International Paralympic Day

Paralympic sport was celebrated in Trafalgar Square yesterday as Paralympic athletes showcased the 20 Paralympic sports of the 2012 Games, including Wheelchair Basketball, Powerlifting and Wheelchair Rugby. Paralympic tickets are on sale now until 26 September 2011, so don’t miss your chance to see these exciting sports next year....

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Posted in: London 2012 Olympic Games,London Paralympics 2012,paralympic games,paralympics tickets,sport tourism,trafalgar square

India could be banned from participating in 2012 Olympics hockey

The FIH has issued a veiled threat to block India’s participation in the 2012 London Olympics in case the government does not grant Hockey India the status of National Sports Federation and if all lawsuits, including the one filed by IHF against it, are not terminated. Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH), the world governing body of the game, shot a letter to Sports Secretary Sindhusree Khullar, asking the government to comply with the requirement of the IOC charter and FIH statutes. The FIH, in the letter, reminded the government the points which were agreed upon when its president Leandro Negre met sports minister Ajay Maken. Just before Negre’s arrival, FIH had stripped India of the hosting rights of Champions Trophy and...

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Posted in: 2012 London Olympics

London Olympic Venues

The 26 sports of the London Olympics will take place in 28 venues. Where are the Games being held? A large majority of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in the Old Park in Stratford in East London. Events will also be held in other venues across London and the UK (England, Scotland and Wales). Olympic Park Venues Aquatics Centre Sports - Swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, modern pentathlon (swimming) and water polo. Basketball Arena Sports - Basketball, handball finals Eton Manor Sports - Aquatics training, wheelchair tennis Facts - A new 130m-high wind turbine will also be located at Eton Manor. It will help provide power to the...

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Posted in: London Olympic Venues,London Olympics,Olympic Park Venues

London 2012 Olympics diary: athletes help Mark Ronson find his rhythm

DJ and producer Mark Ronson,  famed for producing Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, has collaborated with Katy B for Coca Cola's Olympic campaign. Ronson recorded sounds athletes make, including the click clack of the ball hit by British table tennis player Darius Knight. "But the sounds Darius creates, his grunts squeals and stuff are unusual and great," said Ronson, who has just one athlete left to record, the US hurdler David Oliver. Ronson said he tempted Russian 400m runner Kseniya Vdovina onto a treadmill so he could accurately record her heartbeat at 120 beats per minute, the speed of the soundtrack. Ronson said interesting sounds emanated from Mexican taekwondo athlete Maria Espinoza "when she kicks the crap out of people". Coke...

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Posted in: London 2012,London 2012 Olympics,Olympics

dealnews Unveils its 2011 Black Friday Predictions Report

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sep 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With only 65 days left until Black Friday, dealnews.com, the premier year-round resource for the best deals on consumer electronics, gadgets, computers, apparel, and more, today released its 2011 Black Friday Predictions report, which is intended to help consumers get the deal of a lifetime by shopping online this holiday season. High-end products such as tablets, HDTVs, laptops, eBook readers and select Apple products can be purchased for less than $250, while many more desirable items, such as Blu-ray players, tech accessories and apparel are expected to be priced up to 50 percent off. "This year's holiday shopping season is a buyers' market, as technology innovation and growing competition among product manufacturers and retailers alike...

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£10m deal makes Stratford City official Olympic shopping mall

Europe's largest urban shopping mall will get an Olympic makeover using the London 2012 brand and logo. Its Australian owners hope the exclusive marketing rights will give the development a boost when it opens next Tuesday. In return, Games organiser Locog has secured floorspace in the 1.9million sq ft centre which forms a gateway to the Olympic Park. An official merchandise store will open next month and will be crucial to London 2012 reaching its target of raising £80 million through sales of licensed products. Locog, which will employ 200,000 people at next summer's peak, will also use the mall as an operational and logistics hub by taking over the 3,000-space car park and setting up temporary offices. The mall will also host the official hospitality zone for Team GB. Westfield has...

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Posted in: London 2012 Olympic,London 2012 Olympic Coins,London 2012 Olympic Games,London 2012 Olympics,London 2012 Olympics Online,London 2012 Olympics Tickets

London 2012 Paralympic Games tickets now on sale

In the UK and within the EU, people can apply for tickets online between 9am on 9 September and 6pm on 26 September 2011. Approximately two million tickets will go on sale to the public between now and Games time, with 1.5 million being available in this first phase. A third of tickets are priced at £5, half of tickets priced at £10 or less and three quarters of tickets are £20 or less. As with Olympic Games tickets, the system is not first come, first served and there is no advantage to applying earlier in the process. Tickets for oversubscribed sessions will be allocated via a ballot. Payment will be taken by 31 October 2011 with notification of whether applications have been successful sent by 18 November 2011. Sebastian Coe, Chair...

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Posted in: London 2012,London 2012 Olympic,London 2012 Olympic Games,London 2012 Olympics,London 2012 Olympics Online,London 2012 Olympics Tickets,London 2012 Stadium,London 2012 Ticket Sales,London 2012 Tickets

South Africa targets London 2012 Olympic spot

South Africa's women's team will not leave anything to chance when they play Ethiopia in Addis Ababa in the second leg of the Olympic Games qualifier,according to coach Joseph Mkhonza. Banyana Banyana have a 3-0 cushion from the first leg and all they need to qualify for the games is a draw or a narrow margin defeat. But Mkhonza says they are not ready to repeat the mistake that cost them place in this year's World Cup. ''We lost in the semi-final of the Africa Women's Championship, which was only a game away from qualifying for the World Cup,'' he told BBC Sport. ''This time round we will do our job to make sure we qualify,'' he added. Despite taking part in the on-going All Africa Games in Maputo, South Africa are sending the best team to Ethiopia, as qualification for the Olympic is...

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How to apply for tickets for the Paralympic Games

Many of us were caught out by the huge demand for tickets for next year’s London Olympics events. The good news is that from today, you can apply for tickets to the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This takes place immediately after the main Olympics in the same venues, so you’ll be able to enjoy the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime event at the same iconic London 2012 arenas and Olympic venues. Applications for tickets to the Paralympic Games 2012 are open from today until 6pm on 26 September. Tickets will be allocated on a lottery basis. Successful applications will be notified and payment taken by 31 October. To apply, you need to create a London 2012 Ticketing account at http://www.tickets.london2012.com/.com. In order to be able to...

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Posted in: London 2012,London 2012 Olympic,London 2012 Olympics,London 2012 Olympics Online,London 2012 Olympics Tickets,London 2012 Ticket Sales,London 2012 Tickets,Paralympic 2012,Paralympic Olympics,Paralympic Tickets