique ability to deal with pressure. I wouldn't want the lifestyle that produced it, but our format these days guarantees a cliffhanger finish. … You have to have Sunday afternoon nerve. … Every time Zara goes out now, she looks better. It's not as though Phillips doesn't deserve to be competing for a gold this summer. She was tabbed to participate in the 2008 Olympics, but had to bow out when her horse got injured just a few weeks before competition began. It's been a long road back to proving she's at least deserving of consideration. Even though her skills warrant it, though, there are some instances when a little bit of favoritism is necessary, too. This is like an ABC Family movie plot: The queen's granddaughter defies the odds to qualify for the Olympics and wins the gold medal for the host nation. There's no way England can pass up that kind of an opportunity. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

18-06-12, 09:42	#19
online24 VIP & Santa Claus in Hiatus Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 507 Thanks: 156 Thanked 297 Times in 189 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 2	re: Olympic Games-London 2012 -INFO, News, & Results. London 2012 Handball competition schedule announced The London 2012 Olympic Handball competition schedule has been confirmed, revealing when teams will compete in the preliminary rounds of the tournaments on the Olympic Park. Day one of the Women’s preliminary competition sees the reigning Olympic Champions Norway take on France in a repeat of the final of the 2011 World Championships. Great Britain’s women will also play on day one against Montenegro, both teams making their Olympic Games debut. Other notable matches on day seven include Croatia v Montenegro and Great Britain’s women against Angola. Angola are 11 times African Champions but were beaten by Great Britain 22 points to 20 at the London Test Event in November last year. In the men’s competition, current Olympic Champions France start their tournament with a match against Great Britain on day two – the first time that the two teams will have played each other. On day four, Serbia play Croatia in a repeat of the Euro 2012 Championship match which Serbia won. Also on day four of the men’s preliminary competition, Denmark take on Spain. Spain (together with Russia) has participated in the most Olympic Handball tournaments with ten appearances and 3 bronze medals but have yet to win Gold. The Handball competition will take place at the Copper Box on the Olympic Park which was the third Olympic Park venue to be completed. After the Games, the Copper Box will become a multi-use venue for community use, sports training and events, accommodating a variety of activities, ranging from international competition and concerts to training and competition in sports such as basketball, handball, badminton, boxing, martial arts, netball, table tennis, volleyball and goalball. London 2012 Director of Sport, Debbie Jevans said: “The Copper Box is set to stage exciting world-class sport during the Olympic Games. We were able to test the venue through a series of test events including The London Handball Cup which was the first competition to take place in the Handball Arena on the Olympic Park and we are set for a fantastic couple of weeks of competition in the venue” Dr Hassan Moustafa, IHF President said: “Handball has constantly been one of the major sports in the Olympic Programme since 1972, which makes the handball family very proud, as this is a clear signal for the worldwide interest in our sport. Looking upon the numbers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, handball was among the top sports concerning TV figures. 'And looking upon the ticket sales for the 2012 Olympic Games in London it is impressive how fast the handball tournament was sold out. The promotion of handball has been tremendous in Great Britain, since London was awarded as host of the 2012 Olympic Games in June 2005. We are proud to welcome the world of handball in London – and we are sure that we will see thrilling, brilliant matches with the best players of the world.” Olympic men’s tournament: Group A France, Sweden, Iceland, Great Britain, Argentina, Tunisia Group B Spain, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Denmark, Korea Olympic women’s tournament: Group A Montenegro, Russia, Croatia, Great Britain, Brazil, Angola Group B Norway, Spain, Denmark, France, Sweden, Korea The full competition schedule can be viewed here The first game at the Copper Box takes place on Saturday 28 July, with the first semi-finals taking place on Thursday 9 August for the women and Friday 10 August for the men. The women’s gold medal match is on Saturday 11 August and the men’s on Sunday 12 August. The men's quarter finals and all semi final and final matches will be played in the Basketball Arena. ENDS __________________ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Donate and you will be blessed. Give me a thanks if I deserve it. Have a good day. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] (PS.I love Fantasy and SciFi)

20-06-12, 23:09	#20
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Olympic Games in London -Phelps Gunning for HUGE Medal Haul Michael Phelps: U.S. Trials Plan Proves Swimmer Still Wants to Dominate By Bleachersreport Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Swimming world take note: Michael Phelps is all in for London. According to Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports, the Olympic legend will swim seven events at the U.S. Swimming Trials next week. If he qualifies for each and makes all three relay teams, he could conceivably race in 10 events at the 2012 London Olympics and break his own record for medals won at a single Olympiad (a record he shares with Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin). Chances are that magical "10" figure won't hold. Phelps registered for nine events at the '08 trials before dropping three, and over-scheduling is a common practice at this all-important meet. The historic and seductively rounded number that is stealing headlines today will likely fade with time. Even so, it's clear that Phelps intends to dominate London much like he did Beijing and Athens. Those who believed that he would decelerate into retirement can now abandon that notion. Phelps may yet retire after London—as he has insisted for months now—but he isn't content to fade away. Quite frankly, we should have seen this coming. Phelps has always had a bipolar relationship with the water. Like many swimmers, he is susceptible to aquatic burnout—even to the point where he essentially stopped training in the fall of 2009. Al Bello/Getty Images But when rubber meets road and the big meets arrive, Phelps always comes front-crawling back. He can't help himself. Phelps lusts for victory in ways that can only be described as Jordan-esque. When Bob Costas once drew that very comparison in any interview with Phelps, noting Jordan's singular ability to derive motivation from his competition, the swimming great seemed to agree. "I welcome any comments," he said. "All they do is fire me up." Phelps hates swimming, but he also needs swimming—if only as an outlet for his unquenchable desire to be the absolute best. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an earnest attempt for nine medals—a feat that would set him apart as the single-most decorated athlete at one Olympic Games. Because for Phelps, a tepid first-place tie won't cut it. He has to rise above. At least that is what I'm taking out of today's announcement. Phelps has lost some interest in swimming, but at base, he still runs on the same overzealous competitive drive that first propelled him to greatness. In London, he is going to push his body to its physical limits one last time—because he's Michael Phelps, and that's what Michael Phelps does. He won't opt for the graceful sendoff. He won't accept a token relay nod. He won't retire on typical terms. And why should he? Michael Phelps, after all, is no typical athlete. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

20-06-12, 23:14	#21
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Re: Olympic Games in London -Last Olympics for NBAers? London 2012: Why NBA Must Not Give Up on Olympic Dream Team By Bleachersreport, 20 June 2012 Just when you thought David Stern and the cabal of owners who control him were finished turning the world of professional basketball on its head, it appears that the Olympics may be the latest victim of greed gone awry (via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski): NBA commissioner David Stern has been vague on the league’s motivation for pushing to enter an under-23 team for future Olympics and shifting the sport’s biggest stars to participation in the world championships, but the change of course is largely motivated by financial benefits, league and international sources told Yahoo! Sports. A partnership with FIBA would be a far more lucrative endeavor given the possibility that NBA teams could get their hands on some of that World Cup revenue. There's no question that the International Olympic Committee should rethink its monopolistic hold on the profits the Summer Games generate. Indeed, if Stern's flirtation with FIBA is simply a ploy to gain leverage in dealings with those pulling the strings at the Summer Olympics, then it would be nothing short of a well-played negotiating tactic. However, if there's any real intent to follow through with the gesture, then we have a problem. Wojnarowski seems to suggest this is far more than a bluff: Stern says the NBA will take time to deliberate how it will proceed in the future, but multiple league and international sources insist there’s little chance the league will ever send its best players to the Summer Olympics beyond the 2012 London Games. Choosing sides in the fracas between the NBA and Olympic Committee is a choice between two evils—and massively corporatized evils at that. The Summer Olympics is a global institution that should be as much about tradition as it is dollars and cents. While all parties are surely to blame for the Games' loss of innocence, the decision to take the NBA's business elsewhere is a step in the wrong direction. After all, the Summer Olympics date all the way back to 1896. They have become a symbol of global cooperation and an opportunity for nations large and small to express their patriotic fervor in a spirit of peaceful camaraderie. Mike Powell/Getty Images Basketball was introduced as a demonstration event in the 1904 Summer Olympics and later awarded medals in 1936. The United States took home gold medals in the first seven of those events until the Soviet Union stole the show in 1972. Twenty years later, the Games took on new meaning for the U.S., as professional players were finally allowed to play. Those players will be forever known as the Dream Team, a cast of superstars that included Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and a host of other Hall of Famers. Since 1992, the U.S. has earned the gold medal in four of five competitions. Sure, the Summer Olympics won't go anywhere even if the NBA's best and brightest do, but we'd still face the demise of a legacy that has shaped so many fans' appreciation of the Games. This isn't a time for a globally scaled lockout. It's a time for pocketbooks to take a backseat to the integrity of worldwide competition, and a history of which the NBA should remain an important part. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

25-07-12, 20:01	#22
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results London 2012 - Ladies Football - GB v New Zealand Officially there are still two days to go until London 2012 begins, but the action kicks off TODAY as Team GB's women footballers, led by Hope Powell, opened the Games when they took on New Zealand in Cardiff. Hope and glory: Can Hope Powell lead Team GB's footballers to gold? Final score: Team GB 1-0 New Zealand The final whistle has sounded as Team GB gave the London 2012 games a winning start for the home team. Steph Houghton was the hero with a excellently-struck free kick early in the second half. 5:54pm Paddy Power 1-0 LOCOG Earlier today we reported the legal wrangle between bookies Paddy Power and Olympic organisers LOCOG. We've just received a statement from Paddy Power, revealing the Olympic bosses have climbed down from their original position... "In what must be deemed a gold medal winning U-turn, London 2012 organisers, LOCOG, have reversed their position from yesterday which demanded the removal of Paddy Power’s latest advertising campaign from poster sites around the Olympic City. "The billboards in question were erected to promote the bookmaker’s sponsorship of an elite athletics event featuring an egg and spoon race that is scheduled to take place in the picturesque town of London, France on 01 August 2012 and is part of the bookmaker’s on-going “We Hear You” marketing campaign. "Coincidentally today’s change of heart by LOCOG, which was communicated by their law firm Freshfields was taken just moments before Paddy Power’s law firm, Charles Russell, were set to enter the High Court in London seeking a court order against the Olympic organisers. "The legal ruling was sought by Paddy Power on the grounds that their campaign does not breach LOCOG legislation on advertising around the 2012 Games. "Over the past 24 hours, tens of thousands of Paddy Power fans turned to social media to show their support for the ad campaign and to vent their anger at LOCOG’s decision, resulting in the bookmaker trending on Twitter in the UK earlier today. "Paddy Power have confirmed that they will be seeking to recoup their legal costs from LOCOG and if successful will donate the full amount to grassroots sports initiatives across the UK. "A spokesperson from Paddy Power said “This is a victory for common sense and for each and every one of our customers and fans who supported us along the way. The athletes of London, France will be breathing a collective sigh of relief this afternoon. May the Games begin!”" END Well done Ladies . __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

25-07-12, 22:32	#25
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results Drug testing may only catch one in eight athletes who take performance enhancing drugs: study James Armstrong, Global News : Wednesday, 25 July, 2012 TORONTO – Thousands of elite athletes are descending upon London to take part in the 2012 London Olympics the concern remains that despite improvement in detection, some athletes using performance enhancing substances are still able to pass standard blood and urine tests. The efforts to catch athletes who dope has also ramped up since Ben Johnson’s fall from grace in 1988 – gone are the days of tests after events for those who win a medal, being replaced by a record 5,600 scheduled tests in 2012 – up from 4,700 at the 2008 games in Beijing. Though a small fraction – between 0.5 to one per cent according to experts - of elite athletes tested for prohibited substances return a positive result, a study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggests many more athletes have used prohibited drugs – most without being caught. The study, done by Professor Heiko Striegel, and Rolf Ulrich of the University of Tübingen, and Perikles Simon from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation at the Johannes Gutenberg University surveyed elite athletes in Germany and found many athletes admitted to using prohibited substances at some point in their career – most without being caught. The study issued a survey to 25,437 athletes tested in Germany between 2003 and 2005, of which only 205 actually tested positive for prohibited substances. Approximately 6.8 per cent of them admitted to having used doping substances – a conclusion, the study’s author note suggests “official doping tests underestimate the true prevalence of doping in elite sports by more than a factor of eight.” Many prohibited substances, such as anabolic steroids, will become untraceable in an person’s blood after periods of no use. “The cheating athlete has also got more sophisticated, so it’s a continuing battle if you like to make sure the scientists that we engage think like cheats, and be a jump ahead,” David Howman, Director-General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, said. Though a new method of testing is being implemented by the CCES) in Ottawa and WADA – an agency working as a watchdog at the London games - that could effectively catch those who use prohibited substances between Olympics, or substances that are currently undetectable. “The creative chemist can take a steroid, for example, and they can manipulate the molecular structure, change it a little bit, and then it’s harder for the lab to detect, because it’s true that the lab can only detect what it knows its looking for,” said Paul Melia from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). The new method is a form of continuous test entitled “biological passports,” to which athletes are forced to submit. “For each individual athlete, we establish their parameters in blood and urine for various specific parameters. With each subsequent test then, we’re comparing those parameters for that individual athlete against their own individual normal baseline parameters,“ said Melia. The passports, through multiple sample collections, track the biological attributes of an athlete. Along with traditional blood and urine tests, doping officials are able to track an athlete throughout the off-season, regardless of whether they use substances which cannot be tracked. “And if we see a significant deviation in the reticulates levels in their blood for example and we don’t know what substance or what method might account for that, it doesn’t matter,” said Melia. Though some drugs or methods of cheating cannot be positively identified by blood and urine tests, the biological passport purports to detect those drugs by pointing to unusual changes compared to the athlete's normal sample measurements. © Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

26-07-12, 16:37	#26
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Saudi Female Banned from Wearing Hijab at Olympics Saudi Judoka Banned from Wearing Hijab at Olympics BBC News 26 July A competitor from Saudi Arabia, who is one of the country's first female athletes ever selected for the Olympics, will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition, the International Judo Federation said. No headscarf: Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani arrives at Heathrow airport Photo: AFP President Marius Vizer ruled that "according to the principles and spirit of judo," Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf. Judo officials said they were very proud their sport was one of the first to welcome a Saudi female competitor, but announced on the eve of the London Games that she would not be allowed to fight with a headscarf Saudi judoka Wojdan Shaherkani was on Thursday banned from wearing the hijab head scarf when she is fighting at the Olympic Games. The 18-year-old heavyweight, part of a two-woman team sent from the conservative kingdom to an Olympics for the first time, was ordered by International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer to step onto the mat with her head uncovered. "The Saudi Arabian athlete will take part in judo and she will fight according to the principle and spirit of judo, so without a hijab," said Vizer following Thursday's draw. Judo applies strict safety rules and any covering on the head is deemed to present a risk to the fighter's health. Shaherkani is due to take part in the women's judo competition on August 3. Saudi Arabia only agreed to send a women's team to London on condition that their two athletes respect a strict dress code. The country's most senior sports official Prince Nawaf bin Faisal had told local daily Al-Jazirah the two athletes would be allowed to compete as long as they will be "wearing suitable clothing that complies with sharia." Additionally he added other stipulations that: "the athlete's guardian agrees and attends with her," and "there must also be no mixing with men during the Games". Men and women share the judo training venue, warm-up area in the competition hall and fight side-by-side on the various mat areas inside the competition arena. American-raised 800m runner Sarah Attar is the second woman in the Saudi squad in London. She has spent little time in the Islamic kingdom and grew up mostly in California, where she took up cross country running. Attar appears without a headscarf in her official London 2012 photo. For Shaherkani her participation is also contentious on other safety grounds as she has only been involved in the sport for two years and is not even a black belt. That means she very likely is nowhere near the level of the international fighters she will be coming up against. She will fight Puerto Rico's Melissa Mojica, ranked 13 in the world, in the first round. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

26-07-12, 17:34	#27
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results London 2012 Olympics: Egyptian athletes 'given fake Nike kits' to wear at London Games An Egyptian athlete has claimed she had to buy her own Olympic kit after her national Olympic committee handed out fake Nike gear to participants. Telegraph.UK, 26 July 2012 Fake stash: Egyptian athletes have reportedly paid up to £200 for 'real' kit Photo: GETTY IMAGES It is understood the Egyptian OlympicCommittee chose a vendor for its athletes’ training and village wear who supplied counterfeit clothing bearing the Nike brand. Yomna Khallaf, 20, a member of Egypt’s synchronised swimming team, confirmed on Twitter that the athletes were given fake Nike wear. When asked by another user if the news was true, she wrote: “Yes it is. The bags for example have big nike logo in the front and the zippers are addidas [sic].” Ms Khallaf added: “It’s so frustrating that we had to pay extra 2000 pounds to have other proper stuff to wear so that we can look okay not even good.” Two thousand Egyptian pounds is just over £200. A spokesman from Nike said: “Nike was recently made aware that the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) chose a vendor for its athletes' training and village wear who is alleged to have supplied counterfeit footwear and apparel bearing the Nike trademarks. “Nike is highly concerned that if these allegations are true, the athletes will have received products that do not meet Nike’s quality standards. "Nike’s authorised distributor in Egypt has sent two official communications to the EOC on this issue and no response has been received. "On July 20, 2012, Nike also sent a written communication to the EOC requesting the committee to take immediate action. To date, we have not received a response. “We believe this issue with the EOC is an isolated incident. Nike consistently acts to protect its brand and actively engages with law enforcement agencies and Customs authorities to stop counterfeit product reaching consumers and athletes.” Egypt is sending 117 athletes to London 2012. The Egyptian Olympic Committee could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. RELATED London 2012 Olympics: Spanish Games team laughing stock after Bosco provide garish uniforms If there were a gold medal on offer for most fashionable kit at the London Games it's fair to say that Spain would not manage a podium finish. Que pasa? Saúl Craviotto took to Twitter to show his many fans what the new Spanish Olympic kit looks like Photo: TWITTER Thumbs up: but Alex Fàbregas tweeted the words: "Olympic equipment, there are no adjectives ..." Photo: TWITTER By Oliver Pickup, Telegraph UK With the Spanish contingent making themselves at home in the Athletes' Village with only three days to go until the Olympic Opening Ceremony, many are making use of their time by complaining about their garish uniforms, which look like your granny's special rug – the one handed down to her by her grandmother. Many made use of idle fingers by turning to Twitter to reveal their true feelings about their Games clothing, including reigning sprint canoe gold medallist Saúl Craviotto who accompanied a picture of him in his regalia (complete with España hat and Rucksac) with the words: "At home trying on my Olympics clothes. It's best if I don't give an opinion, I will leave it up to you ..." Additionally former tennis world No 1 Carlos Moya wrote on Twitter: “Looking forward to seeing Feliciano Lopez wearing the official Olympic uniform. He’ll never have worn anything so ugly in his life.” __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

26-07-12, 17:39	#28
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results London 2012 Olympics: opening Games ceremony out of this world, so cancel your plans for Friday night Late on Monday night, a cool breeze of Olympic enthusiasm blew through a stifling Bakerloo Line train. A gaggle of passengers climbed aboard, their excitement irrepressible as they travelled home from a rehearsal of the opening ceremony that on Friday night will break the ice on London’s Olympic party. It's a secret: spectators lucky enough to attend rehearsals at the Olympic Park were unanimous in their belief that the opening ceremony is not to be missed Photo: AP If Danny Boyle had handed out laughing gas and tax rebates at the penultimate run-through in Stratford he could not have got warmer reviews. Strangers when they got on the train, the spectators grinned and babbled wide-eyed to each other about what they had seen. “It was jaw dropping”, “Amazing, I didn’t know where to look”, “It makes you really want to get behind them”. A pact among those present prevented them sharing details. Boyle asked people to keep the secret before the show, and the hashtag #savethesurprise was displayed on the screens in the stadium. In the main, the covenant has held. Searching out the hash-tag on Twitter on Tuesday revealed a community of enthusiasts sending virtual nods and winks like parents before the best Christmas presents are opened. “Splendidly British and magnificently bonkers,” said one. “If you’ve got plans Friday night, cancel them. Opening ceremony is out of this world,” said another. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

29-07-12, 02:40	#29
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results LONDON CALLING Olympics 2012 OPENING CEREMONY BEGINS The London 2012 opening ceremony began as Tour de France winner, UK'sBradley Wiggins rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world. London 2012: Opening Ceremony Wows the Queen and the World with Wit and Drama The London 2012 Olympic Games were kick-started with an opening ceremony that stunned the world, showed the best of British history in a riot of colour, costume and comedy and even brought praise from the Queen. Unfortunately the only criticism came from some of the media in the US. In Pictures: Olympic opening ceremony Source; BBC The Queen has declared the London Olympics open following a spectacular ceremony, featuring David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond. Seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame which is formed from 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world. *Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge them.* The Queen has declared the London Olympics open following a spectacular ceremony, featuring David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond. Seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame which is formed from 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world. Games chief Seb Coe welcomed the world to London, saying the event celebrates "what is best about mankind". The three-hour spectacle, a quirky take on UK life, was viewed by TV audiences around the globe. Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, wearing a yellow jersey, rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to start the show. Flag-bearer Sir Chris Hoy led out Team GB, who were dressed in white and gold tracksuits, to loud applause. The athletes taking part in the Games - led, as tradition dictates, by the Olympics' spiritual home Greece - made laps of the stadium bearing their nations' flags. There were huge cheers for the Irish team - and for Usain Bolt, who carried the flag for Jamaica. David Beckham took to the Thames with the Olympic Torch, making his way to the stadium by powerboat. All four countries of the UK were represented in song, as the show capturing the best of Britain began. A classical orchestra sitting on the grass played Elgar's Nimrod. A turning waterwheel and a game of cricket completed the pastoral scene. A video of James Bond - actor Daniel Craig - meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace was broadcast to the audience. A helicopter then flew over the stadium to the sound of the Bond theme tune, as two figures parachuted out of the helicopter, one dressed as the monarch. As if by magic, the Queen appeared in the stands at the stadium - part of a crowd of about 80,000 - amid cheers. The artistic director, Danny Boyle, pledged a ceremony with a theme of This is for Everyone. The show took viewers through great revolutions in British society, from an agricultural setting through to the Industrial Revolution. Steelworkers began forging material that transformed into golden Olympic rings, which lifted into the air to be suspended above the performers. The Oscar-winning film director added that it contains a celebration of the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people. He said there were to be no spectators - everyone in the stadium will be part of the magic. One sequence - during which author JK Rowling delivered a reading - entitled Second to the right, and straight on till morning, honoured two of Britain's greatest achievements: its amazing body of children's literature and the NHS. Spectators lucky enough to get tickets to the Olympic Stadium event braved the rain despite forecasters predicting dry weather. A Red Arrows fly-past marked the start of the pre-show at the symbolic time of 20:12 BST (19:12 GMT). __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

29-07-12, 03:38	#30
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Stunning PHOTOS-Olympic Games-London 2012-INFO, News, & Results LONDON CALLING Olympics 2012 The Fireworks... Source; Telegraph UK London 2012 Olympics: Fireworks London 2012 Olympics: Fireworks London 2012 Olympics: . __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 01:17	#35
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Swiss Soccer Player Kicked Off Team Swiss soccer player kicked off Olympic team for discriminatory tweet BBC Sport 30 July 2012 Michel Morganella (right) during Switzerland's match against South Korea. (Getty) Following Switzerland's 2-1 loss to South Korea in the Olympic men's soccer tournament on Sunday, 23-year-old Swiss defender Michel Morganella expressed his frustration with a discriminatory tweet that has gotten him expelled from the squad and sent home by Swiss team officials. The message, which said that Koreans should "burn themselves" and described them as "retards" was followed by an apology in English before Morganella's @morgastoss account was deleted from the social networking site, but after a quick investigation, the Swiss team chief decided that this required further action. From Reuters: "He discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and the South Korean people," Swiss team chief Gian Gilli told reporters. This makes Morganella the second Olympic athlete to be dropped from the Games for a racially charged tweet after Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was left in Athens last week for her attempt at a joke about Africans in Greece. Continued.... __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 01:24	#36
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing Related: Americans risk DQ over IOC social media ban American athletes lead revolt against IOC ban on social media use to promote sponsors 9 hours ago 30 July 2012 U.S. runner Sanya Richards-Ross is part of a campaign demanding changes in Olympic social media rules. (AP Photo) … LONDON – American athletes risked disqualification by leading a revolt against the International Olympic Committee on Monday and its draconian laws of forbidding competitors from using social media to promote their sponsors. Spurred on by the outspoken words of members of the United States team, Olympians from around the world launched a Twitter campaign under the hashtags #Rule40 and #WeDemandChange in an attempt to pressure the IOC into action. Rule 40 is the section in the athletes’ code of conduct that warns anyone flouting the strict guidelines on the use of social media as a promotional tool will be expelled from the Games. Dozens of athletes responded angrily, including U.S. 400-meter star runner Sanya Richards-Ross. "I'd love to show my great sponsors love," Richards-Ross said. "I am one of the very fortunate athletes that work with wonderful sponsors during the Olympic year. [This is an] injustice." Others took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, although most were careful to avoid any direct mention of the companies that endorse them. The IOC also frowns upon strong criticism of the organization. National committees warned their athletes that any act of dissent, such as the Rule 40 tweets, could be grounds for disqualification. That did not stop U.S. 20-kilometer race walker Maria Michta, who gave a heartfelt and eloquent description of how the regulations have affected her. [ Related: Greek competitor alleges biting in judo loss to Cuban opponent ] "I have no big brand corporate sponsor who gives me free gear, pays me a salary and gives me a bonus for making it to events like the Olympics," Michta wrote on her personal blog. "My sponsors are my family, my friends, my high school community, the family of race walkers around the country. My sponsor bonus comes from each and every dollar thrown in my bucket, every donation on my website. Those are the sponsors that I represent. "And because of rules like Rule 40 and others I could not use the image of myself at Olympic Trials or the title U.S. Olympian in any pictures, posts or tweets to fundraise money to help pay for my travel expenses and get my family, the family that has sponsored me from day one, over to London to watch me compete." The campaign seemed to be gathering pace throughout Monday, with American middle distance runner Leo Manzano complaining about being ordered to remove a photograph of his shoes from his social media page. Others spoke out, as well. "I am honored to be an Olympian," U.S. javelin thrower Kara Patterson added. "But I can’t tweet about my only sponsor." The IOC had not yet addressed the issue as of Monday afternoon, but president Jacques Rogge is expected to face questions about it when he visits the Olympic Park on either Tuesday or Wednesday. The stance of the IOC has attracted criticism before, but the organization claims such measures are necessary to protect the income it receives from its own affiliate sponsors. [ Related: Dutch field hockey team gains attention for being hot ] "Ambush marketers have, in the past, used their association with athletes to suggest or imply that they have an association with the Olympic Games," reads the code of conduct. "This undermines the exclusivity that Organizing Committees can offer official Games and team sponsors, without whose investment the Games could not happen. "The implication of an association with the Games through use of athletes is particularly powerful during and immediately before the Games. Participants who do not comply with Rule 40 may be sanctioned by the IOC in accordance with the Team Members’ Agreement which provides for wide ranging sanctions, including amongst other things removal of accreditation and financial penalties." __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 01:30	#37
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Controversial Finish in Men's Gymnastics Men's Gymnastics Olympic Controversy: Japan Takes Silver, Great Britain Snubbed By Bleachersreport July 30, 2012 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images There was serious controversy at the North Greenwich Arena in London on Monday, when the judges of the men's gymnastics team final awarded the silver medal to Japan after the team made an inquiry late in the competition. According to the Daily Mail UK, the Japanese team protested a score given to Kohei Uchimura on the pommel horse, and the judges ultimately decided to accept the team's appeal and award Japan the silver at the expense of Great Britain. China won the gold, while Great Britain had seemed to have the silver medal locked up. Ukraine was in the bronze position as well until the protest from the Japanese team ultimately moved them from fourth place onto the podium. The result of the controversial protest: Japan is awarded the silver medal, and the host nation, Great Britain, must settle for bronze after a gutsy performance as an underdog in the team competition. The Americans finished fifth in Day 3's final, but their poor performance takes a back seat to the controversy, which cost Ukraine a podium finish and Great Britain a much-deserved silver medal. Team GB was snubbed; there is no denying that. Regardless of whether the judges made the right decision, the manner in which Japan was handed silver was unacceptable. Great Britain had an historic finish at the Olympics on Monday, but it was rudely and brutally bumped back down to size by the judges who made a mistake either way you slice it. On the bright side, the bronze finish is Great Britain's best men's gymnastics team result since 1912, not too shabby. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 01:37	#38
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	SK Fencer Stages Protest South Korean fencer stages sit-down protest of controversial loss By Jerry Hinnen, Bleachersreport July 30, 2012 4:48 pm ET South Korean fencer Shin Lam sits on the fencing piste while officials hear a Korean appeal over her controversial loss in the invididual epee semifinals. (Getty Images) In what's emerged as one of the biggest controversies of the Olympics, South Korean fencer Shin Lam remained on the piste for around an hour after she lost in highly controversial circumstances in the individual epee semifinals. Shin had been locked in the sudden death period of her match against German No. 1 Britta Heidemann, one on which Heidemann was required to score a point or Shin would advance to the gold medal finals. The clock reportedly ran out on Heidemann, only for a timing error to reset the clock from zero to one second. When play resumed, Heidemann's last-gasp attack scored for the win. Shin's coach Shim Jaesung launched a furious appeal during which Shin burst into tears and remained on the fencing piste. As officials conferred, an announcement told spectators that Shin would be acknowledging her defeat if she left the piste, leaving her there as the appeal continued. After apporoximately half an hour, Heidemann was declared the winner. But Shin remained where she was as the appeal dragged on, and another announcement was made that -- incredibly -- the Koreans would have to provide a financial deposit for their appeal to be heard. Eventually Olympics officials appeared to escort the distraught Shin off the piste: After being hugged and consoled by her coach following her departure and the ruling in favor of Heidemann, Shin still had to compete in the bronze medal match. She lost to China's Sun Yujie, 15-11, and finished off the podium. Heidemann would lose the gold-medal match 9-8 to Ukranian Yana Shemyakina. The images of Shin's protest will remind many of the iconic sit-down protest of Korean boxer Byun Jong-il, who remained in the boxing ring for 45 minutes after losing by judges' decision at the 1988 Seoul Games. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 14:12	#39
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing UPDATE on this previous report: Saudi Judoka Banned from Wearing Hijab at Olympics BBC News 26 July A competitor from Saudi Arabia, who is one of the country's first female athletes ever selected for the Olympics, will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition, the International Judo Federation said. No headscarf: Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani arrives at Heathrow airport Photo: AFP President Marius Vizer ruled that "according to the principles and spirit of judo," Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf. ------------------------------------------------------ It has now been decided that Saudi Judoka can compete wearing a Hijab. The decision was reversed when her Father said she would have to withdraw from the games. The Olympic Committee relented after it also took into account that this was the first Olympic Games that Saudi Arabia had sent athletes to take part in it. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

31-07-12, 15:59	#40
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing SCHEDULE Todays Schedule can be viewed here; SCHEDULE __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

01-08-12, 23:48	#43
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,549 Thanks: 27,621 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing Pedestrian Killed by Olympic Media Bus BBC Sport 1 August 2012 Man arrested after cyclist struck by Olympic bus The accident happened close to the Olympic Park hockey pitches A man has been arrested after the death of a cyclist who was struck by an Olympic bus close to the Olympic Park. The man, aged in his mid-60s, was detained after the cyclist, 28, died at the scene, at the junction of Ruckholt Road and East Cross Road, Hackney. Police and an air ambulance attended the scene after the crash, which happened at about 1945 BST. Scotland Yard said the suspect was being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was taken to an east London police station. The crash, involving an Olympic media bus, happened close to the Olympic hockey centre, velodrome and Paralympic tennis arena. The victim has not yet been identified, but an International Olympic Committee source told BBC London he was not an Olympic competitor. "The police are investigating and our thoughts are with the cyclist's family," Olympic organisers Locog said. "We can confirm that a cyclist tragically died as a result of a collision with a bus carrying media from the Olympic Park this evening." Following the collision no buses were allowed to arrive or depart from the Media Transport Mall's multi-story car park. The Olympic Park internal shuttle remains operational. The incident is being investigated by the Met's Traffic Investigation Unit. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES