Various 2012 Olympic news

[bevone]

I dont think you read my post properly - otherwise why are you giving examples of people who already have standards and do not fit into those running 47 and 53 seconds, many of whom have been training all over the world to run such times. PSD has an A for the 400H so why use here as an example?

http://www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2012- ... -policies/

Shows the performance matrix

Outside those five you have mentioned (non who fit into the group identified) I made that point which i thnk I have shown to be a valid one - not to say that anyone else wont do well. With a matter of 6 weeks to qualify for the Olympics which if the are going to run at Euros as well this may only mean 3-4 weeks which may be 3-5 races to get a good time under their belts before the trials.

I hope the weather is good this weekend for the Loghborough international so we can get a good idea how well they are going in their preparations for the OG's

I noticed nobody has broken 50 secs for the mens 400h yet (we had 9 last year) and the AAA 's are only a month or so away which doesnt give many races to find form.

[fangio]

Bev

I was primarily pointing out that they don't need 2 A's by the end of June, just 2 B's, but thought for the sake of clarity I would list those who have already qualified. PSD has qualified for selection for the 400m, with 2 A's (of the not current variety). So just to be clear no one requires 2 A's by the end of June it simply isn't one of the qualification criteria.

[taffy]

I loved watching Ben Ainsle with the olympic torch this am. I thought it was great how he let memembers of the public touch the torch and waited whilst they take photos.

I am impressed with how it is going so far.

[d pickup]

'London pulls a fast one over Olympic congestion'

see
www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/arti ... stion.html

[Guto Nyth Bran]

One of the more surreal moments of the year just came at the Olympic torch relay.
Hicham El Guerroj running 300 m through the streets of Exeter before handing the torch to the elderly lady from Exeter Gymnastics Club

[d pickup]

'Olympic Javelin train service could be overwhelmed during Games'

see
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/25/ol ... verwhelmedù

[d pickup]

'Londoners Dread Traffic as City Plans Olympics'

'twisty, snarly, ancient road network and its temperamental subway system .. scaremongering .. prudent planning .. stay at home'

see
www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/world/europe ... .html?_r=2

[d pickup]

'Heathrow's a 'nightmare': IOC member'

see
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaki ... 1zfrw.html

[d pickup]

'London 2012 - Should Bannister light Olympic flame?'
'Redgrave remains the bookies' hot favourite .. Bannister is closing on him.'

Other names mentioned:
David Beckham
Holmes
Tom Daley
Daley Thompson
Chris Hoy, Prince Harry
Frank Spencer
Ann Packer
the queen
David Hemmery
Allan Pascoe
Lynn Davies
Marion Mould as was
Mo Farrah?
Lord Lucan
David Tennant
Peter Andre
Mick Phillpot
Alan wells
NOT Seb Coe
farmer who uses red tractor

see
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31052012/ ... flame.html

§§§

'London 2012 Olympic Cauldron lighter is likely to be young, black and probably female'

Other names not mentioned above:
Dorothy Tyler
Kate and/or William
Princess Anne
Mary Peters
Tessa Sanderson
Denise Lewis

see
www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/17096

[sidelined]

Here's a diary piece by Yamile Aldama about her injury - and other distressing things.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/ju ... ile-aldama

[Guto Nyth Bran]

Joe Thomas just confirmed that he has a stress fracture - out for the season.

[tootingmick]

Here's a diary piece by Yamile Aldama about her injury - and other distressing things.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/ju ... ile-aldama

I've said it before but to say she is an incredibly tough lady is an understatment.

[tootingmick]

'London 2012 - Should Bannister light Olympic flame?'
'Redgrave remains the bookies' hot favourite .. Bannister is closing on him.'

Other names mentioned:
David Beckham
Holmes
Tom Daley
Daley Thompson
Chris Hoy, Prince Harry
Frank Spencer
Ann Packer
the queen
David Hemmery
Allan Pascoe
Lynn Davies
Marion Mould as was
Mo Farrah?
Lord Lucan
David Tennant
Peter Andre
Mick Phillpot
Alan wells
NOT Seb Coe
farmer who uses red tractor

see
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31052012/ ... flame.html

§§§

'London 2012 Olympic Cauldron lighter is likely to be young, black and probably female'

Other names not mentioned above:
Dorothy Tyler
Kate and/or William
Princess Anne
Mary Peters
Tessa Sanderson
Denise Lewis

see
http://www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/17096

Going to be Ant and Dec. You heard it here first.

[SteveK26]

Mick
I would prefer Ant and Dec to David Beckham!

It can only be Redgrave, can't it?

[Kermit]

I will think outside the box with 2 names

Kelly Sotherton & Paula Radcliffe, both of them have campaigned for a clean sport. I would rule out anyone who has never competed in an Olympics or taken part in an Olympic sport.

There is one athlete who has worked tirelessly for British sport, who has actively campaigned for London to get the games since the late 1970's and it would make her mother proud in this, her Diamond Jubilee year, Princess Royal.

There is one person who security should be made aware has the potential to hijack the lighting ceremony in the stadium ...... John Terry!

[SteveK26]

Kermit
The Princess Royal would make sense in Jubilee year. But is she still fit enough to jog up all those steps?!!
Kelly Holmes would be another great choice, she certainly ticks all the right boxes.

....but I still think it will be Sir Steve Redgrave.

[Mr Me]

....but I still think it will be Sir Steve Redgrave.

Please not Redgrave wayy too obvious, hes had so many lifetime achievment awards its getting ridiculous, and its a good opportunity for someone else to get the limelight. Daley Thompson gets my vote. Paula would if she whe wasn't competing. Bannister also a great choice.

[d pickup]

Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister for me

[SteveK26]

DP
If you are going for a 'miler' (it is the blue riband after all) why not Sebastian Newbold Coe? Apart from all his other exploits he remains the only man in history to retain the Olympic 1500 title.
I suppose his part in the bid process precludes him; or does it? Who makes the decision?

[d pickup]

DP
If you are going for a 'miler' (it is the blue riband after all) why not Sebastian Newbold Coe? Apart from all his other exploits he remains the only man in history to retain the Olympic 1500 title.
I suppose his part in the bid process precludes him; or does it? Who makes the decision?

SteveK26
GBR in Athletics has had a sprinkling of OLY gold since WWII and Double winners are special, as are, on a world basis, not just GBR level, those who first did under 10.00, 20.00, 44.00, 3.30.00, 13.00.00 .. but I'd stumble to get 100% correct if asked to list them out, whereas 3.59.4 I will never stumble over, and that was GBR!

Roger Bannister and Diana Leather together!?

[SteveK26]

Seb Coe
First man under 1-42 for 800
First man under 3-48 for mile
First man to retain Olympic 1500 title.
Is there really any comparison between him and the likeable Dr. Bannister?

[Geoff]

I will be surprised if this turns out to be a conventional lighting of the flame. To have Sir Steve Redgrave, Seb Coe, Daley Thompson, Sir Roger Bannister, Dame Kelly Holmes, or who ever, standing aloft with the torch extended into the caldron seems a little too predictable and under whelming. They will probably all be involved on the night, as will many other former British Olympic champions and sporting legends, but I would expect young and ethnically diverse athletes to be involved as well. The way the caldron is lit may well be the highlight.

[Kermit]

OLYMPIC TRIALS: Ennis confirms tough schedule in Birmingham
http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athle ... birmingham

Former world champion Caster Semenya made South Africa's initial team for the London Olympics, but double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius still hasn't run fast enough to earn a chance to make history at the games.
http://espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfie ... torius-yet

[trickstat]

those who first did under 10.00, 20.00, 44.00, 3.30.00, 13.00.00 .. but I'd stumble to get 100% correct if asked to list them out, whereas 3.59.4 I will never stumble over, and that was GBR!

Off the top of my head - Jim Hines, Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, Steve Cram and Said Aouita respectively. Maybe I should get out more!

[d pickup]

'London bus drivers vote to go on strike during Olympics'

see
www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer- ... g-olympics

[Geoff]

Phillips Idowu rival Teddy Tamgho to miss Olympics through injury

World indoor triple jump champion Teddy Tamgho of France will miss London 2012 because of an ankle injury.

The 22-year-old, who posed a medal threat to Team GB jumper Phillips Idowu, announced on his Facebook page: "End of the season for me."

Tamgho underwent surgery on a bone growth last week, and added that he did not want to jeopardise his career by returning to competition too soon.

He also missed last year's world championships in Daegu through injury.

Tamgho won the world indoor title two years ago with a jump of 17.90m, before breaking that record with a leap of 17.92m at the World Indoor Championships in Paris in March 2011.

He was banned in December by the French athletics federation for an alleged physical altercation with a female athlete. His ban was initially for a year, but was then reduced to six months with six further months suspended - a duration which would have allowed him to compete in London in July.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18404472

[boysen]

I am getting more than a little concerned about Ms Bleasdale's recent competitions. Her results are so far away from her winter performances. In a recent comp she went from 4.28 to 4.48 without success that may be acceptable but we are constantly hear that she is in "heavy training" but there must come a time when the fruits of same become appare nt? Given that the comments are correct what is gained by travelling around...losing training time...with such poor results which may play havoc with her confidence. Can someone convince me that all is well in her camp?

[jeremy1]

That's what happens in most field events and the PV is certainly no exception, with sudden loss of form. Think Steve Hooker, Olympic Champion.Think Isi when the wheels came off for her, temporarily.

Probably down to HB not managing her new long pole and run up yet; she is so young for a World ranked PVer, years younger than any other PVer, other than Bengtssohn and she is not doing that much this year so far.


The OG will be great experience for HB for the next couple of WCs, in Moscow and Beijing.

[ultragirl]

Is she going for broke her jeremy, could she have got 4.80 on her old poles which could have put her in with a chance of a medal or is she going for Gold at this chance in a life time Olympics?

[Geoff]

London 2012: Olympics opening ceremony details revealed

The Olympic Stadium will be transformed "into the British countryside" for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games on 27 July.

A cast of 10,000 volunteers will help recreate country scenes, against a backdrop featuring farmyard animals and landmarks like Glastonbury Tor.

The opening scene of the £27m ceremony will be called "Green and Pleasant", artistic director Danny Boyle revealed.

He added the show would create "a picture of ourselves as a nation."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18392025