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London 2012 (23 unread)

Photos of the week: construction, cauldrons and cooking!

Posted: May 28th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

This has been a busy week for London 2012. Let's see what has been happening...

Work has now been completed at Eton Dorney, the London 2012 venue for Rowing and Canoe Sprint. This image shows the new bridge at the finish line of the lake.
A huge amount of construction progress has been made on the Olympic Village. Why not take a quick peek and see it for yourself on the London 2012 webcams!
Performers from the Heathrow Gymnastics Club create the shape of an Olympic Cauldron and Flame on the roof of central London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.

This week Jonathan Edwards paid a visit to Eldon Primary School in Edmonton, north London, to launch the new Inspire programme 'Let's get cooking around the world'. The kids had great fun making mango and banana smoothies and all the hard work certainly paid off as they look delicious!
Fancy a physical game of chess? Try judo

Posted: May 28th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Judo's such a great sport - it's massively physically demanding, but also mentally challenging. One of the best ways I heard it described was as 'a physical game of chess'. Because there are different weight categories, you can do it no matter what shape or size you are. It's really good for children because it's very much about discipline and self-defence too.
Inspiring children to cook and learn languages

Posted: May 27th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Yesterday I visited Eldon Junior School in Edmonton to launch a great initiative called 'Let's Get Cooking Around The World'. You can watch a video of me and the kids talking about our visit.
It's a languages project which is part of our Get Set education programme, and also part of the Inspire programme. The Year 4 students at Eldon Junior School had a great time learning how to make Brazilian mango and banana smoothies and speak Portuguese at the same time!
Where are we up to with preparations for the London 2012 venues?

Posted: May 27th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

I am very pleased that this week we announced the final agreement for the locations of all our venues, with Badminton and Rhythmic Gymnastics moving to Wembley Arena.
This will be a spectacular venue, and of course already has a world-class reputation. It means that Wembley will be a real hub for the Games, with Wembley Stadium already hosting the Football finals.
Wembley Arena will be a great venue for Badminton in 2012

Posted: May 27th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Yesterday we announced that Badminton will be held in Wembley Arena at the London Olympic Games in 2012 – moved, for a number of reasons, from the original temporary venue.
Wembley hosted the All England Open Badminton Championships for 37 years from 1957 to 1994 so it has a long badminton history and, of course, an excellent reputation for hosting world-class events.
The power of the Games is huge: on a local and global scale

Posted: May 26th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

The Games, so they say, have the power to shake the earth on its very axis – OR to pierce right to the emotional core of a tiny community. I was lucky enough to see both last week.
London 2012 Torch Relay: bringing the Games to your doorstep

Posted: May 26th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

On a rooftop in London this morning, the dreams and aspirations of 'Team Torch' suddenly became real. Seb announced the scope and scale of the Torch Relay – 70 days, 8,000 Torch Bearers, the fact that 95% of the UK population will be within a one hour journey of the Flame, and the news that it will arrive on the 18th May 2012. We also announced the three presenting partners who will help us to deliver the Torch Relay – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.
BT provides more great Paralympic support

Posted: May 24th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Later this year when the British Paralympic Association reaches its 21st Birthday there will be much to celebrate and reflect upon. There have been stunning sporting performances across a myriad of Games, organisational change which has seen the association grow in number and stature and, since 2005, the phenomenal focus on a home Games in London in 2012.
Celebrating Our Sporting Life

Posted: May 24th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of opening the first Our Sporting Life exhibition at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. The exhibition is an Inspire mark project and the first of over 100 exhibitions to open across the country celebrating British sporting heritage, from different communities and sports.
Photos of the week: Olympic Stadium

Posted: May 21st, 2010, 6:00am CDT

This image is one of the latest aerials taken of the Olympic Park. This shot captures how well construction is going: Work on the Aquatics Centre roof is well advanced and the Stadium is making brilliant progress. Truly a breathtaking view to behold.
Introducing the London 2012 mascots to the world

Posted: May 20th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Yesterday saw the launch of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.
The big day kicked off with a pre-launch screening at a primary school in Tower Hamlets. Attended by LOCOG Chair Seb Coe and CEO Paul Deighton, the event was a resounding success and we received nothing but positive feedback from the pupils.
The coach behind the world’s strongest man

Posted: May 20th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

With the paint literally still wet at the newly completed extension of ExCeL, Frank Mantek, Germany’s national weightlifting coach, described the 2012 Olympic Games Weightlifting competition and training venue as ‘perfect’.
Kind words indeed from a man widely considered to be one of the world’s best and most experienced weightlifting trainers.
We'll be in for a treat when ExCeL hosts Boxing in 2012

Posted: May 18th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

The Amateur Boxing Association finals returned to East London and the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green at the weekend. As Alex described in his blog about the evening, Knocked out by boxing, we were in for a real treat.
This time, the domestic highlight of the amateur boxing year had even more spice as boxers were desperate to impress and book their place at the Commonwealth Games.
Knocked out by boxing

Posted: May 17th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

I'm not sure how I feel about boxing. In a way, I have always been a bit resistant to the combat sports, perhaps grudgingly accepting that they have a place in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It's hard, however, to resist the infectious enthusiasm shown by Matthew Archibald, LOCOG Boxing Manager. And after his recent excellent, passionate presentation to LOCOG staff, I accepted his invitation to attend the ABAE National Elite Championship Finals.
Why synchronised swimming deserves greater recognition

Posted: May 17th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

I first tried synchronised swimming when I was 11. I couldn't swim then, but I had done gymnastics for eight years so my teacher suggested I give it a go. I love synchronised swimming because it is so different and never gets boring. There are always new things to learn and master.
Photos of the week: Team GB Synchronised Swimmers and the Lee Valley White Water Centre's facility building

Posted: May 14th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

This week has been a busy week for London 2012, as you can see...
Construction continues on the facility building and the finishing pool at the Lee Valley White Water Centre (formerly known as Broxbourne). The pool will be filled with water this summer - definitely heating things up before the Games!
The Olympic Village will be right for the athletes at London 2012

Posted: May 13th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

On Monday I attended my first meeting of the LOCOG Athletes' Committee. Since my election to the IOC Athletes' Commission during the Vancouver Games, I have been given the opportunity and responsibility to be more involved in the planning for the London Games in 2012. It was great to meet the other athletes on the LOCOG committee who are helping to make sure we provide the best possible experience for the athletes in 2012.
Putting on a great Games for spectators

Posted: May 13th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

As Head of Event Services, my role is to make sure that all spectators visiting the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have a fantastic experience.
There are many things that can make the Games experience really special for spectators. Their focus of attention should be on the sporting event, but other factors will come into play that make a real difference to how people enjoy the Games.
BBC presenters visit Olympic Park

Posted: May 12th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Seb Coe, London Organising Committee Chair, was pleased to host a tour of the Olympic Park for the BBC's main sport and news presenters recently. They included Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth and Gary Lineker.
The BBC are the official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the tour gave the presenters the chance to get their first peek at what is happening on the Park.
You can also see photos from the day by visiting the BBC's Roger Mosey's blog
Could Taekwondo be in the Paralympics?

Posted: May 11th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

One of the questions I get asked the most about Taekwondo, a full contact combat sport originating from South Korea, is 'will it be in the Paralympics?'.
Most people's perceptions are that combat sports and the Paralympics mix as well as camp fires and Australia’s outback, although the combat sports of both Judo and Fencing will feature at the London Paralympics and have featured from as early as the Rome 1960 (Wheelchair Fencing) and Seoul 1988 (Paralympic Judo).
Photos of the week

Posted: May 7th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

I think this picture is great as it captures a moment in Paralympic history. Sainsbury’s becoming the first ever Paralympic-only sponsor is something we should all want to remember.
Volunteering at the London Marathon - an event that brings London together

Posted: May 5th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

I'm pretty sure that I speak for all of my fellow volunteers when I say that we had no real comprehension of what to expect at the finish of London Marathon. Apparently a stampede of people would be running at us, collapsing at our feet, blocking the road, looking for photographers and searching for their bags.
At least 3 things you didn't know about Synchronised Swimming

Posted: May 4th, 2010, 6:00am CDT

Having been to the British Synchronised Swimming Championships on Saturday 1 May – my first foray into the world of nose clips, I assure you – I have a new and profound respect for the athletes.
Many people dismiss 'Synchro' - as it is known - as something of a fluffy sport, mocking the nose clips, exaggerated facial expressions and so on.

But synchronised swimmers have the second biggest aerobic capacity behind long distance runners.