2012 London Olympics

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Kidnapped Libya Olympic Chief Released

Ahmed Nabil al-Taher al-Alam was taken by gunmen a week ago in Tripoli

(Newser) - A week after being kidnapped by gunmen in Tripoli , the president of the Libyan Olympic Committee has been freed unharmed and is back home, reports Reuters . "He is fine," says a fellow Olympic official. Ahmed Nabil al-Taher al-Alam reportedly plans to leave for London "in two or...

Runner With No Country Can Compete at Olympics

IOC makes exception for Guor Marial, born in southern Sudan

(Newser) - Root for Team USA, sure, but save a spot for Guor Marial, too. The marathon runner will compete as an independent athlete—a first—and run under the Olympic flag, reports the AP . The IOC made an exception given Marial's circumstances: He was born in southern Sudan but fled...

Teen Grabs Olympic Torch Screaming 'Allahu Akbar'

Torch bearer Anna Skora manages to hang on

(Newser) - Talk about wanting a spot in the Olympic limelight. A teenager ran out on a road in Maidstone, England, today and tried to wrestle away the Olympic torch from its bearer while shouting "Allahu Akbar"—Arabic for "God is Great," reports the Evening Standard . Torch guards...

UK Border Staff Striking on Eve of Olympics

Government slams 'shameful' strike

(Newser) - Olympic organizers fear that a strike called for the day before the Games open will massively snarl the plans of hordes of visitors. Thousands of government workers—including immigration staff at London's Heathrow Airport—plan a 24-hour strike next Thursday, which will be followed by a refusal to do...

Nadal Backs Out of Olympics
 Nadal Backs Out 
 of Olympics 
Jul 19, 2012 12:25 PM CDT

Nadal Backs Out of Olympics

Knee tendonitis will sideline tennis great

(Newser) - Rafael Nadal was supposed to carry Spain's flag at next week's opening ceremonies for the London Olympics. Now, he won't even be there. The 2008 gold medalist today announced that he is sidelining himself because of tendonitis in his knee, Reuters reports. "I am not in...

This Woman Will Be the Most Pregnant Olympian Ever

Malaysian shooter will be 8 months pregnant when she competes

(Newser) - Malaysian shooting champ Nur Suryani Mohamed isn't just the first pregnant woman to compete in a summer Olympics since 1920, she's so far along that she may become the first person to give birth at the Games. The 29-year-old athlete, who discovered that she was pregnant just two...

Caster Semenya Will Carry Olympic Flag

South African runner had to undergo gender test three years ago

(Newser) - At the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, the flag of South Africa will be carried by Caster Semenya, that nation's 21-year-old champion runner. Semenya receives the honor three years after the track and field governing body subjected her to a gender test, igniting a major controversy . Semnya said...

Olympic Security a 'Shambles,' Chief Admits

Firm keeping $90M management fee despite massive failures

(Newser) - The chief of security giant G4S was summoned before British lawmakers for an Olympic-size scolding yesterday. Under questioning, Nick Buckles was forced to acknowledge that his company's arrangements for the London Olympics are a "humiliating shambles," CNN reports. The company admitted just weeks before the Games that...

Buses Carrying Olympians Get Lost in ... London

Bus with US athletes took 4 hours to cover 24 miles

(Newser) - At least three busloads of Olympic athletes arriving in London yesterday received an extended tour of the metropolis courtesy of hopelessly lost bus drivers. "Athletes are sleepy, hungry and need to pee. Could we get to the Olympic Village please," tweeted American 400-meter hurdler Kerron Clement. "We’...

Team USA Uniforms to Be Made in USA —Next Time

Designer Ralph Lauren announces switch for 2014

(Newser) - The long, sartorial nightmare is nearly over. The US Olympic team will wear uniforms made in the US-of-A starting with the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, reports the AP . Ralph Lauren, who designs the team's outfits, announced the change yesterday. It's too late to change them this...

UK Military Drafts Vets to Guard Olympics

Contractor says there's a 50-50 chance bomb would slip past security

(Newser) - The British military has been forced to hold an "emergency draft" to add another 3,500 troops to its Olympic security contingent—most of them soldiers just returning from Afghanistan—after the private security company hired to protect the games came up thousands short of the number of guards...

Runner Speaks Out After Dead-Heat Controversy

Jeneba Tarmoh thinks 100-meter results should have been handled better

(Newser) - Jeneba Tarmoh is heartbroken over the "dead heat" controversy that kept her from a spot on the Olympic 100-meter team , she tells the New York Times . Tarmoh felt cheated after being unofficially declared the third-place winner, then not learning that the result had been changed to a tie with...

Lawmakers Slam Team USA's Made in China Uniforms

Harry Reid wants to burn them all

(Newser) - News that the uniforms Team USA will wear at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics were made in China has united lawmakers from both parties for some made-in-the USA outrage. The athletes "represent the very best and they’re so excellent," Nancy Pelosi said. "And they...

London Olympics Forecast: Wet

Organizers attempting to prepare for lots of rain

(Newser) - Massive downpours, double the average rainfall, record-setting wet weather, flash floods … not exactly the weather London Olympics organizers were hoping for in the weeks leading up to the summer games. We're less than three weeks out now, and forecasts indicate that though the rains probably won't be...

Team USA Uniforms Made ... in China

And they weren't even cheap

(Newser) - The Team USA uniforms for this summer's London Olympics are quite patriotic, with one tiny exception: They were made in China. The red, white, and blue uniforms, designed by Ralph Lauren, will be worn by US athletes at the opening ceremony. ABC News was shocked to discover "Made...

Saudis Add Females in Big Olympics for Women

It's sending 2 female athletes to London Games

(Newser) - London 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the woman. Three big Olympic firsts are set to happen when the Games kick off in a few weeks:
  • Saudi Arabia will indeed send female athletes to the Olympics, announced the IOC today, putting an end to its males-only history.
...

London Olympics Bans Non-McDonald's Fries

Fish and chips the sole exception

(Newser) - Spectators at the London 2012 Olympics who want fries with that are going to have to go to McDonald's. The organizing committee has informed the 800 food retailers at 40 Olympic venues across Britain that the fast food chain's sponsorship deal gives it "sole rights to sell...

'Bladerunner' Pistorius to Race in Olympics

As part of South Africa's 4x400 relay team, and in the 400m race

(Newser) - The London Olympics have yet to begin, but Oscar Pistorius has already entered the record books. The double amputee has been selected as a member of South Africa's 4x400 relay team, making him the first amputee track athlete ever to compete at the Games. And in a big surprise...

Olympic Runner Quits After Confusing Photo Finish

Jeneba Tarmoh had tied Allyson Felix in 100-meter dash

(Newser) - A US Olympic runner who said she felt "in her heart of hearts" that she belonged on the 100-meter team has withdrawn rather than race again, ABC News reports. Jeneba Tarmoh tied fellow American Allyson Felix in a 100-meter dash on June 23, but a day later, with only...

Michael Phelps Kills Chance of 2008 Repeat

Coach announces he's pulling out of 200M free

(Newser) - Remember how thrilling it was when Michael Phelps managed to grab eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympics? Yeah, that won't be happening this time around. Phelps pulled out of the 200 meter freestyle today, though he had qualified for it. His coach broke the news via Twitter , tweeting...

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