Women Boxers Make Olympic History

London 2012: Women Boxers Set to Make Olympic History

Russia's Elena Savelyeva and Hye Song Kim of DPR Korea will become the first female boxers to compete at an Olympic Games when they meet in the ring at 1.30pm on Sunday.

(PRWEB) August 03, 2012

Russia's Elena Savelyeva and Hye Song Kim of DPR Korea will become the first female boxers to compete at an Olympic Games when they meet in the ring at 1.30pm on Sunday.

Thirty-six female boxers from 23 different nations, fighting across three weight divisions, are making history at London 2012.

For boxers like Great Britain's Nicola Adams, the 29-year-old three-time world silver medallist, it is a day she neither expected nor even dared hope for when she first pulled on a pair of gloves.

'My motivation was just my love for the sport,' said Adams, who has a first-round bye in the Fly Weight division and will begin her campaign on Monday.

'I grew up with my family watching boxing. My dad would always put the big fights on TV and it would be a family event, everybody would come round to watch the Boxing.

'I always hoped women's Boxing would be a part of the Olympics because it's every athlete's dream to go to a Games. So when the announcement was made I was over the moon.

'It's nice to have a bit of recognition for all the years I've been training. I used to look up to Muhammad Ali, and it's a great feeling to know that now kids who are just starting in the sport will have a female to look up to as well.'

Public Embracing London 2012 Games

Public Embracing London 2012 Games, Says Seb Coe

Five days into the London 2012 Olympic Games LOCOG Chair Seb Coe has expressed his delight at the public’s response to the Games so far and thanked the UK for making it possible.

(PRWEB) August 01, 2012

Five days into the London 2012 Olympic Games LOCOG Chair Seb Coe has expressed his delight at the public’s response to the Games so far and thanked the UK for making it possible.

Fifty three gold medals have been awarded so far across 11 sports, to athletes from 34 countries around the world. The spectacular London 2012 venues have already seen seven new world records and more than 30 Olympic records.

Almost 3 million people have attended the Games with supporters of many different nations waving their team’s flag and enjoying the jubilant atmosphere.

The Opening Ceremony on 27 July drew an audience of 27 million viewers to the BBC and since then the evening sessions have been attracting 8 million viewers each day.

The London 2012 website has around 11 million visitors each day and 10 million people have downloaded mobile apps. The Opening Ceremony 'Isles of Wonder' soundtrack is top of the download charts.

LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton added that more than 27,000 people have safely arrived in the UK – mainly athletes and media – with more than 12,000 people now resident in the Olympic Village.

Still to come is the start of the athletics and the track cycling – ‘Super Saturday’ is coming up with 21 gold medals to be won in one day (4 August). It will be an exciting weekend with crowds lining the streets of London for the Marathon and Triathlon, and people all over the UK getting together to enjoy the action.

London 2012 Olympic Cauldron Moved

Cauldron Moved into Position in Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Cauldron has moved to its resting place in the Olympic Stadium before the start of the London 2012 Athletics competition.

(PRWEB) July 30, 2012

The Olympic Cauldron has moved to its resting place in the Olympic Stadium before the start of the London 2012 Athletics competition

The Olympic Flame was taken from the Cauldron on 29 July and placed in a special miners lantern overnight before work began to move Thomas Heatherwick’s spectacular structure from its Ceremony position in the centre of the field of play.

The Cauldron, measuring 8.5 metres, is made up of 204 steel pipes and individually designed copper petals inscribed with the competing nation’s names, has been relocated at the south end of the Stadium within eyesight of competing athletes, as an echo of the cauldron location at Wembley for the London 1948 Games.

During an 80-hour transition of the Stadium from Danny Boyle’s spectacular set for the Opening Ceremony to an Olympic sporting area for athletesfrom around the world, the Cauldron was relit.

In a small ceremony the Olympic Flame was transferred from the miners lamp to the Olympic Torchbearer Austin Playfoot who then lit the Olympic Cauldron using the Olympic Torch.

Austin Playfoot, London 1948 and London 2012 Torchbeaer said: ‘It was an honour to be asked to perform this important task of relighting the Cauldron in its resting position. When I ran with the Olympic Flame in Guildford I never thought I would get this close to the Cauldron, it brought me to tears when it lit up. It will be an incredible inspiration to the competing athletes here at the heart of the Olympic Park in the Stadium.’

Live footage of the Cauldron will be projected onto the Stadium's rooftop screens during the first week of the Games.

At the end of the Games, each team will take their petal home and the Cauldron will cease to exist.

The Olympic Flame was seen by nearly 15 million people on its 70 day-journey around the UK, and by a worldwide TV audience of around one billion people in the Opening Ceremony.

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

Australian Swimming Team Better Prepared for Games than the USA

Australian Swimming Team Better Prepared for Games than the USA

The Australian Swim team is heading into next month’s Olympics better prepared than the US team says Effortless Swimming’s Brenton Ford.

Melbourne, Victoria (PRWEB) July 23, 2012

Australia’s Olympic swimming team is determined to knock the American’s off their perch with a longer preparation on their side ahead of this month's London Games.

The Australian swim team competed at their Olympic trials over three months before the Americans held theirs earlier this month, giving the Australian’s enough time to taper and go through an extra phase of training before the Games.

Effortless Swimming’s Brenton Ford explained in a recent video update to Swimprove members that the US team couldn’t taper for their trials because it would have compromised their Olympic preparation. This has given the Australian’s the advantage of a longer adjustment period.

“The Australian swim team is poised for dream run at this year’s Olympics because of their earlier date for Olympic trials in March,” Brenton explains.“This allowed them a full taper and an extra training phase leading into the Olympics.”

“Historically Australia has had better results at the Games when you look at their entry times and the times they've swum at the meet,” he said.

The Australians have left nothing to chance, attending a series of training camps even before the US team was selected.

The extra time has given the team the opportunity to replicate some of the good things they did in March, as well as improving on others.

Brenton says this kind of preparation isn’t just for elite athletes.Swimmers can make simple adjustments to their own technique to improve their efficiency between competitions and training sessions too.

“Day-to-day triathletes and swimmers can make fast improvements with the right workouts and technique,” Brenton says.“If they prepare in advance for their main race of the season with a program like Swimprove, they give themselves a huge advantage over their competitors.”

Swimmers can improve their times by working on body awareness shown through the Swimprove program, and like the Australian team, by leaving no stone unturned in their preparation.

Surrey Gears up for the Games with Giant Olympic Rings

Surrey Gears up for the Games with Giant Olympic Rings

With just over a week until the Olympic Games Cycling Road Race competition takes place in Box Hill, Surrey, a large set of Olympic Rings has been launched in the county. The Rings are set to provide a spectacular backdrop to the Road Race competition and Surrey’s London 2012 celebrations.

(PRWEB) July 19, 2012

With just over a week until the Olympic Games Cycling Road Race competition takes place in Box Hill, Surrey, a large set of Olympic Rings has been launched in the county. The Rings are set to provide a spectacular backdrop to the Road Race competition and Surrey’s London 2012 celebrations.

The Rings have been installed on the side of the National Trust’s Box Hill. Made of aluminium they are approximately 15m wide by 7m high and will be an exciting feature in the county for the duration of the Olympic Games.

The Road Race competition will begin on the 28 July and 29 July and spectators at Box Hill are set to get a fantastic view of the events. Labelled the most gruelling stretch of the course - the men’s race will loop Box Hill nine times and the women’s twice.

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair, said: ‘The Olympic Rings are an iconic symbol, inspiring athletes and uniting people around the world. To athletes they represent the culmination of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport. These Rings will excite and inspire local people and visitors to Box Hill.’

Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: ‘This proves the Games aren’t just about London. Surrey’s giant Olympic Rings will become one of the most memorable icons of the Games with television cameras sending pictures of it around the world. It will encourage people to visit our beautiful county not just now, but for years to come.’

Andy Wright, National Trust Countryside Manager for the Surrey Hills, added: ‘We’re so proud to showcase this special place to the world. For us the Rings are a symbol of what an amazing place Box Hill is, what an amazing journey it has been on over the past few years and what a fantastic legacy the Olympics will leave here, particularly for wildlife.’

Surrey is also hosting the Olympic Road Cycling Time Trial event on 1 August.

Giant sets of Olympic Rings are being installed at iconic sites across the United Kingdom to excite and inspire people ahead of the Games and to demonstrate that we are ready to welcome the world.

Notes to editors:
Media requiring more information can contact Surrey County Council Media Officer Nicole Herlihy on 020 8541 8039 or email nicole.herlihy(at)surreycc(dot)gov.uk for more information.

For media enquires about Box Hill please contact Michelle Cleverley on 07917 070491 or email michelle.cleverley(at)nationaltrust(dot)org.uk

Time lapse footage of the Rings installation will be available from 2pm from the Surrey County Council Press Office
For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

The Official London 2012 Join In app is a free mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience. From the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, the Official London 2012 Join In App is your essential companion. It is available now at app stores and athttp://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/

Olympic Rings
The five rings are coloured blue, yellow, black, green and red – representing the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. The Olympic Rings are one of the world’s most recognisable logos.

London 2012 Games partners:
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and two domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Suppliers, Otto Bock and Panasonic. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.

Saudi Arabia Joins Brunei Darussalam and Qatar in Sending Female Athletes to London 2012

IOC: Saudi Arabia Joins Brunei Darussalam and Qatar in Sending Female Athletes to London 2012

The decision to send Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani (judo, + 78kg) and Sarah Attar (athletics, 800m) follows earlier confirmation by Brunei Darussalam and Qatar -- the only other NOCs yet to send female athletes to the Games -- that they would also have female athletes competing at London 2012.

(PRWEB) July 18, 2012

The decision to send Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani (judo, + 78kg) and Sarah Attar (athletics, 800m) follows earlier confirmation by Brunei Darussalam and Qatar -- the only other NOCs yet to send female athletes to the Games -- that they would also have female athletes competing at London 2012.

The two Saudi athletes, invited to the Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), were entered by the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee by the official deadline of 9 July.

Attar, 17, said she was honoured by the prospect of competing for her country at London 2012. “A big inspiration for participating in the Olympic Games is being one of the first women for Saudi Arabia to be going,” she said at her training base in San Diego, USA. “It’s such a huge honour and I hope that it can really make some big strides for women over there to get more involved in sport.”

The news was also welcomed by IOC President Jacques Rogge, a long-time advocate of gender equality in sport. “This is very positive news and we will be delighted to welcome these two athletes in London in a few weeks’ time,” he said. “The IOC has been working very closely with the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, and I am pleased to see that our continued dialogue has come to fruition. The IOC has been striving to ensure a greater gender balance at the Olympic Games, and today’s news can be seen as an encouraging evolution. With Saudi Arabian female athletes now joining their fellow female competitors from Qatar and Brunei Darussalam, it means that by London 2012 every National Olympic Committee will have sent women to the Olympic Games.”

Brunei Darussalam has entered Maziah Mahusin (athletics), while Qatar has entered Nada Arkaji (swimming), Noor Al-Malki (athletics), Aya Magdy (table tennis) and Bahiya Al-Hamad (shooting).

Qatar’s Al-Hamad has been tapped not only to compete at London 2012 but also to carry her country’s flag during the Opening Ceremony. “I’m overwhelmed to have been asked to carry the Qatari flag at the Opening Ceremony,” she said. “It’s a truly historic moment for all athletes.”

The IOC has worked for many decades to promote women in sport, both on and off the field of play. The goal of gender equality is enshrined in the Olympic Charter, the guiding document for all Olympic organisations, while defining strategies to dismantle gender barriers is the primary goal of the IOC’s Women and Sport Commission.

Fifteen years ago at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, 26 NOCs had yet to include female athletes in their delegations. Four years ago in Beijing, the figure had dropped to just three – the three NOCs that have confirmed they will be sending female athletes to London 2012, thus marking a historic milestone in Olympic history.

The Olympic Games have seen female participation rise from 1.8 per cent at London 1908 to 9.5 per cent at London 1948 and more than 42 percent at Beijing 2008. The latter figure is expected to be improved upon again this summer.

Another milestone in the fight for gender equality in sport at London 2012 will be the inclusion of women’s boxing on the Olympic programme, ensuring that women will compete in every sport for the first time in the 116-year history of the modern Olympic Games.

Broadcast quality footage of Sarah Attar (Saudi Arabia), Bahiya Al-Hamad (Qatar), Nada Arkaji (Qatar), Maziah Mahusin (Brunei Darussalam) and the IOC President will soon be available free-of-charge here.

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team

One Month to Go London 2012 Olympic

One Month to Go Until the London 2012 Olympic Games

With only a month to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today officially opened the Main Press Centre (MPC) which will host up to 6,000 accredited press and photographic media during Games time.

(PRWEB) June 27, 2012

With only a month to go to the London 2012 Olympic Games the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today officially opened the Main Press Centre (MPC) which will host up to 6,000 accredited press and photographic media during Games time.

• London 2012’s first venue on the Olympic Park open for business
• Plan to entertain and educate spectators revealed
• ‘Rock The Games’ programme will see release of new Muse track ‘Survival’ and four other official songs inspired by the Games
• Scissor Sisters and Rizzle Kicks are among artists to play surprise gigs at London 2012 venues

Download images here

The MPC will provide 31,000 square metres of office space across four floors of workspace for journalists, photographers, accredited non-rights holding broadcasters, as well as IOC and LOCOG staff during the Games. Across the Games it will be open for 52 days with the Catering Village serving an estimated 480,000 meals and 1.6 million cups of tea over 24 hours a day.

The MPC will become a ‘home from home’ for the world’s media with state-of-the-art media facilities to ensure media can report on the Games. A 200 metre-long High Street will feature a range of shops and services including a post office and dry cleaners, pharmacy and general store.

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said: ‘Like the athletes competing at London 2012, the world’s writers and photographers who will be based in the MPC are at the top of their profession. We will offer them state of the art facilities so they can tell the extraordinary stories that will come out of the Games. This is our first venue on the Olympic Park to open for business and we are ready to welcome the world’s media as they come and set up their office.’

With the sporting action a mere month away, LOCOG has also announced today that spectators attending the Games will be treated to a programme of comprehensive and innovative sport presentation for the Games, including in-ear commentary, music, presenters for different sports - and a few other surprises.

The sports presentation experience for spectators is set to entertain and educate, reflecting the London 2012 vision of connecting more young people with sport. Each venue will have a tailored sports presentation programme offering different experiences best suited to sports - ensuring the spectator experience is as good as possible.

A music library of 2012 songs with five music themes – energy, primetime, extreme, heritage and world stage – has been compiled. Each theme will be tailored for specific sports, for example heritage for Tennis at Wimbledon or extreme for BMX.

A unique music programme for the Olympic Games, ‘Rock the Games’ is being created which features live performances and exclusive new recorded tracks from various artists.

Five official songs have been composed for ‘Rock The Games’, led by chart-topping band Muse whose track 'Survival' has been written for the Games and will be played at various sport sessions. The track is available for download from Thursday 28th June. The other four official songs are by Elton John vs Pnau (released July 16th) Delphic (released July 23rd), Chemical Brothers (released July 30th) and Dizzee Rascal (released August 6th).

In addition, Scissor Sisters and Rizzle Kicks are just two of the artists that are set to play surprise gigs at some of the Olympic venues.

Other London 2012 venues will see exciting performances from leading dancers including the English National Ballet and street crews choreographed by Peridot. Acrobatics, cheerleading from Newham’s Ascension Eagles, sport demonstrations and sport skills’ shows including jump rope from Get Tricky. Music will also be provided by military bands from the Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force and DJs providing a lively entertainment programme for spectators.

Films, including ‘Sport A-Z’ for Olympic and Paralympic sports, will be shown before each session allowing spectators to get an overview of the sport in a dynamic and engaging way. The films will use actions shots of former and current athletes as well as graphical animations and motion capture avatars demonstrating the sports.

All venues will have presenters who will act as anchors in venues, appearing on the big screens. They will host each session and guide the spectators through all the key sporting elements, interacting with the crowd, interviewing attending athletes and celebrities and keeping everyone informed of key timings. There will be a mixture of established presenters including Ben Shephard and Gethin Jones as well as up and coming talent such as Aissetou N’gom. Other young presenters were also recruited through universities, sports clubs, drama and performing arts groups throughout the UK - over 750 budding presenters applied to work at the Games and 13 were selected to be part of the London 2012 presenting team.

As well as announcers and commentators, a number of venues will have in-ear commentary radios available for purchase by spectators, giving access to live expert analysis of the competition. The radio will be available for sports where a number of elements are happening simultaneously on the field of play or where there are judged elements which may not be easily understandable for those new to the sport. All commentators will complete a workshop with the RNIB to make sure that the commentary will also be useful for sight impaired visitors.

Debbie Jevans, Director of Sport said: ‘Inspiring people to engage with sport has always been central to our vision. There are 26 Olympic sports and many people will be seeing these for the first time so we will explain some of the intricacies in an innovative and informative way. We also want to ensure the way we present sport adds to the experience of the spectators in the venues and builds the atmosphere. This will be a special summer and we are grateful to everyone who has given their time and expertise over the past years.’

An entertainment programme will also run throughout the day from locations around the Olympic Park. Roaming performers will entertain the crowds while they explore the Park. A bandstand will also offer up-and-coming performers the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of people in the Park during the Games.

In addition to the entertainment around the Park there will be chances to take a photo with a mascot, visit sponsor showcases, pin trading and a chance to watch the action on the Park Live Site.

LOCOG today has also issued ‘5 top tips’ for ticket holders coming to the Games. These are:

1. Be prepared for security checks when you arrive: this will be like taking an international flight at an airport. It will be busy and you will have to queue, so get there early – check http://www.london2012.com for your recommended arrival time.

2. Bring as little as possible with you: the more you bring, the longer it will take to go through security. One small soft-sided rucksack or handbag is allowed per person – this must fit under your seat. If you have a ticket for Football, we strongly suggest you do not bring a bag – if you do, your entry will be delayed and you may miss your event.

3. Read the lists of prohibited and restricted items before you leave: You cannot bring in liquids over 100ml*, including water – but you can bring an empty plastic water bottle and fill it up at water points inside venues. There is a wide range of food available to buy, but if you need to bring your own food, it must fit inside your bag.

4. Leave plenty of time to travel to your venue: London and the UK will be extremely busy and very different to what you’re used to. Use the spectator journey planner to find the best route and, where necessary, book your travel to make sure you get to your event on time. Ticket holders for events in and around London can use their Games Travelcard for travel in London zones 1-9.    

5. Please remember the only way to pay is by Visa (debit, credit or prepaid card) or cash.

Notes to editors:

Footage from the briefing will be available later in the day via http://footagelibrary.london2012.com/

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

The Official London 2012 Join In app is a free mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience. From the Olympic Torch Relay to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus all the cultural, city and community celebrations happening across the UK, the Official London 2012 Join In App is your essential companion. It is available now at app stores and athttp://www.london2012.com/mobileapps/

Muse
Muse have five studio albums, a plethora of awards (including five MTV Europe Music awards, five Q awards, eight NME Awards, two Brit Awards, four Kerrang! Awards, a Grammy and a Mercury Prize nomination) and an extensive list of top 10 singles which has resulted in Muse being one of the biggest bands in the UK/Europe.

Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme celebrated the release of their 5th album ‘The Resistance’ with two open air homecoming shows in Teignmouth, Devon, back in 2009. No.1 in the UK, the album also topped that charts in 19 countries worldwide. A European tour followed with a lavish new production which saw them play in front of 300,000 fans in just two months. A short trip home during the tour saw them bestowed as the 2011 recipients of the Silver Clef Award from music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins before heading out for a string of sold out stadium shows in UK, France, Italy, Holland, Spain and Switzerland.

Muse will release their 6th studio album ‘The 2ND Law’ this September. A European arena tour will follow the release from October onwards.

London 2012 Games partners
The Worldwide Olympic Partners who support the London 2012 Olympic Games and the National Olympic Committees around the world are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos, Dow, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Procter and Gamble, Samsung and Visa.

LOCOG has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BMW, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF and Lloyds TSB. There are seven domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, ArcelorMittal, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte, Thomas Cook and UPS. There are now twenty-eight domestic Tier Three Suppliers and Providers – Aggreko, Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, CBS Outdoor, Crystal CG, Eurostar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, G4S, GSK, Gymnova, Heathrow Airport, Heineken UK, Holiday Inn, John Lewis, McCann Worldgroup, Mondo, NATURE VALLEY, Next, Nielsen, Populous, Rapiscan Systems, Rio Tinto, Technogym, Thames Water, Ticketmaster, Trebor and Westfield.

There is one domestic Tier One Paralympic Games-only Partner, Sainsbury’s and two domestic Tier Three Paralympic Games-only Suppliers, Otto Bock and Panasonic. The London 2012 Paralympic Games also acknowledges the support of the National Lottery.