London 2012

UK Anti-Doping chief executive elected to key role at WADA

By Tom Degun

Andy Parkinson_of_UK_Anti-Doping_agency

May 24 - UK Anti-Doping chief executive Andy Parkinson has been elected as chair of the Ad hoc European Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (CAHAMA) following the formal elections for the position earlier this month and he will begin his two-year term from November this year.

Plans for "imaginative" London Olympic Park play space submitted

By David Owen

May 23 - The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is promising "some of the most imaginative play facilities in the United Kingdom" as part of a so-called 'community hub' to be created in the north of the Olympic Park.

Ukrainian Olympic Committee secretary general suspended after London 2012 ticket scandal

By Tom Degun at the SportAccord Convention in Québec City

May 22 - Volodymyr Gerashchenko, the secretary general National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU), has been suspended from his role after it was alleged that he was looking to illegally sell thousands of pounds worth of London 2012 tickets for cash.

Exclusive: No guarantee that drug cheats won't medal at London 2012, says blood doping expert

By David Owen

May 22 - The high volume of drugs tests to be conducted at London 2012 provides no guarantee that cheats will not win medals, according to a blood doping expert.

London 2012 ticket design is unveiled – with high-level security built in

By Tom Degun

May 21 - London 2012 has unveiled the design of the Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets with their delivery, along with Games travel cards and spectator guides, set to begin this week.

Exclusive: London 2012 Olympic Stadium wrap will demonstrate Dow's true worth, insists vice-president

By Tom Degun

May 21 - George Hamilton, vice-president of Olympic Operations at Dow Chemical Company, has claimed that the highly anticipated London 2012 Olympic Stadium wrap will show what his organisation does best, following the negative publicity it has suffered due to protesters.

Olympex 2012 exhibition to be held at the British Library

By Lauren Mattera

May 20 - A unique exhibition which brings to life the history, symbolism and personal stories through philatelic collections of individuals will be held by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the British Library, St Pancras from July 25 until September 9, it has been announced.

Wildflower meadows bring golden touch to London 2012 Olympic Park

By Emily Goddard

By David Gold

May 19 - The largest ever man made wildflower meadows in the United Kingdom have been sown and are set to flower gold around the Olympic Park by the start of the London 2012 Games.

Sailing legend Ainslie kicks off Torch Relay from Land's End amid huge fanfare

By Andrew Warshaw in Land's End

May 19 - In a spirit of unbridled patriotic fervour, thousands of well-wishers flocked to the western-most tip of the British mainland this morning to celebrate the eagerly awaited start of the London 2012 Torch Relay.

Olympic Flame arrives in Britain as Princess Royal and Beckham greeted by cheering crowds

By Duncan Mackay

By Andrew Warshaw at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall

Olympic Flame_arrives_in_Cornwall_May_18_2012

May 18 - The Olympic Flame, the most potent symbol of the modern Games, finally arrived on British shores this evening in the most significant milestone to date for London 2012.

Anticipation grows as Britain prepares for arrival of Olympic Flame

By Andrew Warshaw at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall

May 18 - A Royal Naval Air Station near the southwest tip of Britain provides the eagerly awaited setting later today for one of the most treasured moments in sport - the arrival of the Olympic Flame.

Over 12,000 Olympic Borough residents offered jobs, reveals London Mayor

By Emily Goddard

By David Owen

May 18 - Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has sought to talk up the benefits of London 2012 for ordinary Londoners by highlighting the impact of this summer's Games on the local jobs market.

Olympic Flame passes to British hands

By Mike Rowbottom at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens

May 17 - The Olympic Flame was officially handed over from Greece to Britain here this evening as the rain which had drummed down since mid-afternoon relented and gave way to a patch of blue sky.

Exclusive: Israel proposal to honour Munich 1972 murder victims rebuffed by IOC member

By David Gold

May 17 - A minute's silence at London 2012 in honour of the 11 Israeli athletes killed during the 1972 Munich Olympics would harm the "unity" of the Games, according to Alex Gilady, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

I love the smell of legacy in the morning, says London Mayor as he defends Athens 2004

By Emily Goddard

From Mike Rowbottom in Athens

May 17 - The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, here as part of the official party that will attend the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony tonight, has vigorously defended the investment made for the Athens 2004 Games, and added that it was in no way a contributing factor to the current parlous economic state Greece finds itself in.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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Reporting to and working closely with the Events Director – Technical Operations, the Head of Technical Officials is responsible for day-to-day management of the Technical Officials programmes within the Events Department, including: Management of day-to-day technical officials operations including tournament assignments and planning; Management and development of the professional technical officials workforce including referees, umpires, and tournament doctors; Technical officials policy development through consultation with key stakeholder groups including commissions, panels, Continental Confederations and working groups; Innovation initiatives within the technical officials area to enhance officiating accuracy and sport presentation; and Technical officials pathway development including working with Continental Confederations and Member Associations on recruitment, education, training, and development initiatives.

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The Big Read

Pierre de Coubertin once said cricket has "practically no appeal for those who are not British". While he expressed doubts about the Olympic viability of cricket, lacrosse and baseball, Philip Barker wonders how the man who helped revive the modern Games would have reacted to new sports at Los Angeles 2028.

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