Enjoy the NFL Experience at Super Bowl XLVI

The National Football League will produce the 20th NFL Experience at the Indiana Convention Center, beginning Jan. 27, 2012. The NFL Experience is the most exciting continuous event surrounding Super Bowl XLVI -- pro football's interactive theme park offering participatory games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids' football clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football memorabilia show ever.

The NFL Experience ticket includes all games and attractions. $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Tickets are available by calling (866) TIX-4NFL (849-4635), visiting Ticketmaster.com beginning Dec. 7 or visiting the NFL Experience box office at the Indiana Convention Center. Tickets will go on sale one hour before opening daily.

NFL Experience dates*

Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 --
3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 --
10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 --
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 --
3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 -- 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 -- 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 -- 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
* All times Eastern

NFL Charities donates a $1 million Super Bowl Legacy Grant to benefit youth in the local community from proceeds from ticket sales to NFL Experience each year. These funds are used to establish enrichment centers for under-served youth in diverse communities. In 2012, the Indianapolis Youth Education Town will open its doors on the Near East Side as a result of proceeds generated by NFL Experience at Super Bowl XLVI.

For a list of player appearances, please call 1-888-NFL-CARD (635-2273) beginning January 23. Due to potential scheduling changes, player appearances will be announced the night before they are scheduled to appear at the NFL Experience.

ATTRACTIONS:

» Free autograph sessions with more than 50 NFL superstars -- 10,000 free autographs!

» Kids, learn the skills of the game in the Play 60 Youth Football Clinics! Get in line early! First-come, first-served basis.

» Super Bowl XLVI Memorabilia Show Presented by Panini America & Topps

» Live television programming from the NFL Network!

» Visit the NFL SHOP for official Super Bowl XLVI merchandise!

» See the Vince Lombardi Trophy up close!

» Visit the NFL Rush Zone for scaled down versions of the adult games!

SPECIAL EVENTS DESCRIPTIONS:

NFL Experience Autograph Stage Presented by Panini America & Topps: Get free autographs from past and present NFL stars. For a schedule of appearances, call 1-888-NFL-CARD (635-2273) toll free. All appearances are subject to change.

National Football League

Children participate in a flag football game.

NFL FLAG Clinics: These clinics are open to any participants between the ages of 6 and 12. Kids will learn the basics of NFL FLAG Football through small scrimmages focusing on skills such as flag pulling, catching, passing and agility.

Coaches Chat: NFL Coaches will discuss their coaching experiences and take your questions, located in the Locker Room.

Football 101 Clinics: NFL Players host seminars on the fundamentals of football, located in the Locker Room.

NFL Draft Set: Visit the official Draft Set and take your spot behind the podium.

Wilson Football Factory: See how official NFL game balls are individually produced. Authentic Super Bowl XLV Game Balls will be manufactured and sold on site.

Super Bowl Rings: See the collection of all 45 Super Bowl rings up close.

NFL Network Theatre: Take a seat and relax in the NFL Network Theater to watch "America's Game".

NFL Locker Room: Visit a replica of an NFL locker room as it appears on game day and experience the sights and sounds of the NFL behind the scenes.

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Relive pro football's glorious past with rare mementos on display from the Pro Football Hall of Fame including the 2011 Class' bronze busts.

Walter Payton Man of the Year: Celebrate the NFL Man of the Year, the NFL player who best exhibited charity and community service for the 2011 season.

NFLRUSH Zone for Kids: The smallest all-pros can enjoy America's favorite game with scaled-down versions of the popular interactive football activities.

Look Like A Pro: Step inside a uniformed body-cast mold bearing the insignia of your favorite NFL team and have a friend snap your photo.

National Football League

Fans take an opportunity to show off their speed.

Measure Up to the Pros: Compare your physical dimensions and athletic abilities to those of the biggest stars in the game.

NFL Command Center: Visit the NFL Control Room to learn how NFL officials are graded with a collection of plays from the 2011 NFL season.

NFL EXPERIENCE FAQ:

How much are tickets to the NFL Experience?

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Children under 2 years of age are admitted free of charge.

Is there a senior citizen discount?

No, all adult tickets are $25 each.

Are there any discounts for group tickets?

Yes, if you purchase 25 or more tickets, the ticket price is reduced to $20 for adults and $15 for children under 12. To receive the group order form, email: nflexperience@nfl.com.

Can I purchase tickets prior to the event?

You can purchase tickets at the NFL Experience Box Office beginning one hour before the gates open every day the NFL Experience is open. You can also purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster or by calling 1-866-TIX-4NFL (849-4635). To avoid lengthy lines at the Box Office, it is strongly encouraged you purchase tickets prior to coming to the NFL Experience as our dedicated NFL fans come out in large numbers.

Is there a will-call window at the box office?

Yes, you can leave purchased tickets at the will call window at the box office.

If I purchase tickets via Ticketmaster for a specific time period, will my ticket be honored if I come earlier or later?

Yes, your ticket will be honored if you attend on the same date as printed on your ticket however, those ticketholders who come to the NFL Experience at the time printed on their ticket will be given priority. Therefore, please make every attempt to arrive at the time printed on your ticket.

Is it safe to buy tickets online?

The only authorized seller for NFL Experience tickets online is Ticketmaster. The NFL is not affiliated with any other vendor for the purchase of NFL Experience tickets.

Is my ticket good for only 1 day?

Yes, once your ticket is scanned you will not be allowed to re-enter the NFL Experience with the same ticket under any circumstances due to security considerations.

I lost my ticket. Can it be replaced?

Individual tickets purchased at the box office or through Ticketmaster outlets will not be replaced. New tickets can be purchased at the box office at their face value.

What NFL players will be signing autographs at the NFL Experience?

To get the scheduled list of players signing autographs, please call 1-888-NFL- CARD (635-2273) beginning in January. Please note, all player appearances are subject to change without notice.

How many items will NFL players sign? Can I bring my own memorabilia?

One item per person per player is allowed and you can bring your own item for the player to sign.

Are there age limits on the elements at the NFL Experience?

Yes, the football clinics conducted on the Gatorade Clinic Field are for boys & girls ages 6-12 only. The various passing, running, kicking & receiving games are for fans of all ages after waivers have been signed by an adult or guardian age 18 or over.

Is there an ADA entrance to the NFL Experience?

Yes, the NFL Experience is ADA-approved. Please look for the NFL staff wearing "ADA" jackets for assistance on-site.

Can I bring in any outside food or beverages?

No, food and beverages will be available for purchase within the Experience concession area.

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South Korea Awarded 2018 Winter Olympics

After two consecutive unsuccessful bids, Pyeongchang finally gets its chance to host Olympic games. There were a lot of tense people sitting in Seoul plaza in the South Korean capital on Wednesday night, eyes fixed on a big-screen television, waiting for the decision from the International Olympic Committee assembled in Durban, South Africa.

But the anticipation turned to celebration when IOC president Jacques Rogge named Pyeongchang as the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics. After two consecutive unsuccessful bids, Pyeongchang finally got its chance to host the games.

Ahn Kyoung An, who was in Seoul plaza, said she’s thrilled South Korea won this time. “We are also very stunned,” she said, “because we tried a lot of times.”

Pyeongchang is the center for winter sports in South Korea, but many here hope that getting the Olympics could turn it into an international destination.

That sounds a little ambitious, according to Jason Lee, a sportscaster with Korea’s Arirang TV, but he said Pyeongchang resorts are already luring some foreign skiers.

“They’re bringing people from countries that don’t have snow, from Southeast Asia, from Africa,” Lee said. “They’ve got good intentions in trying to make Pyeongchang an area that is just not central to Korea.”

Lee added that the hard part now is making Pyeongchang’s facilities meet international expectations. Major transportation projects are planned to make the three-hour trip from Seoul a little less of a trek.

“I think they defiantly do have a long way to go, but the fact that they have the support of the Olympic committee, the nation is fully behind it,” Lee said.

With Wednesday’s decision, South Korea becomes the second Asian nation, after to Japan, to get the Winter Games.

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Posted in: 2018 olympics,2018 winter olympics,Pyeongchang,Pyeongchang olympics,South Korea

LONDON 2012: Freeland stars again as GB slump to defeat against Croatia

GREAT Britain staged a brave but unsuccessful fightback as they went down to Croatia at the London 2012 basketball test event.

KEY ROLE: Joel Freeland was the star man for Chris Finch's GB team - top scoring with 22 points (British Basketball)

British coach Chris Finch was delighted as they made a storming start to race into a double digit lead but they were soon pegged back by a team placed 37 places above them in the rankings.

Croatia then established control but the hosts' fighting spirit was evident as they rallied from an 18 point deficit to lose by just five points - 75-70 - at the buzzer.

Joel Freeland continued to look good for Finch's side, leading the scoring with 22 points, while Mike Lenzly and Andrew Lawrence added eight and ten points respectively.

Great Britain converted 82 percent from the free throw line but the difference between the teams was from the three point range, where they missed rested sharp shooter Nate Reinking, hitting just four from 23 attempts.

“I think we came out hot in the first quarter, second and third weren’t too good but we definitely showed we can compete in the fourth," said Freeland, who also impressed in their defeat against France on Tuesday.

“We brought it back in the final period, and it’s not easy to do that against world class teams.

"It was definitely better than yesterday. We’re learning all the time, we’ve only been together for two weeks and we have another two weeks to get better. We’re learning, and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Elsewhere, China’s woes had continued as they suffered a 87-53 hammering against Serbia, Great Britain's next opponents on Wednesday.

Milos Teodosic led the Serbs with 19 points, three rebounds and four assists in a team-high 21 minutes, while NBA big man Jianlian Yi finished with 20 points and seven boards to lead all scorers for the Chinese.

France and Australia served up a much better game, with the former winning a thrilling 71-67 contest, inspired by San Antonio star Tony Parker's 27 point haul.

© Sportsbeat 2011

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Posted in: 2012 London Olympics,2012 Olympic,London 2012,London 2012 basketball test event,London 2012 Olympic

Park's slam dunk debut! First look at our games as Basketball Invitational tips off

A building site in Stratford, corralled within electric fences and inhabited by muddied men in hard hats, was a bizarre venue for Olympic sport on Tuesday.

This time next year the Games will be all memories and archive material but for the first time the place that will become the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was entered by paying spectators.

Up and over: Nicolas Batum of France (No 5) goes for a slam against Great Britain

Basketball had the honour of going first of 26 sports, and 3,000 Londoners the thrill of cheering inside an arena sold out for the Games.

This was the London International Invitational, featuring six nations, including Great Britain, over four of the next five days. The event is part of London Prepares, the Games' testing programme.

The Arena, costing £60million and dubbed the Wedding Cake because of its white exterior, is temporary but could just as easily be an NBA arena - an illusion which will be made complete this weekend when Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng appears in a GB vest.

Ready for action: The Great Britain players line up for the London International

It was the lack of competitiveness in the opening game that told a different story. China were inept as Australia thrashed them 71-43 and later Britain - minus Deng - fared little better, losing 82-60 to France.

Deng's absence was the biggest talking point for Britain, who found a more experienced France team too strong.

'I thought at moments we played well, and at moments we played like a young team trying to find itself out there,' coach Chris Finch said. 'That's pretty much what we are.'

Britain had trailed for most of the game, but kept it close until the third quarter when the gap was four, 45-41. But from there, France began to pull clear and led 60-48 at the end of the period.

Having a ball: Crowds enjoy the action at the Olympic Park dubbed the Wedding Cake (see below)

A British rally made it 64-56, but France moved through the gears once more and finished strongly.

Joel Freeland led Britain with 16 points while veteran guard Nate Reinking had 11. San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker poured in 23 points for France with Nicolas Batum adding 14 and Joakim Noah 10.

'We've got a lot of guys who are first-timers in the national team trying to find their feet,' said Britain captain Andrew Sullivan. 'Everyone gave a lot of effort but the fact we're a young team showed.'

While there was disappointment on the court, the specially-constructed arena itself received positive reviews from all the teams.

A bit different: The outside of the arena does look like a wedding cake

'It's pretty impressive,' Sullivan added. 'It's just a shame that it's only temporary. It would be nice if it was going to stay.

'The atmosphere was really good, and we're really looking forward to playing here next summer when there are 12,000 people here.

'Hopefully, the majority of those 12,000 people will be cheering for us and you really get a feel for what it could be like.'

Leading the way: Joel Freeland was the top scorer for Team GB with 16 points

There were some teething problems with the new arena, not least as the wrong tune was accidentally played in place of the Chinese national anthem.

However, China's American coach Bob Donewald did not seem to mind as he gave a glowing review.

'First-class event, first class teams and a first-class facility,' the former British Basketball League coach said.

Spurred on: San Antonio star Tony Parker scored 23 of France's points

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Posted in: Basketball Invitational,London 2012 Olympics,National Basketball Association,Parks debut