BOA promises even more medals in Rio

The British Olympic Association is adamant Team GB can claim even more medals at the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, following a remarkable performance on home turf.

London 2012 saw the best British medal haul since 1920, the result of extensive investment in a variety of sports for over a decade as athletes from disciplines as diverse as rowing, track cycling, equestrian and judo all delivered medals.

Some have feared that matching the final total of 65 medals (29 golds) will prove impossible in Brazil in four years' time, but BOA chief Lord Moynihan has pledged to do everything in his power to ensure this is not the high watermark for British Olympic achievement, but rather the latest step on a path of continued progress.

"The aspiration is always to push on and do better - absolutely," Lord Moynihan said. "If you're an athlete, if you're a team, your aspiration is always to do better. No question at all in my mind.

"You never say, 'Okay, we did very well. Now let's fall back'.

"We have phenomenal athletes in this country, unbelievable athletes, and we're building great support structures.

"And we must always push on and always raise the bar and always seek to do better."

On Sunday, the government announced that elite-level funding would be guaranteed for a further two years, taking it up to Rio and giving the relevant bodies scope to plan well into the future.

While a new medal target will not be set imminently, Moynihan stressed that all those sporting bodies will have their results assessed to work out areas for improvement in the next few months.

"Every sport should have a comprehensive review of their performance," he added. "Those who have done really well will need to review why they did really well.

"Those who haven't lived up to the expectations will need to review that.

"It won't be until we're very close to Rio that we have an assessment of who we're competing against, let alone how good our own team is."

Chef du mission Andy Hunt agreed that there is no reason why Team GB cannot score even more medals at the next Games.

"I believe it could be more than that," he said. "And that's such an important legacy from these Games.

"Our insight and engagement with sports is like never before and we're not going to stop that."

Some sports will have to adjust to a new reality, however. Swimming, for example, failed to deliver on its pre-Games predictions (winning just three medals, none of which were gold) - a performance that will likely result in a slash in funding levels.

Michael Scott, performance director of British Swimming, is aware a complete overhaul of how their system works will likely be demanded, with input taken from more successful sports like cycling.

"When we know the reality of the funding situation, my job is to determine those new priorities and deliver them," Scott said. "Most likely we will have to be leaner and meaner. That means things will change."

He added: "We are looking at people who can come in and openly and honestly challenge us.

"We have made approaches and not necessarily to people within the sport of swimming. You have to look at Team GB as a whole and say there is expertise in this country that could be used to sharpen our focus."

Sourced: http://www.espn.co.uk/london-olympics-2012/sport/story/164978.html#rBqMgxrLjK37X0Zj.99

London Olympics 2012: A musical farewell to the world

After 16 days of sporting heroism which made London the centre of the world, the curtain fell on the Olympics last night with a display of exuberant – at times anarchic – revelry that had but one message: "Goodbye world, we hope you had as good a time as we did. Now let's dance."

With 29 gold medals – the last arriving just hours before the grand finale in the Olympic Stadium – reflecting the glory of the best performance by a British team in 104 years, the Closing Ceremony delivered the grandest of grand hurrahs for London 2012.

From a rendition of "God Save the Queen" introduced by Timothy Spall playing Winston Churchill emerging from a miniaturised Big Ben, to Russell Brand on top of a trippy bus and Freddie Mercury's voice delivering "Bohemian Rhapsody" from beyond the grave, this was Britain showing that as well as putting on the greatest show on earth, it can party too.

Just as Danny Boyle's opening jamboree had enthralled the nation with his heady cocktail of the sublime, a skydiving monarch and Mr Bean, so artistic director Kim Gavin, a ballet dancer turned stadium tour impresario, provided a sumptuous feast of British creativity and eccentricity.

Gone was the didactic splendour of the Opening Ceremony with its giant NHS beds and Satanic Mills, Jarrow marchers and Sir Tim Berners Lee. This was all about having fun and, after putting on an unquestionably fine Games, London had reason to celebrate.

The Who, those titans of universally recognised but uniquely British pop, were due to bring the three-hour performance to a climax with a thundering rendition of "My Generation".

A week after his wife lost their daughter, Poppy, in a still birth, Take That's Gary Barlow was due to perform "Rule the World" with the band in a dramatic sequence leading to the extinguishing of the Olympic Flame.

But, reserving the right of this host nation to bamboozle the rest of the planet, there was also the downright wacky. The Reliant Robin immortalised in the classic comedy Only Fools and Horses made an explosive appearance followed by the sight of 160 Household Guards marching behind Madness while playing an instrumental version of Blur's "Parklife".

And do not even mention the multi-coloured octopus and the taxi ballet.

Gavin, speaking before the ceremony, said: "We wanted to host a celebration of all that's good about London, British people, our music and our culture. And capture the spirit that's inspired so much global creativity over the past 50 years."

Watched by dignitaries including Prince Harry, representing his grandmother, and Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee, the extravaganza began with a shout of "It's nine o'clock" from the capacity 80,000 crowd and Scottish R'*'B singer Emeli Sande on a purposely monochrome stage belting out her anthem to success "Read All About It" from the back of a rubbish truck.

And then it ended. Speeches from London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and Jacques Rogge heralded the official close of the Games as Thomas Heatherwick's copper petal cauldron was finally extinguished after 16 days of constant burning. The only thing left to do was sing away the end of the night and that honour was given to The Who accompanied by the ballerina Darcey Bussell. Goodbye world. Thanks for coming.

Sourced: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/london-olympics-2012-a-musical-farewell-to-the-world-8037279.html

Beckham stunned after being left out of Team GB Olympic squad as Pearce chooses Richards, Giggs and Bellamy

David Beckham is stunned after being left out of the Great Britain Olympic football squad by Stuart Pearce.
The former England captain seemed to be certain to be part of the summer event but Micah Richards, Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs have been picked as the over-23 players in the 18-man squad.
Pearce called Beckham on Wednesday night to inform him of the decision, explaining that he had enough cover for midfield and he wanted to add experience to his defence.
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Shock: Only three of the players on the team are allowed to be over 23 years old

Big role: Beckham has played an instrumental part in the run-up to the games

BECKHAM'S OLYMPIC AID

2005 - Played a major part in Britain's successful bid for the Games
2008 - Appeared in the Beijing closing ceremony
2012 - Flew out to Greece to collect the Olympic Torch and carried it in Britain

The 37-year-old superstar, who currently plies his trade for MLS side LA Galaxy, played a massive role in Britain securing the games in 2005 and has stayed involved in a huge capacity since.
Beckham said on Thursday: 'Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me. So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad.'
He added: 'Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.
'As a Londoner, I will have been really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town as part of Seb's [Coe] team, and I can't wait for the games to begin and enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain.'
Beckham was included in Pearce's 35-man shortlist for the Games but has not made the final cut.

Watching: Stuart Pearce went to see Beckham in action before he made his decision

Beckham's relentless efforts on the Olympic front make his exclusion all the more surprising.
He accompanied the Olympic Flame from Athens to British soil and carried it in Cornwall after it was lit.
Beckham also took part in the closing ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of the London 2012 team, as he racked up the air miles.
He flew from his club in Los Angeles to London to play for England in a friendly against the Czech Republic, before then making it to Beijing for the show and then back to LA for training.
The British Olympic Association will also be surprised by the decision to leave Beckham out.

Curtain call: Beckham at the Beijing closing ceremony

But BOA chief Andy Hunt had previously stated Pearce has free reign to do as he pleases with the squad.
He said: 'Stuart Pearce will make a decision on the best squad available given where he is in respect of now having assessed the players that are not involved in the Euros and the current state of injuries. 
'He will then make the best call he can - on merit. I am not putting any pressure of him whatsoever to pick anyone. We discussed the whole topic of selecting over-23 players back more than a year ago but I haven't subsequently.

Effort: London 2012 sport ambassadors (from left) Beckham Sir Steven Redgrave and Denise Lewis

Delight: Beckham and his wife Victoria (left) leave the London 2012 celebration party after London won the Games in 2005

'We have been very clear from the outset, it's absolutely Stuart's choice and he is totally free to make the selection of the team he believes will put in the best performance. It's as simple as that.'
As a global superstar Beckham would have been a big pull for fans to come and watch Team GB at the games and get excited about the Olympic football - which is not normally a major pull.
Beckham is still expected to come to the Games in some aspect and may have a role to play at the opening ceremony.

Beckham could point out that he would have at least been match-fit while all the other players would be entering the tournament after the summer break.

Present and correct: Beckham has flown over the world to help the bid

Giggs and Bellamy were widely expected to be included but the call-up of Richards is also as much of a surprise as the Manchester City defender being left out of England's Euro 2012 squad - after which he refused to go on standby for the European Championship.
Other under-23 players who are almost certain to be confirmed by Pearce include Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Tottenham's Gareth Bale.
Manchester United had told the FA in May that they did not want any of their over-age players apart from Welsh winger Giggs to be considered for selection.
The club ruled out Pearce picking Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Jonny Evans for the Olympic tournament.
It means United players Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling, who both missed Euro 2012 through injury, may be part of the Olympic squad

Sourced: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2165930/David-Beckham-London-2012-Olympics-Team-GB-squad.html

Beckham torch attracts auction bids

The site is expected to sell off collectors' items include a baton from the men's 4x100 metres relay and tennis balls from the Olympic tournament once the Games get under way on July 27.

Mindful of criticisms that the Games have become too commercial, organisers said the funds raised would help to offset the cost of the torch relay and of staging the Games themselves.

They denied that the website was set up in response to some participants selling their torches on the eBay auction website.

The site features the torch carried by former England football captain Beckham when the Olympic flame arrived in Britain from Greece on May 18. As an added personal touch, it has Beckham's autograph on it.

Organisers said the torches cost 500 pounds to manufacture and torchbearers involved in the relay around the British isles could buy them for a subsidised price of £199 as a memento.

The ones up for sale on the web site are those not wanted by the participants or donated by celebrities like Beckham.

Sourced:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/beckham-torch-attracts-auction-bids-153140901.html

IOC to investigate 'black market' Olympic tickets

The aquatics centre at the Olympic Park. It is alleged that Olympic officials have been selling tickets to the Games on the black market. Photograph: Rex Features

The International Olympic Committee has launched an inquiry into allegations that Olympic officials and agents have been caught selling tickets for the London 2012 Games on the black market.
The IOC has held an emergency meeting of its ruling executive following an undercover newspaper investigation. It has referred the allegations to its independent ethics commission, which could lead to a review of how Olympic tickets are distributed among member countries in the future.
Sunday Times reporters posing as envoys of a Middle Eastern ticket tout claim to have found 27 officials and agents representing 54 countries who were willing to breach the rules on selling tickets. One, from Serbia, offered 1,500 tickets for £80,000, while China's official ticket agency agreed to sell the best seats in the stadiums for up to £6,000 each, according to the newspaper. It also alleges that Spyros Capralos, the president of Greece's Olympic committee, breached regulations.
The IOC said it has moved "quickly" to deal with the allegations. "After claims that several NOCs [National Olympic Committees] and ATRs [authorised ticket resellers] were reportedly willing to break the rules by offering to buy or sell tickets outside their territory, sell tickets at inflated prices, or sell tickets to unauthorised resellers, the IOC has ordered an immediate inquiry and referred the allegations to its independent ethics commission," it said.
"The IOC takes these allegations very seriously and has immediately taken the first steps to investigate. Should any irregularities be proven, the organisation will deal with those involved in an appropriate manner. The NOCs are autonomous organisations, but if any of the cases are confirmed the IOC will not hesitate to impose the strongest sanctions."
The IOC said it will take on board any recommendations from the inquiry to improve the way tickets are allocated and sold internationally.

Sourced: www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jun/17/black-market-olymipc-tickets-allegations?newsfeed=true