London Olympics2012:London 2012 Main Press Centre officially opens

27-06-2012

The Main Press Centre (MPC) for the Olympic Games was officially opened today, marking exactly one month to go until the greatest show on earth. During the Games, around 5800 accredited members of the press and photographic media will have access to the action as it happens from this base in the Olympic Park.

The Centre will provide journalists, photographers, accredited non-rights holding broadcasters, and International Olympic Committee and London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) staff with 31,000 square metres of work space across four floors.

A 24-hour hub, the MPC will provide the world’s media the best facilities to enable them to broadcast the action to an estimated four billion people around the globe, and will be open for 52 days.

LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: “Like the athletes competing at London 2012, the world’s writers and photographers who will be based in the MPC are at the top of their profession. We will offer them state of the art facilities so they can tell the extraordinary stories that will come out of the Games.

“This is our first venue to open for business and we are ready to welcome the world’s media as they come and set up their office.”

Injured Afghanistan army captain leads ParalympicsGB rowing squad

Just two-and-a-half years after he was injured while serving as a British Army captain in Afghanistan, Nick Beighton was selected on Wednesday to head a list of eight ParalympicsGB rowers at the London 2012 Games.

Beighton only started the Paralympic sport in 2011 when he used a rowing machine as part of his recovery at the armed forces rehabilitation centre in Headley Court.

He will compete alongside Sam Scowen in the mixed adaptive double skull event with the pair having qualified for the Games after a sixth-placed finish at the World Championships last year.

"I am proud to have served my country in the Armed Forces and now this is a great honour to represent my country again in a completely different way," he said.

"It has been a long hard journey since I was injured two-and-a-half years ago and I just want to take this opportunity to thank the countless number of people who have helped me along the way.

"I wouldn't have achieved this without their support and encouragement. It is a unique opportunity to compete in a home Olympic Games and truly a once in a lifetime chance.
"Having the support of the nation behind us will hopefully lift our performance to the highest level. I can't wait."
Reigning Paralympic and World Champion Tom Aggar will bid to retain his title in the "arms and shoulders only" single scull that he won when rowing made its Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008.
Aggar, who is unbeaten since 2007, said: "I set out four years ago, post-Beijing, to defend my title on home water and I am so proud that I have been selected to represent my country and compete at the London Paralympic Games."
Great Britain also won bronze in the mixed adaptive coxed four in Beijing and ParalympicsGB has named the crew which won the world title last year – Pamela Relph, Naomi Riches, Dave Smith and James Roe with cox Lily van den Broecke – to compete in London.
Riches, who is the only surviving member of the victorious Beijing crew, said: "Competing at the London Paralympic Games is something that I have thought of every day since the 2012 host country was announced in 2006.
"As each year passed it became more real and now it is just days away.
"I am so excited about this summer, the training leading into the Games and the Games themselves. Being part of this crew is incredible beyond words let alone competing on home water in front of a home crowd."
His fellow crew member Smith will take part in the Games after recovering from a life-threatening tumour in his neck in 2009.
Despite a subsequently successful operation to remove the tumour, Smith spent a year in rehabilitation while he learnt to learn to walk again before he could contemplate a return to training.
He said: "To be competing on home water is a great prospect, and knowing that we will have a huge support from British supporters is an amazing feeling".
The Paralympic rowing takes place for three days from August 31 with all medals decided on September 2.

More than seven million tickets for the Olympics have been sold:Locog

27 Jun 2012

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) and chairman Sebastian Coe face a race against time to sell the remaining two million tickets with a month to go until the opening ceremony.

While more than seven million tickets for the Olympics have been sold, there remains 20 per cent for sale.

Locog said that momentum is gathering and one million tickets have been sold in the last month alone.

One of the biggest problems, however, is that tickets for football matches – which were available to purchase later than other events – are proving hard to shift.

Locog insisted that excluding the football, some 90 per cent of all tickets had been sold. Further, tens of thousands more contingency tickets have yet to have been made available.

Lord Coe remained bullish on Wednesday, insisting that the London 2012 organisers will have to work day and night until the very start of the Olympics to make sure everything is right for the Games.

He said they were on course for "an amazing summer" and called on everyone in the country, wherever they live, to become involved in the Olympics.

"With a month to go, we are ready, and on track," Lord Coe said. "We aren't complacent – every day and every hour is as vital to us as it is to the athletes in this final countdown."This summer will generate some awe-inspiring moments and we hope to create memories that will last a lifetime, so my message is – be part of it.

"As athletes around the country and around the world are qualifying and being selected for the Games we want the whole country to prepare for an amazing summer.

"From the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations which continue, to the Torch Relay, the London 2012 Festival and the sporting events at the Games, we want everyone to join in."

Lord Coe urged people to snap up the remaining tickets and continued: "There are hundreds of ways to be part of the Games, wherever you live.

"From buying a ticket, and there are still some great tickets for both Games and to events in the London 2012 Festival, to watching the sporting events at Live Sites, cheering the Olympic flame as it continues its amazing journey around the country, or celebrating with family and friends at a 'Super Saturday' barbecue during the Games."

Former Olympic sprinter dies in car accident

DARWIN, Australia (AP) : Former Australian runner Daniel Batman, who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was considered one of the country's best all-time sprinters, was killed Tuesday in a single-car accident in the Northern Territory.

Police said Wednesday that a car driven by the 31-year-old Batman left the Arnhem Highway near a bridge. Wreckage of his car, strewn over 100 meters along the highway, was discovered several hours later by a passing motorist.

Batman was once married to fellow Olympic sprinter and Australia field hockey player Nova Peris. They had two children. He was reported to have been visiting his children shortly before the accident.

Batman, who separated from Peris in 2010 and divorced in 2011, competed over 100, 200 and 400 meters.

Former Australian sprinter Matt Shirvington said on Twitter: "100m - 10.19s, 200m - 20.44s, 400m - 45.02s. Daniel Batman was the best all-round sprinter Australia has ever seen. Rest in peace, mate."

"It's a massive loss for the athletics fraternity," Shirvington told a Melbourne radio station later Wednesday. "He was an amazing athlete. We've had faster sprinters but if you look at it across the board he would be the best."

A former Australian schoolboy rugby representative, Batman temporarily quit athletics to try a career with the Super 15's ACT Brumbies but didn't advance from their training squad.

Batman had a new partner, Natalie Sainsbury, and they had a child together last year.

Former coach Tudor Bidder remembered Batman as "very much a family man" who put his kids first.

"Thirty-one, it's not an age to be losing your life," Bidder said. "But he had quite a lot of life inside those few years."

Shara Proctor Holly Bleasdale set new British records in Olympic Trials

24 June 2012

Long jumper Shara Proctor and pole vaulter Holly Bleasdale set new British records to seal their places in Britain's London 2012 team on a dramatic final day at the Olympic Trials.

Young guns Andy Pozzi and Lawrence Clarke held off world bronze medallist Andy Turner in a thrilling 110m hurdles to bag their own two automatic places while Martyn Rooney beat Conrad Williams in a tight 400m and Robbie Grabarz took the high jump as all three qualified for London.

James Ellington snatched the 200m, Lawrence Okoye the discus and 38-year-old Jo Pavey the 10,000m to join them in the GB squad.

At the other end of her career, 21-year-old Eilish McColgan - daughter of 1991 world 10,000m champion Liz - will go to her first Olympics after winning the 3,000m steeplechase.

With athletes finishing in the top two in their events while also possessing the relevant 'A' standard guaranteed selection for London it was a nervy, frenetic afternoon with the cold conditions far from ideal for big performances.

Proctor and Bleasdale made a mockery of both occasion and weather.

Bleasdale has struggled outdoors this year after clearing a remarkable 4.87m indoors in January and had two failures at both 4.40m and 4.50m before clearing 4.71m at her second attempt.

"Today was the first competition I've put a new technique into place, and I felt like I was flying," she revealed afterwards. "I feel like I can go much, much higher."

Saudi Arabia is to allow its women athletes to compete in the Olympics for the first time.

24 June 2012

Officials say the country's Olympic Committee will "oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify".

The decision will end recent speculation as to whether the entire Saudi team could have been disqualified on grounds of gender discrimination.

The public participation of women in sport is still fiercely opposed by many Saudi religious conservatives.

There is almost no public tradition of women participating in sport in the country.

Saudi officials say that with the Games now just a few weeks away, the only female competitor at Olympic standard is showjumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas.

But they added that there may be scope for others to compete and that if successful they would be dressed "to preserve their dignity".

In practice this is likely to mean modest, loose-fitting garments and "a sports hijab", a scarf covering the hair but not the face.

For the desert kingdom, the decision to allow women to compete in the Olympics is a huge step, overturning deep-rooted opposition from those opposed to any public role for women.

As recently as April, the indications were that Saudi Arabia's rulers would accede to the sensitivities of the religious conservatives and maintain the ban on allowing women to take part.

But for the past six weeks there have been intense, behind-the-scenes discussions led by King Abdullah, who has long been pushing for women to play a more active role in Saudi society.In secret meetings in Jeddah, officials say a consensus was reached in mid-June between the king, the crown prince, the foreign minister, the leading religious cleric, the grand mufti and others, to overturn the ban.

An announcement was ready to be made but then had to be delayed as the country marked the sudden death of Crown Prince Nayef.

"It's very sensitive," a senior Saudi official told the BBC. "King Abdullah is trying to initiate reform in a subtle way, by finding the right balance between going too fast or too slow.

"For example, he allowed the participation of women in the Shura council [an advisory body] so the Olympic decision is part of an ongoing process, it's not isolated."

The official acknowledged that to refuse to let women take part would have looked bad on the international stage.

"Partly because of the mounting criticism we woke up and realised we had to deal with this. We believe Saudi society will accept this," the official said.

It is not the first time a Saudi monarch has backed a controversial reform against domestic opposition.

King Faisal, who introduced television in the 1960s and was eventually assassinated, insisted on introducing education for girls.

Today, Saudi women graduates outnumber their male counterparts.

The American-built long-range acoustic device used as a sonic weapon will be deployed in London for the Olympics.

A device that can be used as a sonic weapon will be deployed in London for the Olympics.

The American-built long-range acoustic device (LRad) can be used both as a high-powered loud speaker and to emit an ear-piercing beam of sound.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that it was among a "broad range of assets" being used by the Armed Forces to provide security during the Games.

A spokesman said it would be used primarily in "loud hailer mode" in order to issue verbal warnings to any boats on the River Thames that were causing concern.However, the LRad can emit a highly focused beam of sound at a pain-inducing 150 decibels (dB).

In comparison, military jets have a take-off rating of 140 dB while instant perforation of an eardrum can occur at 160 dB.

The US army deployed LRad as a crowd control device during its struggles in post-war Iraq.

More recently, it used a vehicle-mounted system against G20 protesters in Pittsburgh in 2009, driving back US demonstrators with the LRad's high-pitched sound.

The devices have also been used on cruise liners to ward off Indian Ocean pirate attacks.

Some models are now "man portable" backpacks that can blast alarm warnings at 137 dB, and can be used as land-based loud hailers with a range of 1km.

"As part of the military contribution to the police-led security effort to ensure a safe and secure games, a broad range of assets and equipment is being used by our Armed Forces," the MoD spokesman said.

"This includes the LRad which will be deployed during the Olympic Games primarily to be used in the loud hailer mode as part of the measures to achieve a maritime stop on the Thames."

People could be queuing at airports for up to 24 hours during the London Olympics,chief UK Border Force

May 22, 2012

People could be queuing at airports for up to 24 hours during the London Olympics, the chief of the UK Border Force has admitted.

UKBA director general Brian Moore insists staffing levels should be up to dealing with the surge in arrivals but warns he cannot rule out delays.

It comes after passengers at Heathrow Airport last month were forced to wait for hours before going through passport control.

The delays sparked concern about the world's largest international airport's ability to cope with the influx of visitors during the Olympics this summer.

The Olympic torch is already on its tour of the UK ahead of the start of the Games on July 27 after it was flown in from Greece last week.Thousands of officials working at the Games and competitors will be fast-tracked through immigration at Heathrow, with hundreds of extra UKBA staff brought in to speed up the process.

Mr Moore told MPs when pressed about the recent problems that he was satisfied staffing levels would be able to cope but he stopped short of guaranteeing delays would be eradicated.

"I do not anticipate seeing large queues of two, three and four hours because of the work we are doing to move our resources, However there will always be circumstances beyond our control," he said.

He repeatedly declined to tell the Commons home affairs committee what he personally considered a "reasonable" wait, but said he believed the public generally accepted a 25-minute target.Mr Moore admitted using resources flexibly was "sometimes not a strength of the Border Force" but said action was being taken to avoid a repeat of the recent delays.

He was also forced to deny that contingency staff being drafted in to man border posts over the summer were receiving less training than permanent workers.

The five or six-day procedure is the same as the period within a 15-week training course that relates to the particular role they will be performing, he told MPs.

Mr Moore, who was previously Wiltshire Police chief constable, was seconded to take over the UKBA in March following the row over Brodie Clark and lax border security.

:: Labour leader Ed Miliband has spoken out against the possibility of industrial action during the Olympics after London bus drivers were balloted over a potential strike.

Mr Miliband said public sector workers in the capital may face "extra strain" when the Games are happening but stressed that avoiding disruption was "really important".

London 2012 Olympics: Revelations that tickets black market are all too predictable and shame the IOC

17 June 2012

Revelations that tickets for the London Games found their way on to the black market are all too predictable and shame the IOC.Of all the negative stories , from transport meltdowns to security scares.likely to afflict the London Olympics before the curtain goes up on Danny Boyle's opening ceremony, Sunday's was the most predictable. And yet it is also potentially among the most damaging.

Claims that 27 representatives of 54 countries – more than a quarter of the total number whose athletes will march around the track in Stratford in the name of Olympic values – were prepared to break International Olympic Committee rules and sell thousands of tickets on the black market will not come as a big surprise to many. Certainly not to anyone who has observed the margins of major sporting events since the 1984 Los Angeles Games set the template for the modern era.

Yet the numbers involved still shock – up to £6,000 demanded for "AA" blue riband tickets sloshing around in a global market for an event staged in venues built with billions of pounds of public money.

For the IOC, which had spent much of the past decade ridding itself of the stain of the Salt Lake City scandal, and for London 2012 organisers, battling public cynicism about ticketing, cronyism and corporate might, it could not have come at a worse time.

In an idyllic lakeside corner of Lausanne, the IOC president, Jacques Rogge, could afford a degree of quiet satisfaction as he sat opposite me last week and reflected on the upcoming London Games. There was no last-minute panic to finish the venues, no international outcry over human rights.

Rogge, who will stand down next year after 12 years in the IOC's top job, had hoped to leave behind an organisation in rude financial health and with a restored reputation for probity and transparency.

As fires raged at Fifa, the IOC was last year able to bask in the fact that in comparison it looked like a model international governing body. The calm hand on the tiller of the Belgian former Olympic sailor, elected in 2001 in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal that threatened to fatally undermine its image, had made it appear a beacon of good practice next to Sepp Blatter's collapsing Fifa House.

The speed with which the IOC reacted to the Sunday Times allegations reflects the extent to which they threaten to sully that good name. The claims may only involve "thousands" of tickets among 8.8m but, as ever, perception is everything.

At a general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees in Acapulco in October 2010, the Locog chairman, Lord Coe, acknowledged the threat when he told the gathering that tough action would be taken against anyone who broke the rules regarding distribution of the 1.1m tickets reserved for overseas buyers and gently reminded them of the enquiring nature of the British media.

Yet those rules are notoriously difficult to enforce and widespread suspicions remained, only exacerbated by the recent resignation of the general secretary of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee when he was caught by a similar BBC sting.

The IOC was keen in its hastily released statement to underline that the NOCs involved were "autonomous". The same goes for the international federations of Olympic sports that from time to time are similarly involved in scandal.

And London organisers can justifiably point to having done more to combat touting than any previous Games – including specific warnings to overseas Olympic committees and an effort to limit tickets based on how they are likely to sell and performance pedigree. They also stressed that none of the tickets involved were among the 6.6m allocated to the British public.

However, those distinctions mean little to the general public. Many of those who have struggled to secure tickets for the biggest events and already feel ill disposed towards what they see as preferential treatment for sponsors and blazers will see this as yet more evidence for the prosecution.

The timing is less than ideal for London organisers, just as they were hoping to capitalise on the groundswell of goodwill created across the country by the torch relay and the looming excitement of the sporting spectacle. They hoped that growing buzz would translate into an acceleration in sales for almost 2m remaining tickets for football and high-priced options for less popular sports and drown out complaints over sponsors, Games lanes and selection controversies.

There will be lessons to be learned – above and beyond a reminder to those on the take that they might learn to avoid tempting offers from those claiming to represent middle eastern money men. The way the IOC allocates and distributes tickets must surely change. One of the strengths of the IOC's structure is that the executive is not beholden to national associations in the same way as Fifa's is.

A centralised ticketing system that bequeaths less power to national fiefdoms may be one option. However it is done, market forces mean it will never be possible to eradicate the black market entirely – but it should be possible to ensure it's not fuelled by those inside the tent.

In the meantime, the immediate reaction of the IOC and Locog to this latest controversy will do much to inform the ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of the public attitude to the Olympic Games – in London, in the UK and beyond.

Mahesh Bhupathi won’t partner Leander Paes at London Olympics

New Delhi: Mahesh Bhupathi has reportedly written a letter to All India Tennis Association (AITA) stating that he won’t partner Leander Paes at London Olympics. His latest move might jeopardize his chances to take part in London Olympics at all.

This came after Bhupathi publically alleged Paes, his former doubles partner, of backstabbing him and refused to partner him despite AITA announced their decision to send a doubles team consisting of him and Paes for London Olympics.

With AITA not ready to backtrack and announce different partner for Bhupathi, the Bangalore-based player will have no option but to miss out the Olympics berth and to possibly face sanction because the All India Tennis Association had categorically said it would not change the players` combination for the London Olympics.

AITA President, Anil Khanna had made a strong defence of the selection committee`s decision on picking the duo.

Urging Bhupathi to be a "little more mature", Khanna asked him to put the national interest first. 

"Both (Bhupathi and Bopanna) have to realise that the nation comes much before commitment to each other," he said.

Khanna said if Bhupathi expects AITA to buckle under pressure and not pair him with Paes, "it will not happen".

Khanna had stressed that The Paes-Bhupathi pair is the best team for the Olympics.

"It will have to be Leander and Mahesh," he said.

Arguing that the Paes-Bhupathi pair is the best bet for India, Khanna said a medal-winning team is possible only with Paes.

"Olympics is a different ball game and tougher than a Grand Slam and wealth of experience that the duo has would keep them in good stead in crunch and pressure situation. We have to send medal winning team," Khannahad said.

Cable car across Thames will begin operation on June 28

A cable car which will shuttle people over the Thames in east London is set to begin operation on June 28, nearly a month ahead of the Olympics, it was announced last night.

In recent weeks safety tests of the £50 million network had been taking place in the hope that it will be ready by the time the Games start on July 27.

There had been fears that the Emirates Airline, as the network will be known, would not be ready in time for the Games.

But Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, whose approval was required for the scheme to go ahead, has given the project the green light.

Her officials had been working closely with the contractors to make sure the deadline was met.

The cars will carry spectators and potentially competitors across the Thames in a journey lasting around five minutes.

Aerial view of the Olympic Park

Aerial view of the Olympic Park looking south towards Canary Wharf. Picture taken on 16 April 2012

Day 26,Olympic Flame Torch Relay reaches Edinburgh

14 Jun 2012

The Olympic Flame reached Edinburgh on Wednesday, as it continues its journey around the UK ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Day 26 of the London 2012 Torch Relay began in St Andrews, where budding athlete Joseph Forrester, 13, carried the Flame along West Sands beach, which was made famous by the film Chariots of Fire.

The Flame then travelled more than 145 miles as it made its way to Edinburgh, with 115 inspirational Torchbearers taking part in the relay.

They included Paul Mcintyre, 22, who regularly takes part in sport despite suffering from Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Paul carried the Flame past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, while the day also saw the Relay pass the Falkirk Wheel and the Forth Road Bridge, where adventurer and author Mark Beaumont carried the Flame.

Other Torchbearers on the day included Athens 2004 judo gold medallist Maki Tsukada and ice dancer John Kerr, 32, who competed at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

When the Flame reached Edinburgh, it was greeted by a huge set of Olympic rings ¬– measuring 18 metres by 8 metres and weighing approximately 3,100kg – 

which were unveiled on The Mound.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, said: “From the moment the Olympic Torch arrived in Scotland, the reception it has received has been fantastic. In every village, town and city we have seen people lining the streets and really embracing the Olympic spirit and it keeps growing day by day.

“Now it is Edinburgh’s turn to be at the heart of the celebrations and today has really shown the city at its best. These Olympic rings look brilliant on The Mound and are a bold reminder that the Olympic Games are going to be a great event for the whole of the UK.”

Nikolay Andrianov (Soviet Union)

Nikolay Andrianov (Soviet Union).

Won 15 medals in his career. 

Andrianov entered the Children and Youth Sports School of the Burevestnik sports society in Vladimir at age 11. His trainer was the Honoured Trainer of the USSR Nikolai Tolkachyov. Andrianov's first international success was in 1971 at the European Championships in Madrid, where he won two gold medals. Between 1971 and 1980 he won many international gymnastics competitions, including the Olympic Games, world championships and European championships.

Andrianov's first Olympic medal was a gold in the 1972 floor competition. He dominated the1976 gymnastics competition, winning four golds, including the all-around, two silvers, and a bronze.These medals included golds in the floor exercises, rings, and vault, as well as a prized gold in the 1976 all-around. His record of four gymnastic golds at a single games stood until Vitaly Scherbo won six in 1992.

Andrianov took the Olympic Oath for athletes at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In the gymnastics competition, he won two more golds, two silvers, and a bronze.Andrianov's golds in that Olympics were in the vault and team competition, his silvers were in the all-around and floor exercises, and his bronze medal was in the horizontal bar. He retired shortly after that year's Olympics

Larisa Semyonovna Latynina (Soviet Union)

Larisa Semyonovna Latynina (Soviet Union).

 Arguably the best athlete in the history of the Olympics. Latynina won a total of 18 medals including 9 golds in her Olympic gymnastic career.

Nadia Comaneci (Romania)

Nadia Comaneci (Romania).

 The Romanian gymnast has won 5 gold medals and 9 total. Comanechi is essentially the definition of 'Perfect 10'. The Olympic scoreboard wasn't even capable of displaying a '10', and all of that changed after Nadia.

List of the All-time Best Olympic Athletes Ever

Top Greatest Olympians of All-Time

There is no particular order to the list. It is a listing of the best olympic athletes and sports competitors in the history of the Modern Summer and Winter Olympic Games (1896-present).

Mark Spitz (USA).

 Spitz is tied for the most gold medals collected in the history of the Olympics. And he won 7 gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, also an all-time record 

Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei's Olympic gold-medal quest in doubt

10 jun 2012

WUHAN, China (AP) : Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei's Olympic gold-medal quest was in doubt after he twisted his right ankle and pulled out of the Thomas Cup on Tuesday.

Lee was leading Denmark's Peter Gade 2-1 in the first game when the injury occurred while he was retrieving the shuttle on the baseline. He was led off the court in a wheelchair and taken to a hospital for scans.

Team manager Abu Bakkar Abdullah said Lee will be flying back home on Wednesday morning, but hoped the ace shuttler will be in London for the Olympics.

"Yes, he is going to play in the Olympics," Abdullah said. "I think in four weeks' time, he will recover."

Badminton Association of Malaysia general manager Kenny Goh said it was too early to say how bad the injury was.

"These things do happen in badminton and no one can predict how it will pan out," Goh said. "We are disappointed and we hope the injury will not be as bad as it looked."

Malaysia head coach Rashid Sidek said Lee's injury was a big setback for the team and player.

"We don't know the time when he can return to court again," Sidek said.

Gade, who's Denmark team went on to beat Malaysia 3-2, felt bad for Lee.

"From my view, he twisted his ankle, and I knew immediately that it was pretty serious," Gade said. "This is for sure not the way I wanted to win a match.

"I am very sorry for Chong Wei and I know what's going through his mind now is the Olympics, it is not far away. So I just hope for a speedy recovery for him."

The injury was Lee's second this year. He injured his shoulder during the All England Open in March but reached the final, where he retired in the second game. He has been cautious since, so as to be fully fit for the Olympics, where he will be Malaysia's best gold-medal hope.

Chinese star Lin Dan, who beat Lee in the 2008 Beijing Olympics final, hoped the injury wasn't serious.

"(Lee and I) are long-time competitors. However, our biggest enemy is not each other, but the injury," Lin said.

"It is a pity that Lee Chong Wei injured himself today and the Olympics will be staged in less than three months.

"I wish him a speedy recovery, because he is the icon of Malaysia. As his competitor, I wish him to come back to the court as quickly as possible."

selection committee and Leander should decide on his choice of partner

Jun 15, 2012v 

New Delhi:The AITA selection committee, scheduled to meet in Bangalore to pick India’s best doubles combination for the Olympics on Friday, is caught in a Catch-22 situation. Hours before the all-important meet, Leander Paes’s father Vece Paes has entered the warzone. Paes Sr has conveyed to the AITA that his son, by virtue of being India’s No 1 doubles player as per the latest rankings, should decide his partner.

In the meantime, the sports ministry has asked the AITA to select two teams instead of one, so as to use the full quota available to India. An impression is being created that India is entitled to just one team entry for the Olympics, where, in fact, the AITA is allowed to send two in the men’s doubles. The sports ministry, apparently, has urged the selection committee comprising Jaideep Mukherjea, SP Misra, Rohit Rajpal, Zeeshan Ali and Sai Jayalakshmi to not succumb to rumours.

Sources within the AITA are also questioning the timing of Paes Sr’s mail. A part of his letter reads: “Leander is the only Indian player, male or female, in the top 10 of the rankings, thus qualifying him for a direct entry with the option of choosing his partner. The selection committee and Leander should decide on his choice of partner... It makes no sense if Leander is manoeuvred to partner Somdev, who is still recovering from injury, or one of the juniors who have never experienced this level.

Leander, Mahesh and Rohan are professional players and would give their best for themselves and the country if asked to do so.”

However, an official in the know said, “If Leander is given a free hand to choose his partner, why was the same rule not enforced in 2008 when Mahesh was the country’s No 1 doubles player. Mahesh and Rohan have been playing together and should be sent to Olympics as a team, while Leander could be paired with either Somdev or Yuki Bhambri.”

In the mixed doubles, the rankings will only be taken into account after the Wimbledon. The top 16 pairs will get a direct entry into the Olympics. With Mahesh and Sania Mirza winning the French Open doubles, the chances of their making it to the Games would solely depend on whether AITA will try and get Sania a wild card for the singles event.

Federer seeking golden seal at London Olympics

LONDON: With almost impeccable Swiss timing, Roger Federer has a last chance to fill the remaining spot in his bulging trophy cabinet on the court that witnessed the blooming of a tennis genius. His beloved Wimbledon hosts the Olympic tennis tournament in a few weeks and at 30, and with a record 16 grand slam titles to his name, Federer knows time is running short. The recent domination of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has left Federer waiting for a 17th major since he won the Australian Open in 2010. Only a fool would discount him from this year’s grasscourt grand slam, a title he has won six times, but his best chance of glory on the lawns of south-west London might come a few weeks later at the Olympics. From the moment he surprisingly lost to James Blake in the quarter-finals of the Beijing singles four years ago, Federer has been eyeing his shot at gold in London on Aug. 5. Not that it has become an obsession.

With a wife Mirka, whom he met while competing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, two daughters, millions in the bank and an Olympic gold in doubles with friend Stan Wawrinka, Federer appears relaxed about his chances. His on-court celebrations with Wawrinka in China, when both players rolled around hugging on the court, still bring a smile to his lips. “I do feel less pressure...because I have won the Olympic gold in doubles already in Beijing with Stan, and that was an amazing feeling and made me very proud to do that for Switzerland,” said Federer who cried after missing out on bronze at the Sydney Games and was knocked out in the second round by a then unknown Tomas Berdych in Athens 2004. “I’m going to be super excited for the fourth time, but it is my fourth time so I think I’ll be a bit more relaxed going into this Olympics,” he said recently. “But I don’t feel like if I don’t win this one, you know, it’s a missed opportunity or whatever it is. I tried as hard as I could many times, particularly the last two, and I had a legitimate chance at winning the Olympic gold.

“It’s going to be a great tournament. I want to enjoy it, not just crumble under pressure and just talk about that if I don’t win. “That’s not how I see it. Any medal would be a good one, but obviously in my situation, I’ve got to aim for gold.” Some believe that tennis does not need the Olympics. However, Nadal’s joy at winning in Beijing proved how much the title meant to him and should Federer crown his career this year it could become one of the iconic images of the London Games. Federer clearly believes Olympic recognition is good for tennis. “Wimbledon actually helped the London bid get the Olympics, I think it was big, even though Wimbledon doesn’t really need to be part of the Olympics, to be quite honest,” he said. “It’s big for I think the game of tennis, looking ahead to the future Olympics, and for the players of this generation. I couldn’t be more excited.” The format may well help Federer too. Best of five sets against the top guns these days has become a tall order, even for a player whose level has remained incredibly high despite the rise of Nadal and Djokovic. At the Olympics, a best-of-three-sets format is used until the final. Matches could be decided by a moment of magic, which Federer still has in abundance. Federer has twice carried the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony and it would be a surprise if that were not to happen again. After all, he is Switzerland’s greatest sportsman and, each summer in London, he has become almost royalty. reuters

Ex-NBA star Mutombo backs Olympic age limit

June 15, 2012

TOKYO : Retired NBA star Dikembe Mutombo has backed the idea of limiting the Olympic basketball competition to players under 23 after the London Games to give a chance to young talent.

The NBA proposed last month to withdraw its top players from the Olympics after 2012 and instead implement the age limit over fears from players and teams about potential burn-out from too many games.

Leading an NBA youth training camp in Tokyo, the 45-year-old Mutombo said European national teams "have the tendency to keep their squads for almost 16 years or sometimes much longer."

"Young players in Europe have been held back" as the teams counted on the "names of those who had success," he told reporters Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).

"It's no good for our sport," the eight-time NBA All-Star said. "You watch the NBA All-Stars game every year. We don't have the same players every year."

The involvement of top NBA players has been a major draw at Olympic basketball tournaments since the US "Dream Team" played at Barcelona in 1992 and won gold to boost the league's popularity worldwide.

Mutombo, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, had no Olympic experience but stood second on the NBA's all-time list for career blocked shots, winning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award four times.

The 218-centimeter (7'2") center retired in 2009 after playing 18 seasons in the NBA with the last six seasons at the Houston Rockets.

Mutombo, who became a US citizen in 2006, said he was "bothered day and night" by Congo's high mortality rate.

In 2007 he helped pay for a hospital in his hometown of Kinshasa, the first new medical facility of its kind in the Congo in about 40 years. - AFP

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

In this March 8, 2012 photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a fashion show at De Montfort University in Leicester, England. Queen Elizabeth is a potential leading candidate to light the cauldron for the London 2012 Olympics but it could also be a member of her family.

British Olympic organizers are allocating more funds for public safety and crowd control

In light of the large crowds for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Olympic torch relay, British Olympic organizers are allocating more funds for public safety and crowd control in London this summer.Britain is pouring more money into crowd-control plans for London during the Olympics, with the government acknowledging Wednesday it had vastly underestimated the number of people likely to take part in the city's heady atmosphere.Unexpectedly large turnouts have met the Olympic torch relay all over Britain, surprising even the most optimistic cheerleaders for the Summer Games. The celebrations surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee this month also drew millions into the capital — another jamboree of unexpected proportions.

So with hundreds of cultural events taking place at the same time as the Olympics, authorities now accept that more people are likely to come than they had anticipated. Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said Britain was devoting an additional 19 million pounds ($29 million) to crowd control, bringing the total spent on such measures to about 76 million pounds ($117 million)."We know exactly how many tickets have been sold and roughly how many people should be in London," Robertson said. "(But) absolutely nobody knows how many people are going to turn up."

The money will be used to hire ushers, provide barriers and pedestrian bridges and otherwise keep the public safe. Funds are also going to be devoted to providing security and directions for the "last mile," or the distance between transport hubs and Olympic venues since most people will be using public transportation.

Transport for London, which manages the city's vast, aging and strained public transit network, estimates that 1 million more people a day than usual will be in London during the games, which take place from July 27 to Aug. 12. They've planned for years to deal with the impact, upgrading transit links all over the city, and have been constantly reminded that the success or failure of the games rests in part on whether London keeps moving.

But with just 44 days to go, Robertson and other officials found themselves on the defensive for putting such additional planning off until now.

"The scope of the demand for the Olympic Games" only recently became clear, Robertson said.

He still insisted that people should come into the city and enjoy being part of it all, but urged them to plan ahead.

"London this summer is going to be the place to have a party," he said. "It is a great national event."

Olympic venues will be guarded by 23,700 people, including military personnel and volunteers. That doesn't include some 12,000 police officers taking part in securing London on the busiest of days.

Robertson predicted that the overall London Olympics was on track to remain under its 9.3 billion ($14.5 billion) budget. He said he expects around 500 million pounds ($778 million) can be handed back to the British treasury.

When the Olympics budget set in 2007, it was almost four times higher than the estimated cost when London won the bid in 2005, drawing criticism from lawmakers.

Day 26: Olympic Flame on its journey from St Andrews to Edinburgh

13 June 2012

Today the Flame will travel 145.3 miles through 18 communities on its journey from St Andrews to Edinburgh.

The first Torchbearer of the day, thirteen-year-old Joseph Forrester, will carry the Flame along the West Sands beach made famous by the film Chariots of Fire. Joseph loves running and his dream is to one day run for Team GB in a long distance events.

Hannah Clarke, 18, from Kinross will carry the Flame in Milnathort. Hannah was diagnosed with an inoperable tumour and has since raised nearly £10,000 for cancer charities.

A total of 155 Torchbearers will carry the Flames through the following communities: St Andrews, Milnathort, Kinross, Crook of Devon, Alloa, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk, Skinflats, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dumfermline, Broxbourne, Edinburgh.

The evening celebration will take place at Edinburgh Castle and will feature a variety of entertainment such as Emeli Sande and the Big Projects Youth Choir, who will be joined by some of Scotland’s finest talent including Kim Edgar and Karine Polwart.

Towards the end of the two-hour show, the last Torchbearer of the day  Lesley Forrest will light a celebration cauldron on stage which will enable the Olympic Flame to be seen by the audience.