Olympics



Thumbs up for Rio 2016 from chair of IOC Coordination Commission

By Duncan Mackay 

Nawal_El_Moutawakel_Rio_June_9_2011June 9 - Rio de Janeiro's preparations for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics is progressing in the right direction, earning praise from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission, chaired by Nawal El Moutawakel (pictured), for its marketing programme and the quality of the people working on the project.








London 2012 launches its "cheesegrater" Torch

By Duncan Mackay at St Pancras in London

London_2012_Olympic_Torch_St_Pancras_June_8_2011June 8 - A prototype of the London 2012 Olympic Torch was unveiled here today and was quickly compared to a cheesegrater because the design consists of 8,000 perforated circles, representing the number of people who are expected to carry it during its 70-day journey next year from Land's End to the Olympic Stadium.




Rio 2016 ahead of schedule claims Mayor

By Duncan Mackay

Nawal_El_Moutawakel_with_Carlos_NuzmanJune 7 - Nawal El Moutawakel will today lead the start of latest visit of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission visit to Rio de Janeiro to inspect how preparations are going for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics.

Exclusive: Public urged to protest to Culture Minister over London 2012 tickets

By Tom Degun

Jeremy_Hunt_with_Boris_Johnson_May_2011June 7 - A new initiative urging the public to write to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt (pictured right with London Mayor Boris Johnson) to request that more tickets for London 2012 are given to the family members of the athletes, rather than to dignitaries and sponsors, has been launched by the relative of a British swimmer who hopes to qualify for the Games.