re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

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


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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.

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

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.


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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.





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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.

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

US Cyclist Stripped of Gold

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

By Bleachersreport
August 9, 2012


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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.

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

2012 Olympics Results: Winners and Losers from Day 15

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 :banghead:

re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

MEDALS Table - AS AT 9pm GMT (4pm Canada ET)

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 :banghead:

Re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

Olympics 2012: Nadzeya Ostapchuk Loses Gold Medal Following Failed Doping Test

By Bleachersreport




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Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images


Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus failed a doping test during the Olympics and will lose the gold medal she won in the shot put, according to Tom Bryant of The Guardian. Valerie Adams of New Zealand will be awarded the gold instead.

The report states that Ostapchuk was tested twice during the London Games, and both tests came back showing metenolone, one of the substances that is banned by the International Olympic Committee. This forced the IOC to take away her medal.

Ostapchuk has been one of the most accomplished shot-putters in recent years, winning gold at the World Indoor Championships and European Championships in 2010. She had not finished worse than third in the event since 2006, which includes a bronze medal at the Beijing Games four years ago.

Her winning shot of 21.36 meters easily landed her in first place. Four of the Belarusian athlete's six throws would have been good enough to finish in gold-medal position.

Doping and the use of performance enhancing drugs never became a major story during the Olympics, which is a positive sign in the continued struggle to stay ahead of the curve and ensure all athletes are on a level playing field during competition.

Unfortunately, things will end on a negative note due to Ostapchuk's stripped medal. The report included comments from Adams, who was happy the system worked properly to allow her to claim gold.

Along with Adams getting elevated to gold, Yevgeniya Kolodko of Russia moves up to silver and China's Lijiao Gong goes from not getting a medal at all to bronze.
END

"SHE" :crap: I thought it was a man.......
:umm:

Re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Athletes Go Missing
 

NBC's Closing Ceremony Cuts Cause Outrage


This report is all over the web, as so many were angry.

Viewers were left wondering what happened after NBC cut some iconic British performances out of the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Fans looking forward to hearing the Who, Muse , and Ray Davies from the Kinks instead got a commercial-free airing of the new NBC comedy, “Animal Practice.�

Cue outrage. At the handle #NBCfail, complaints rolled in. Wrote @ninatypewriter, “I think NBC has managed to become even less popular than Congress.�

Or as @ BookSavvy put it, “‘Gee, I can’t wait for the #ClosingCeremonies to be over so I can watch Animal Practice’ – No WAY Ever.�

The network did air the Who after “Animal Practice� and the local news, around midnight. But this didn’t seem to satisfy some fans who couldn’t believe the oversight of dumping Muse, whose contribution was particularly important to the summer Olympics.

As @ alexheberling posted, “Did they not know that Muse did the OFFICIAL SONG OF THE LONDON 2012 GAMES? UGH.

Others were annoyed that the Who aired so late on a Sunday night as a tape delay when the network failed to air the event live on a Sunday afternoon. Mia Farrow (yes, that Mia Farrow) tweeted, “Hey @nbc it’s SUNDAY! Many of us would LOVE to be watching Olympic closing ceremonies right now.�

NBC’s Twitter feed appeared to warn viewers the ceremony was about to come to an end before the actual end.

@Nbcolympics tweeted, “And that’s a wrap! Thanks for enjoying the 2012 #Olympics with us! RT if you CAN’T WAIT for #Sochi2014!� Another post added, “And stayed tuned for #TheWho after @AnimalPractice :) �

The network sparked venomous Twitter feedback over the two week period for its tape-delay coverage of the sporting events and only allowing NBC cable subscribers to view the games live stream on the Web.

Despite the complaints about the defects of the closing ceremony, the ratings were through the roof. NBC reported that 21.8 million viewers tuned in. The London Games also had a record number of viewers, on average 31.1 million viewers in prime time, the most-watched non-U.S. summer games since Montreal in 1976, according to Forbes.

A request to NBC for a comment on the coverage has not yet been returned.
END

Yes I have to agree, & each section of coverage was about 6 minutes of coverage then 5-6 mins of ads. They also constantly cut into the ceremony to go back to their studio and listen to all their "experts" some of which you couldnt tell if they were a men or women.

What annoyed me the most was that their coverage was all about the US athletes and the events they were in, and hardly any coverage at all of all the other great atheletes from around the world.

Typical greedy corporate US attitude, 'lets make some money out of this and stuff the principles of what the Olympic Games are all about' :arrrrrgh:

Re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

4 Congo Olympic Delegation Members Missing

The Associated Press

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) -- A U.N.-run radio station in Congo says four members from the country's Olympic delegation have gone missing in London.

The station reported Monday that judo athlete Cedric Mandembo disappeared after the closing ceremony, and has not been reachable on his mobile phone. He lost his match after 49 seconds.

Authorities tell the radio station that the Congolese athlete left the Olympic village with his baggage without saying where he was going.

The others who have gone missing are two officials with the boxing and judo teams, and a national athletic official.

Already at least seven Cameroonian athletes have failed to return home after the games.

Congo has suffered decades of dictatorship and war and remains mired in poverty despite its mineral riches.

and MORE;

Olympics-Guinea and Ivory Coast athletes missing in London

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/FZ...b5cec5193.jpegReuters – 6 hours ago


CONAKRY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Athletes from Guinea and Ivory Coast have joined several other Africans who have gone missing following the London Olympics, officials said on Tuesday.
Three Guineans and three Ivorians disappeared, adding to a total list of 11 Congolese and Cameroonians suspected to be trying to make new lives in Europe.

"Three members of the delegation have not returned to the Olympic village," Adama Doumbia, technical adviser at the Ministry of Sports and Leisure in Ivory Coast, told Reuters.
He did not give the names of the missing members of the delegation but said they contained two swimmers and a wrestling coach.
An official on Guinea's Olympic Committee told Reuters on condition of anonymity that swimmer Dede Camara, judo competitor Facinet Keita and runner Aicha Toure had been missing since Saturday, the day before the closing ceremony.

Games officials are already looking for a Democratic
Republic of Congo judo competitor, three other members of that country's delegation and seven Cameroonian athletes.

The London Olympic organising committee said it had notified British police about the missing Cameroonians but added the athletes would not be infringing immigration laws until their visas expired in November.

Re: PHOTOS-Olympics2012-Many Atheletes Go Missing
 

Monetary Rewards for “Immortal” Athletes

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President Fernández, Sánchez and Santos. Photo: elnuevodiario.com.do


Santo Domingo.- During a ceremony held at the National Palace yesterday, President Leonel Fernández awarded 18 million pesos to the Dominican gold and silver medalists at the London Olympic Games, Félix Sánchez and LuguelÃ*n Santos.
Fernández said he was very happy and satisfied with the achievements of the Dominican delegation.

He presented a RD$10 million check to Félix Sánchez who won gold in the 400 meter hurdles, a RD$6 million check to LuguelÃ*n Santos who won silver in the 400 meter sprint, one million pesos to LuguelÃ*n Santos’ trainer José Rubio, and one million pesos to the athletics federation, which was accepted by its president, Gerardo Suero Correa.

“I don’t know if it’s a question of fate… when I entered government in August 2004 Félix Sánchez gave us the gift of the country’s first ever Olympic gold medal at the Athens Olympics and now, days before handing over power, another gold medal arrives from Félix”, said Leonel Fernández. He said that Félix, with two Olympic gold medals, was an immortal athlete of the Republic.
Sports Minister Felipe Payano declared that the lives of athletes as well as trainers and sports managers had acquired increased dignity during president Leonel Fernández’s governments. He also described them as “immortal Dominicans”.

“It’s good to win a medal, but thanks to the incentives the president has given in the last two Olympic cycles, things are better and the athletes can now deal with many economic problems with these funds,” he said.
Medalists Félix Sánchez and LuguelÃ*n Santos thanked president Leonel Fernández and Felipe Payano for the economic incentives. “We are happy, now we can plan things with our families”, they said.
END

Aw Bless how sweet, cos the people here are very poor and they dont have all the posh training centres to train in like other countries. I am so pleased they won a couple of medals. It may have been only 2 but they had a huge hero's welcome when they returned here. :clapper:


(Exchange Rate 39 pesos to the US$)