One of the more ludicrous decisions I've seen in recent years, thankfully looks like being reversed.
Only in Britain can an athlete ranked number one in his sport not be chosen to compete in the Olympics.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18284174
Edited by user 31 May 2012 20:19:54(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Talking of ridiculous decisions, the torch (or 'bread and circus') arrives in my town tomorrow. There'll be 12 carriers relaying it through. 11 of them aren't even from St Helens.
Meanwhile, several St Helens people who were selected as carriers will be doing so in other towns in the region.
How bananas is that?
All part of the farce, thankfully these games are nothing to do with me
You know that eBay bid on the torch? . . .
I can honestly say that I wasn`t really interested in watching the relay, but as my wife doesn`t drive and had no other way of getting there, I couldn`t refuse to take her.
My wife`s sister is one of the 11, she`s from Macclesfield.
Not true unfortunately, I heard on the radio this morning, that the BOA has upheld the award of the place to Lutalo Muhammad.
Seems mad to me I guess the proof will be at the Olympics, if he crashes and burns there will be egg on face all around.
In fact here is an article confirmimg this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18373483
Lutalo is ranked 59th in the world, as opposed to the world no 1 Cook
The BOA apparently cannot choose individual athletes they can only ask the federations to reconsider, which it has. However they have criticised the apparent lack of transparency that has made GB Taekwondo's decision to leave out the world number one hard to understand.
Nobody is saying anything much
Edited by user 08 June 2012 22:41:53(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
The Olympics in Australia will be receiving MASSIVE coverage, the network TV stations here are really going over the top with it and will be taking over channel 9. There is lots of chest beating going on. Every Australian gold medal, especially at the expense of a pommy medal, will be celebrated in the streets. They see this as an opportunity to do one over on the old country.
Personally I couldn't give a shit.
The olympics to me is just 'meh' (with the exception of the womens beach volley ball )
Aw, bless.
Edited by user 09 June 2012 00:36:06(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Saudis give women entering the 2012 Games go-ahead
Saudi Arabia, where public sports events for women are banned, will allow females to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time, its embassy in London said in a statement issued Sunday.
The Saudi Olympic Committee will "oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify", the BBC quoted the statement as saying.
The issue of women in sport remains extremely sensitive in the ultra-conservative Muslim state, where women are not even allowed to drive cars and the authorities shut down private gyms for women in 2009 and 2010.
Equestrian contestant Dalma Malhas, 18, is likely to be the country's only female athlete to qualify for this summer's Games in London which get underway on July 27.
Malhas won a bronze medal at the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympics without having been nominated by her country, following an invitation from the International Olympic Committee (OIC).
What a shitty decision. Whilst his best footballing days are well behind him, surely he should have been given a place for all the work he's done and for the profile he has.
Seems a very harsh decision to leave him out considering he was one of the main ambassadors for the successful bid. Looks like the powers that be want to try and win at least a medal so we probably wont get any token Scots, Northern Irish or Welsh in the squad. The Womans squad only had 2 non English out of 18. Cant see the mens having many more.
Oh well. A least we'll get another public holiday out of this - at a date yet to be decided.
Edited by user 28 June 2012 11:23:29(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards are the over 23 players. Quite surprised by Richards and Giggs he's even older than Becks!
Have you ever considered the fact that Beckham plays in a mickey mouse league and Giggs doesn't.
2 Welshmen already in the squad wonder how many of the 23 or unders will be non English. I can't really think of many maybe Ramsey?
Edited by user 28 June 2012 11:32:35(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
I can see why they left Becks out but I can think of plenty of players who I would have picked ahead of Giggs. Bale for one.
Just seen that Bale is 23 didnt realise he was still so young seems to of been around for ages. Expect him to be in the squad.
I'm actually really looking forward to this tournament if Britain get off to a good start i can see the country (mainly England and Wales) getting really into it. Could become quite a big deal.
Edited by user 28 June 2012 11:36:36(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Actually, he's not 23 until July 16. As you say; he will be picked.
I'm far more interested in how this team perform - or more specifically how the English players perform - than the England team for Euro 2012.