London Olympics still faces three challenges in 100 days

With the opening ceremony 100 days away, there are still three major challenges for the final build-up to the London Olympics, the organizing committee chief executive Paul Deighton said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Deighton noted, "Firstly, we have to gear up with an enormous amount of people."

"Secondly, we still have a lot of building to do for our temporary venues - such as ExCeL which needs to be turned into five different sports hall, or Horse Guards Parade where we need to build temporary seating for 15,000 people.

"Finally, we need to continue with our readiness program, which includes carrying out with all the testing and practising."

By Games time, the London Olympics organizing committee (LOCOG) will have a workforce of around 200,000 people - 6,000 paid staff, up to 70,000 volunteers and over 100,000 contractors.

"That is a huge number of people to interview, train, uniform and accredit," Deighton said.

Despite all the challenges ahead, Deighton said the most difficult in his position had already passed.

"I think that actually we've overcome some of the more challenging aspects of preparing for the Games. For example, we have raised all our domestic sponsorship, we've got a great team on-board, our venues are in brilliant shape and we've been hosting some fantastic Test Events. So many of the key things we've had to deliver are already in place.

"So whilst we are confident with the progress we have made to date, in no way are we complacent. We have the most unmovable deadline to work towards and we just want to ensure that in 100 days time when we will welcome the world, that we are 100 percent ready."

The 56-year-old Deighton, who took over as the LOCOG chief executive in late 2005 after giving up his position as a partner at Goldman Sachs, said after six years he still thinks he is doing "a best job" in the world.

"I am thankful every day that I have been given the opportunity to be part of the London 2012 Games in such a way. This type of job isn't plain sailing, there are challenges, but I have never once felt disappointed or regretted my decision to take this job.

"I really do believe I have one of the best jobs in the world and I really appreciate the once in a lifetime opportunity to be in this position."

"What is so wonderful with this job is the fact that every day is completely different - whether it's visiting a school to see how students have been inspired by the London 2012 Games, marking a big milestone such as the launch of the volunteering program or visiting the venues on the Olympic Park to see the progress."

Deighton, who played football, rugby and cricket in his school days, said a successful Olympic Games is a coin of two sides.

"With regards to measuring success, in the short term it will be knowing that we have delivered the best Games possible for athletes and that they were able to compete in the best conditions possible. And also knowing that spectators had a fantastic time and enjoyed great sport in great venues by great athletes.

"In the long term, it will be the realization that we have delivered on our vision to inspire lasting change and that we've helped inspire children and young people in the UK and around the world to choose sport."

Deighton went to watch the Beijing Olympics four years ago and said the London Olympics will be remembered as all different from the previous Games.

"We definitely want to take the best from each Games, but we know that the London 2012 Games will be different simply because London is different.

"Ultimately, it's up to the host city to make their mark on the Games. We want to put on a Games which reflects what London and the rest of the UK have to offer. London is such a fantastically diverse and international city and we have a real opportunity to showcase the energy and creativity that emanates from the UK."

Deighton said that he has not decided what he will be doing after the Olympics.

"I think I will take a holiday to start off with!" he said. "But to be honest, I haven't yet really thought about what I will be doing next. At the moment I am completely focused on delivering a fantastic Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer and ensuring that athletes, spectators and media from around the world have the most wonderful time."

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Posted in: 2012 London Olympic,London Olympics 2012

Australia fired up for top-5 London Olympics finish

Australia's Olympic team chief on Wednesday said that he was confident of a top-five finish in London despite a renewed threat from the hosts, Japan, Germany and France.

With 100 days to go till the showpiece event, Australia know they face a battle to claim a place among the world's elite Olympic nations with the country set to send its smallest Games team in 20 years.

Around 400 athletes are expected to make the trip after the "Olyroos" failed to qualify for the football tournament for the first time since 1984. The women's team also missed out.

But chef-de-mission Nick Green said they will not go down without a fight.

"We know we are in for a tough tussle to claim a revered top-five spot with hosts and long-time rivals Britain, the strong European contingent headed by Germany and France, and the ever-present Japanese," said Green.

"But we know, as Aussies, we will never go down without a fight.

"Our athletes have to continue pushing in these final 100 days to give themselves the best chances of Olympic glory and ensure that we will hear Advance Australia Fair playing throughout the London venues."

Australia collected 14 golds at the last Games in Beijing and 46 medals overall, behind powerhouses China and the United States, as well as Russia and Britain.

In London they will again be relying on their swimmers to bolster the medal tally with swimming head coach Leigh Nugent targeting at least a dozen medals from their 44-strong squad led by 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen.

But the team is without the experience of Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim, who missed selection, and is undergoing a major transition.

"The gap has closed on us... the US are the big challenge, they have dominated swimming for 100 years," Nugent said after the recent trials.

"There are other players who are making it tougher for us to stay in that number two position. The big movers are China and France."

A shift in power back to Britain at this month's track cycling world championships could also hurt Australia's chances of cracking the top five.

Britain won five of the 10 Olympic events at the Melbourne world titles a fortnight ago, while Australia took just three.

"Although the cycling may level itself out, we anticipate we can make some gains in other sports at the same time," said Green.

"Top five, absolutely. We don't need to re-adjust that. I think top five is the respectful and rightful position for Australia to aspire to."

The Olympics open on July 27.

Source: AFP

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Posted in: 2012 Olympic,Australia Olympic Team,London Olympic 2012

Venues for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, events will take place at a variety of venues both across London and outside London.

Some of London's most iconic venues, such as Horse Guards Parade, Wimbledon, Wembley Stadium, Lords, Regent's Park and Hyde Park will have the honour of being turned into host venues for the London 2012 Games.

In addition, London will have some fantastic new sporting venues for the Games: the VeloPark, Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena, and of course, the Olympic Stadium. Keep an eye on our news section for regular updates on these exciting new venues.

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Posted in: 2012 lon,2012 London Olympic,2012 London Olympic Games,2012 London Olympics,2012 london olympics tickets

Palmer bounces back to earn a ticket to Olympics

North Shore sprinter Hayley Palmer, hospitalised with glandular fever last year, bounced back to grab a ticket to the Olympics on the last night of finals at the State New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland.

The 22-year-old produced her best time in two years to equal the qualifying standard of 25.27s to win the final of the 50m freestyle at the event that doubled as the Olympic trials at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Waitakere.

The number of individuals under the qualifying time for London is eight in 14 events along with the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, bringing the total to 12.

The men’s 4x200m freestyle, women’s 4x100m freestyle and men’s 4x100m medley relay teams have met the New Zealand Olympic Committee criteria and will await final FINA invitation in June as one of the four remaining fastest nations.

Experienced North Shore swimmer Melissa Ingram will be heading to her second Olympics after going under the qualifying time in the 200m backstroke. The 26-year-old clocked 2m 10.56s to be 0.3s under the qualifying mark for London.

The evening was sealed with a remarkable 3m 35.09s effort by the men’s quartet of Gareth Kean, Glenn Snyders, Hawke’s Bay-born Daniel Bell and Carl O’Donnell in the 4x100m medley relay.

The time would have placed them sixth at last year’s world championships, and earned them selection for London, pending final invitation from FINA.

“It was a fantastic feeling. When you put four guys together they do everything for each other and can achieve great things,” said Snyders.

“I was in the team that got fifth at Beijing and I think we can do amazing things again in London, given the chance.”

There was further celebration when Olympic open water hope Kane Radford eclipsed the last of the great Danyon Loader’s national records when he won the men’s 1500m freestyle in 15m 27.13s, just 23/100ths of a second under the old mark that has stood since 1994.

Radford, still untapered for this meet as he prepares for the final Olympic open water qualifying race in Portugal in June, had to fight to dispose of training mate Nathan Capp.

Ingram had already bettered the qualifying mark last year at the world championships and had to wait for the final night which was a test of her focus and resolve. She clocked 2m 10.56s to be under the qualifying mark by 0.3s.

North Shore’s Daniel Bell had to dig deep over the final 15m to come from behind to edge Australian-based Roskill Magic sprinter Paul Benson in the final of the 100m butterfly.

Benson led at the turn with Bell getting up to win in 53.57, with Benson just 6/100ths of a second behind with Corney Swanepoel (Roskill) third.

Earlier Roskill Magic’s Nielsen Varoy defended his men’s 50m freestyle title in a powerful burst in 22.92s, edging out Australian-based top qualifier Cameron Simpson (Templeton, Chch) by 4/100ths of a second with the 100m freestyle champion Carl O’Donnell (North Shore) third.

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Posted in: London Olympics,London Olympics 2012,London Olympics 2012 Tickets

London Olympics 2012: Thousands join Princess Beatrice in stadium run

Five thousand members of the public today became the first people to cross the finish line at the Olympic Stadium as they competed in the National Lottery Olympic Park Run.

The five-mile run was the first ever public event to take place in the stadium which traversed the Olympic Park in east London.

Almost 43,000 members of the public entered a ballot last year to gain a place in the event and the chosen runners came from all over the United Kingdom Princess Beatrice officially started the race before taking part in the event herself.

The princess, who was the first member of the Royal Family to complete the London Marathon in 2010, also presented the fastest finisher medals.

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Posted in: London Olympics,London Olympics 2012

Ryan Cochrane heads to London Olympics as go-to guy for Canadian swimming

MONTREAL—Ryan Cochrane and his coach Randy Bennett kept it secret the last time around.

They were convinced the Victoria native could win a medal in the men’s 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but they never declared anything publicly as it made no sense to place extra pressure on a 19-year-old. His bronze medal there was seen as a delightful surprise.

There’s no going through the back door this time, though.

As the six-day Olympic swim trials wrapped up Sunday night, it’s clear the slightly built Cochrane is the Canadian swim team’s standard bearer, the go-to guy with the best chance to reach the podium at the 2012 London Olympics.

“There’s definitely ups and downs with it,” said Cochrane, who easily won the men’s 1,500 metres at the trials Sunday. “You’re responsible for it and at first it’s easy to just say, but you have to make sure that you perform.

“I mean the pressure is getting bigger as the days go on, but I think I’m really going to use that when I’m on the blocks. You know that 30 million Canadians are behind you. It’s unmatched by anything else.”

Olympic swim champion Mark Tewksbury, who as chef de mission for the Canadian team in London helped introduce the 31-member team (18 women, 13 men) at the 1976 Olympic pool at the end of the event, thinks Cochrane is the right guy for the job.

“I don’t think there’s a coach in the country who’s better prepared his athletes for the Olympic experience than Randy Bennett,” said Tewksbury. “Him and Ryan now have four more years under their belt of what it takes to be a high-performance athlete and now they’re not afraid to go out there and be that.”

The six-day trials showed a Canadian team with a lot more depth on the women’s side and more medal chances than they had heading to Beijing four years ago, but this country remains a mere minnow when compared to the real swimming powers.

The realistic medal chances are Cochrane in the men’s 1,500-metre freestyle with an outside shot in the 400-metre freestyle; world silver medallist Brent Hayden in the men’s 100-metre freestyle; and then there’s the women’s 200-metre breaststroke, where world bronze medallist Martha McCabe of Toronto and fast-rising 18-year-old Tara Van Beilen of Oakville should be in the hunt.

“Four years ago, it was a young team and we talked about it being a building year,” said Cochrane. “There was way less expectations on us as a national team, where this time around it’s still a young team but I think we can expect great things. It’s not as though they’re inexperienced. A lot of these young kids have raced internationally many times. That will really help them when they get to the Games.”

He’s referring to swimmers like 18-year-old Sinead Russell of Oakville, who broke her own Canadian record Sunday in the women’s 200-metre backstroke with a time of 2:08.04. She was a finalist at the world championships last year.

“I know I was ready for a best time,” said Russell, whose previous mark was 2:08.80. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I was hoping for a little faster, but I’ll take it for now. . . . We’ve been training hard back home and I know the training’s not going to get any easier going back.”

Hayden won the men’s 50-metre freestyle in 22.16 seconds — a time he noted wouldn’t have any of “the other guys in the world going, ‘Oh my God’” — but he says it’s faster than he’s gone at this time of the season before, as was the case in the preliminary and final of the 100-metre freestyle.

“I’m going to just keep the ball rolling and keep working on it and fine tune over the next four months,” said Hayden.

Cochrane said he’s happy to see the Canadian team vocalizing its goals more.

“Now that I’m a leader on the team, I can really carry that on my shoulders a bit. I’m just happy that everyone’s expectations match my own.”

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Posted in: London Olympics,London Olympics 2012,London Olympics Qualifiers

Daniel Craig 'to open London Olympics as Bond'

Daniel Craig is reportedly opening the 2012 Olympic Games ceremony after a personal invitation from the Queen.

The James Bond actor has been asked to film scenes as the iconic agent in Buckingham Palace for the highly-anticipated sporting event later this year.

According to British newspaper The Sun, in the short movie Daniel's Bond character will arrive by Royal Appointment to be told his latest mission is to launch the Games before being taken by helicopter to parachute into the Olympic stadium in East London.

The Queen - who personally sanctioned the film - may even make a cameo appearance but royal sources are keeping details close to their chests.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle is creative director of the opening ceremony and is thrilled with making 007 a key part of the spectacle.

"It's a huge coup for BBC producers and Danny to be allowed into the Palace and have the Queen involved. They wanted the most iconic British film character inside the building most associated with London and with the monarch - and they got it," an on-set source told the publication.

"It will be a magical scene for all watching at home and inside the stadium on July 27. Working out the logistics of filming has taken months and hasn't been easy - but it will be worth it in the end."

A Palace spokesperson added: "Buckingham Palace is involved in a number of filming projects during this special Jubilee year and we would not go into details of any particular project until nearer the time of transmission."

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Posted in: 2012 Olympics Games,Bond,Daniel Craig,London Olympics