Archive for the ‘Olympics’ Category

August 16th, 2012 Olympics Comments

Which lesser known sports at the Olympics will benefit from worldwide exposure?

Which lesser known sports at the Olympics will benefit from worldwide exposure?

Which lesser known sports at the Olympics will benefit from worldwide exposure?

By Sam Harvey: The London 2012 Olympics was an amazing spectacle of sport with many iconic moments and high profile sports stars grabbing the headlines. This festival of sporting endeavour is also an opportunity for some of the lesser know sports to steal some of the limelight, so which sports have gained some new fans as a result?

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Handball

It is probably unfair to refer to handball as a lesser know sport as it is globally already really popular, with the exception of the USA who so far have not embraced the game to any extent.

Handball is a fast moving exciting team game where speed, skill and also stamina are required in abundance.

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August 14th, 2012 Olympics Comments

Curtain Comes Down on 2012 Olympic Games

Curtain Comes Down on 2012 Olympic Games

By Rod Crowley: It was a hugely energetic, power driven musical extravaganza that finally brought the curtain down on more than a fortnight’s spectacular action at the 2012 London Olympics. Those 80,000 present and those 300 million watching around the world could not help but agree to the two words coined by Prime Minister David Cameron that “Britain Delivered” as for many, these Olympic Games were the best that had ever been.

For those adopting a more international perspective on the ‘Games’ would probably agree that the highlight was the formidable sight of Usain Bolt repeating the feat he achieved in Beijing by winning the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay Gold Medals, the latter in a world record time.

Those more domestically inclined will never forget the efforts of those members of Team GB, who won a total of 65 medals, including 29 gold! The highlight of which had to be sheer brilliance and courage of Mo Farah, winning Gold for Team GB in the 10,000m and 5,000m on successive Saturday nights.

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August 6th, 2012 Athletics, Olympics Comments

Algerian athlete will compete despite being thrown out for ‘not trying’

Algerian athlete will compete despite being thrown out for ‘not trying’

Algerian athlete will compete despite being thrown out for ‘not trying’

By Ed Syers: , an Algerian runner, has been allowed to compete in the men’s 1500m final on Tuesday despite being disqualified from all future events at the London games after failing to complete his 800m heat.

Makhloufi had lined up for the 800m qualifier on Monday morning having made the final of the 1500m in record time the night before, and commentators questioned whether the Algerian would have one eye already on Tuesday’s final. This appeared to be the case, as Makhloufi got off to a slow start in London. After just 200m of the heat had been completed, he stopped racing completely.

The athlete had originally intended not to race at all in the 800m heat following his success in the 1500m, but Algeria did not withdraw Makhloufi before the deadline on Sunday night, forcing him to race. Indeed, many were surprised to see the 24-year-old had opted to participate the day before the 1500m final.

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August 3rd, 2012 Olympics Comments

Australian athletes gear up for London 2012 after an exciting opening ceremony

Australian athletes gear up for London 2012 after an exciting opening ceremony

Australian athletes gear up for London 2012 after an exciting opening ceremony

By Curt Smith: After the excitement of the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, our Australian Olympians are now gearing up in preparation for their individual events in the upcoming weeks. According to spectators, the 2012 “Isle of Wonder” Olympic Opening ceremony went off without a hitch, allowing each country to proudly show off its team. The London stadium was filled to capacity, with over 80,000 turning out in support of their nation’s athletes.

The ceremony was broadcast live in Australia on Channel 9 early last Saturday morning. Millions of people across the nation tuned in to watch Australia’s athletes enter the stadium in a proud display of Australian patriotism. In true Olympic tradition, the athlete’s parade entered in alphabetical order, with the exception of the hosting nation, Great Britain, who arrived last.

Lead by their flag bearer, champion basketballer and four times Australian Olympian, Lauren Jackson, the Aussie athletes marched into the London stadium to the sound of tumultuous applause from the audience. The team looked smart dressed in plain green blazers and white slacks, a uniform reminiscent of the classic Australian cricketing flannels.

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