500 days to London 2012

The clock counting down to the London Olympics into the final 500 days now, although the digital display set up on Trafalgar Square got temporarily stuck funnily enough, Daily Mirror have opted for their Top Twelve golden hopes of Britain at the Games with 'our very own' Jessica Ennis topping the list as overwhelming favourite to clinch the Olympic title. Among others, short-listed are great sailsman Ben Ainslie, going for a historical fourth consecutive title (third in the Finn), Sir Chris Hoy and Vicky Pendleton from cycling, Rebecca Adlington and Fran Halsall from swimming and, of course, great Phillips (Idowu):

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/athletics/2011/03/15/jessica-ennis-tops-daily-mirror-s-twelve-for-2012-115875-22991696/

To be honest, though, on merit the list should have definitely started with Ainslie, the man has been simply in a class of his own for so many years, followed down the order by Hoy and Pendleton while I'm quite surprised that the likes of Brad Wiggins, Nicole Cooke and Shanaze Reade were missing. But I'm so glad to see Jess up there topping the lot!

I suspect Bradley Wiggins is missing because there is no longer an individual pursuit in the Olympics while Nicole Cooke is the reigning champ in the road race which is one of the most unpredicatble vents in the whole Games.

Ainslie may not even make the team! Competition for that place is very strong. (Nothing to do with athletis of course )

Ben Ainslie has showed time and again that he can be back in top form in hardly any time, so don't worry Teassoc. Last August he finished just outside the medals in his first race since Beijing at the World Cup in Weymouth!

Greats Daley Thompson and Allan Wells go down memory lane for a little and recall the moments and circumstances surrounding their golden feats at the Olympics in Moscow in 1980, winning the Decathlon and 100m respectively.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9429070.stm

Paula Radcliffe visualises running up the home straight of the Mall to that elusive Olympic title to spur herself on when the hard long runs are getting tough at the altitude of Albequerque, where she's been building up as she prepares to embark on that long haul venture leading to London next summer:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8394951/London-2012-Olympics-Paula-Radcliffes-amazing-race-for-the-summit.html

Can Paula make it this time round at the fifth attempt? She has never lacked the mettle or the mentality to make it but fortune hasn't really been on her side when it has come round to the Olympics. On the other hand, tradition has it that she has never been beaten on the streets of London over the marathon. So it looks like a titan battle of forces around her when she hopefully sets on the starting line to claim the jewel in the crown of athletics.

Here are Paula's highs and lows through her illustrious career as seen by the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/picturegalleries/8395670/Paula-Radcliffes-highs-and-lows-in-pictures.html

Lisa Dobriskey maintains that tactics will be instrumental over physical fitness in the battle for glory over 1500m as she is gearing up towards the outdoor season.

Incidentally, the world silver medallist has now moved under the coaching of her husband and 2004 Olympic semifinalist over 800m Ricky Soos.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_express/sport/2011/march/23/lisa_dobriskey.aspx

European long-jump bronze medallist Christ Tomlinson is eager to follow in the footsteps of World and European triple jump champion Phillips Idowu and make a golden oldie himself:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/north-east-sport/athletics-news/2011/03/24/chris-tomlinson-aims-to-be-a-golden-oldie-84229-28391513/

Dame Kelly Holmes is to be announced as one of the mentors and ambassadors of the Team GB ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London. A thoroughly deserved role for great Kelly and I feel so privileged to have witnessed her double golden triumph in Athens back in 2004 first hand!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/school_report/9435214.stm

As I've just seen on great Steve Backley's page on FB, he's been also announced as a Team GB Olympic Ambassador along with the likes of Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave, Denise Lewis, David Hemery, Sally Gunnell, Roger Black and Kirss Akabussi. Congratulations to them all!

lsabre wrote:As I've just seen on great Steve Backley's page on FB, he's been also announced as a Team GB Olympic Ambassador along with the likes of Kelly Holmes, Steve Redgrave, Denise Lewis, David Hemery, Sally Gunnell, Roger Black and Kirss Akabussi. Congratulations to them all!

That's especially good as the Olympics are particularly local to where SB grew up.

I fully agree Trickstat!

The full list of the Team GB 2012 Ambassadors is:

Adrian Moorhouse
Amir Khan
Amy Williams
Christopher Dean
Colin Jackson
Darren Campbell
David Hemery
Denise Lewis
Duncan Goodhew
James Cracknell
James DeGale
Jayne Torvill
Jonathan Edwards
Kelly Holmes
Kriss Akabusi
Lynn Davies
Mary Peters
Rhona Martin
Roger Black
Robin Cousins
Sally Gunnell
Sharron Davies
Shirley Robertson
Steve Backley
Steve Redgrave
Tessa Sanderson
Tim Henman

The last piece of turf is beind laid in place at the Olympic stadium at Stratford in good time as Olympic inspectors have arrived in London to see over the preparations leading up to the Olympic Games next year, having also gone under budget:

http://www.heart.co.uk/london/news/local/2012-stadium-finished/

Legendary Frankie Fredericks, former 200m Olympic silver medallist and on an International Olympic Committee inspection trip, says that London's new Olympic stadium at Stratford is perfect:

http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Athletics/2012-Olympic-stadium-perfect-20110329

UKA Head Coach Charles van Commennee believes that Britain are on track to fulfil his target of eight medals in athletics at the Olympic Games in London next year:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02042011/58/london-2012-van-commenee-targets-eight-medals.html

Former double middle distance champion Kelly Holmes warns against heaping pressure on Olympic medal prospects to perform:

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/0214302-london-2012-holmes-warns-against-piling-pressure-olympic-hopefuls

IOC have been impressed with the progress and quality of work carried out over London 2012 towards the Olympic Games held in the British capital next year:

http://www.olympic.org/media?articlenewsgroup=-1&articleid=123506&searchpageipp=10&searchpage=1

David Bedford, former world record holder over 10000m and race director of London marathon, has stepped down as organizer of the Olympic marathon in London next year.

http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=528088.html

LOGOG look set to fall a 100m pound short of their total in public ticket sales at the close of the month while Sports minister Hugh Robertson and London mayor Boris Johnson have declared their full backing of London's bid to stage the 2017 World Championships, with the Olympic stadium's fate out of the cloud of uncertainly now.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8432974/London-2012-Olympics-Locog-set-to-fall-100m-short-in-ticket-sales.html

Meantime, many congratulations to Beth Tweddle for retaining her European title in the uneven bars at the European Gymnastics Champs in Berlin a little earlier on, following up on a huge surprise bronze by Dan Purvis in the men's all-round event!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/gymnastics/13025501.stm

Hi Isabre - any news on Tiffany Ofili's shoulder injury?

The British gymnasts are fantastic - they really must have a great coaching system. It has been quite a transformation compared to the past when Britain appeared to be practically insignificant on the international stage. The cyclists, the rowers, the sailors, the gymnasts and women swimmers are areas where Britain should be competive. Hopefully there will be a wave of youngsters coming through in athletics (both track and field).

Tiffany Offili actually raced only a few hours ago in the States so she's fully fit and back on track.

Great news! You should be working as a free lance athletics correspondent .

hahaha.... Thankyou very much Nore Staat!

Triple jump legend and world record holder Jonathan Edwards feels it's going to be a tough ask for Team GB to hit Charles van Commennee's medal target of eight medals in London.

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/1114382-london-2012-team-gb-athletics-medal-target-tough-ask-says-edwards

My own view is that is a tough task but also reasonably feasible, as Jonathan also comes to draw the home nation effect into the equation.

20 questions to new European Indoor 3000m champion Helen Clitheroe, whose confidence has risen sky high following a remarkable campaign on the boards, as she is building up with an eye to London.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8442399/London-2012-Olympics-20-questions-with-Helen-Clitheroe.html

I've got a 21st question myself for Helen; why don't you stick with the steeplechase please? It's your big chance now to shine at global level and you seem like passing over it...

Mo Farah is talking about his preparations, the sides of his performance he has improved on as an athlete and his Olympic vision:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/13041215.stm

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well this seems as relevant a place to talk about the Olympics as any. I finally got my apllication for Olympic tickets in yesterday (the deadline being midnight tonight)

Anyone else on here applied for tickets? Which ones?

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Mad for Chelsea wrote:well this seems as relevant a place to talk about the Olympics as any. I finally got my apllication for Olympic tickets in yesterday (the deadline being midnight tonight)

Anyone else on here applied for tickets? Which ones?

I have. That's for the opening ceremony and athletics as well as swimming, gymnastics, rowing and cycling. I'm trusting we don't get everything we've asked for!

The first 74 locations of the London 2012 torch relay have been revealed by the organisers and the Olympic Flame would come within an hour's reach of most people that live in the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13426353

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commennee says that British athetes have got still plenty of work to do but feels the team is on track to fulfill their goals next summer in London:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/8562210/London-2012-Olympics-British-athletes-have-work-to-do-ahead-of-Games-says-head-coach-Charles-van-Commenee.html