2012 Olympics thread

[Panda]

I'm going to try and write a preview over the coming weeks, looking at the different sports, the medal contenders and GB's chances.

But to start off, I'm going to look at BBC's coverage of the event.

The BBC are going all-out in their Olympic coverage with round-the-clock coverage across multiple channels. For the duration of the Games, BBC One will effectively become a dedicated Olympics channel from 6am to 1am each day, stopping only for the regular news bulletins at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm.

BBC Three is having its hours extended during the games, allowing it to start broadcasting from 9am.

There will be 24 live streams, covering every sport, available on the BBC web site and on the red button for cable and satellite viewers.

BBC Parliament will be shut down during the games, allowing a second red button stream to be broadcast on Freeview, meaning Freeview viewers will have four channels of action to choose from.

The opening ceremony will have commentary from Huw Edwards, Hazel Irvine, and bizarrely, Trevor Nelson.

Presentation teams for different timeslots:

BBC One:
0600-0900: comination of Hazel Irvine, Bill Turnbull, Sian Williams, Chris Hollins
0900-1130: Mishal Husain, with venue presentation from Claire Balding, Matt Baker, Jake Humphrey, John Inverdale and Jonathan Edwards
1130-1345: Matt Baker, Claire Balding or Hazel Irvine
1345:1600: Claire Balding, Jake Humphrey or Hazel Irvine
1600-1900: Sue Barker
1900-2235: Gary Lineker
2240-0000: Gabby Logan
0000-0100: Dan Walker

BBC Three:
0900-1900: Manish Basin, Rishi Persad or Sonali Shah
1900-2300: Jake Humphrey


Commentary and presentation teams for individual sports:
Archery: Eddie Butler, Liz Mynott
Athletics: Steve Cram, Paul Dickenson, Jonathan Edwards, Brendan Foster, Colin Jackson, Michael Johnson, Phil Jones, Denise Lewis, Steve Trew
Badminton: David Mercer, Gail Emms
Basketball: Mike Carlson, John Amaechi
Beach volleyball: Matt Chilton, Ed Leigh
Boxing: Ron McIntosh, Jim Neilly, Lucy O'Connor, Richie Woodhall
Canoeing: Andrew Cotter, Paul Dickenson, Helen Reeves
Cycling: Hugh Porter, Chris Boardman, Jill Douglas, Ed Leigh, Jamie Staff
Diving: Bob Ballard, Leon Taylor
Equestrian: Michael Tucker, Andy Austin, Judy Harvey, Ian Stark
Fencing: Graham Bell, Karim Bashir
Football: Steve Bower, Mark Bright, Garth Crooks, Martin Fisher, Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Alistair Mann, Guy Mowbray, Jacqui Oatley, Jonathan Pearce, Jo Potter, John Roder, Robbie Savage, Sue Smith, Lucy Ward, Faye White, Steve Wilson
Gymnastics: Matt Baker, Mitch Fenner, Christine Still
Handball: Paul Bray
Hockey: Barry Davies, Mel Clewlow, Sean Kerly
Judo: Nick Mullins, Nicola Fairbrother
Modern pentathlon: Eleanor Oldroyd, Steph Cook
Rowing: Garry Herbert, Steve Redgrave, Dan Topolski
Sailing: Leigh McMillan, Shirley Robertson, Richard Simmons, Rob Walker
Shooting: David Oates
Swimming: Andy Jamieson, Adrian Moorhouse, Sharron Davies, Mark Foster
Synchonised swimming: Eleanor Oldroyd, Andrea Holland
Table tennis: Matthew Syed, Ian Marshall
Taekwondo: Nick Mullins, John Cullen
Tennis: Chris Bradnum, Andrew Castle, Andrew Cotter, Tracey Austin, Tim Henman, John Lloyd, Sam Smith, Virginia Wade
Triathlon: Matt Chilton, Steve Trew
Volleyball: Jonathan Legard
Water polo: Nigel Adderley, Lisa Knights
Weightlifting: Colin Bryce, Non Evans, Jim Neilly
Wrestling: Colin Bryce, Non Evans


Reporters:
Tina Daheley, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Leon Mann, Jason Mohammad, Ore Oduba, Matthew Pinsent, Garry Richardson, Helen Skelton, Michael Vaughan, Reggie Yates


Yes, Reggie Yates.


Radio 5 Live is also offering all-day coverage with most of the regular presenters anchoring things (with the notable exception of Richard Bacon).

[Elmer]

I'll of course assist with results and reviews etc. The Olympics is an obsession of mine.

[o]

Nice one.
So BBC2 will effectively become BBC1 for the duration, and bbc2 progs will be held back until after the olympics finish?
I hope there will be a good highlights show each night, because I sometimes prefer that while people are qualifying.

[Shireblogger]

That's a lot of medals amongst the BBC team.

Also possible to tell which sports aren't going to get much of a look in, from the fact that they've only got 1 person covering them. There will be lots of handball and volleyball matches, and yet both only gets one commentator.

I'll be interested to see if Graham Bell knows anything about fencing.

[Elmer]

Usually during the Olympics if you watch BBC you'll get the minority stuff that involves the Brits then the full sessions of the swimming and athletics.

If you watch Eurosport you're more likely get full handball and volleyball games etc.

[Panda]

GB Athletics squad has been announced today.

MEN
100m: Adam Gemili, Dwain Chambers, James Dasaolu
200m: Christian Malcolm, James Ellington
400m: Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams, Nigel Levine
800m: Andrew Osagie, Michael Rimmer
1500m: Ross Murray, Andy Baddeley
5000m: Nick McCormack, Mo Farah
10000m: Mo Farah, Chris Thompson
110mH: Lawrence Clarke, Andrew Pozzi, Andy Turner
400mH: Dai Greene, Jack Green, Rhys Williams
3000mSC: Stuart Stokes
High Jump: Robbie Grabarz
Pole Vault: Steve Lewis
Long Jump: Greg Rutherford, Chris Tomlinson
Triple Jump: Philips Idowu
Javelin: Mervyn Luckwell
Discus: Lawrence Okoye, Brett Morse, Abdul Buhari
Shot Put: Carl Myerscough
Hammer: Alex Smith
Decathlon: Daniel Awde
50k Walk: Dominic King
Marathon: Scott Overall, Dave Webb, Lee Merrien
4x100m Relay: Adam Gemili, Dwain Chambers, James Dasaolu, Christian Malcolm, James Ellington, Danny Talbot, Simeon Williamson, Mark Lewis-Francis
4x400m Relay: Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams, Nigel Levine, Richard Buck, Luke Lennon-Ford, Rob Tobin


WOMEN
100m: Abi Oyepitan, Anyika Onuora
200m: Abi Oyepitan, Anyika Onuora, Margaret Adeoye
400m: Christine Ohuruogu, Shana Cox, Lee McConnell
800m: Lynsey Sharp
1500m: Laura Weightman, Lisa Dobriskey, Hannah England
5000m: Jo Pavey, Julia Bleasdale, Barbara Parker
10000m: Jo Pavey, Julia Bleasdale
100mH: Tiffany Porter, Jessica Ennis
400mH: Perri Shakes-Drayton, Eilidh Child
3000mH: Barbara Parker, Eilish McColgan
Pole Vault: Holly Bleasdale, Kate Dennison
Long Jump: Shara Proctor
Triple Jump: Yamile Aldama
Hammer: Sophie Hitchon
Javelin: Goldie Sayers
Heptathlon: Jessica Ennis, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Louise Hazel
20k Walk: Johanna Jackson
Marathon: Paula Radcliffe, Mara Yamauchi, Claire Hallissey
4x400m Relay: Christine Ohuruogu, Shana Cox, Lee McConnell, Marilyn Okoro, Nicola Sanders, Emily Diamond


The biggest surprise in the squad is arguably in the inclusion of Lynsey Sharp for the 800m. Five women had achieved the A qualifying standard but Sharp wasn't one of them. However, she won the British trials, then took silver at the European Championships last week. But because she only has a B standard, it means she is the only athlete who can be selected, meaning no place for Jenny Meadows, Jemma Simpson Emma Jackson or Marilyn Okoro, though Okoro is selected for the 4x400m relay.

[Elmer]

It's a shame Roald Bradstock didn't have an A standard in the Javelin. Would've been great to see him on the team at the age of 50.

[Panda]

I know! He was great at the Olympic trials and he's amazing for his age, but the reality is, he's well short of the required standard in an event where GB is really struggling at the moment.

They could've sent him to Helsinki, though...

[Panda]

Another little surprise is that Perri Shakes-Drayton hasn't been named for the relay. Don't know if she can be added nearer the time, but after Ohuruogu, she would've been the next name on the list for me.

[Elmer]

Back to the 800m I'm really glad they've gone for the trials winner. It's an example to the like of Okoro that you can't just expect selection on a plate and especially after her woeful mockery she made of the trials final.

[Panda]

Yes, I totally agree with the decision. It's a shame we couldn't have three representatives but Sharp produced the goods when it mattered.

Unlucky for Jenny Meadows, as illness and injury ended her hopes, but everyone else had the chance to show they should be in the team and blew it, especially Okoro, as you said.

Meadows initially indicated she was going to appeal but then changed her mind, realising if she were included, Sharp would miss out.

And while it will be tough, there's no reason why Sharp can't go and perform well at the Olympics. The big championship races often come down to tactics, rather than times so running 2 minutes flat might be enough to make the final and from there anything can happen.

[Panda]

Meanwhile, the IAAF has announced the teams that have qualified for the relays in London:

Men's 4x100m:
Jamaica
USA
France
Great Britain
Trinidad & Tobago
Brazil
Germany
Poland
St. Kitts & Nevis
Hong Kong
Canada
Italy
Japan
China
Australia
Netherlands

Men's 4x400m:
USA
South Africa
Jamaica
Cuba
Russia
Belgium
Great Britain
Bahamas
Germany
Trinidad & Tobago
Kenya
Venezuela
Australia
Dominican Republic
Japan
Poland

Women's 4x100m:
USA
Jamaica
Ukraine
France
Germany
Nigeria
Netherlands
Russia
Brazil
Poland
Trinidad & Tobago
Colombia
Japan
Switzerland
Bahamas
Belarus

Women's 4x400m:
USA
Russia
Jamaica
Great Britain
Ukraine
Belarus
Czech Republic
France
Nigeria
Cuba
Germany
Italy
Ireland
Brazil
Poland
Turkey

[Panda]

The BBC premiered its Olympics trailer/title sequence during the Euro 2012 final on Sunday night and the full two-and-a-half minute version was shown on Tuesday evening.

The music is 'First Steps' by Elbow and will be available to download from July 27, the day of the Opening Ceremony, with all profits going to Sport Relief and Children In Need.

[suedehead]

Is it just me or does the beginning sound like Fanfare For The Common Man?

[Panda]

SWIMMING

Locations:
Olympic Aquatics Centre
The Serpentine in Hyde Park (open water events)



Number of events: 34

GB medal record: gold-silver-bronze (gold medal winners)
1896: 0-0-0
1900: 2-0-1 (John Arthur Jarvis x2)
1904: 0-0-0
1908: 4-2-1 (Henry Taylor x2, Frederick Holman, Men's 4x200m freestyle relay)
1912: 1-2-3 (Women's 4x100m freestyle relay)
1920: 0-1-1
1924: 1-2-1 (Lucy Morton)
1928: 0-2-2
1932: 0-0-2
1936: 0-0-0
1948: 0-0-1
1952: 0-0-1
1956: 1-0-1 (Judith Grinham)
1960: 1-1-1 (Anita Lonsbrough)
1964: 0-1-0
1968: 0-1-0
1972: 0-1-0
1976: 1-1-1 (David Wilkie)
1980: 1-3-1 (Duncan Goodhew)
1984: 0-1-4
1988: 1-1-1 (Adrian Moorhouse)
1992: 0-0-1
1996: 0-1-1
2000: 0-0-0
2004: 0-0-2
2008: 2-2-2 (Rebecca Adlington)
TOTAL: 15-22-28

Swimming tends to dominate the first week's coverage of the Games until the athletics start but it hasn't been an area of huge
success for GB in recent times.

Rebecca Adlington's golden double in Beijing four years ago ended a 20-year wait for a British swimming gold - the previous success being Adrian Moorhouse's victory in the 100m breaststroke in Seoul in 1988.

Several restructures of coaching and training finally seem to be bearing fruit for GB and there are hopes the team can add to the gold medal tally in London.

Adlington is doubling up again as she attempts to defend both titles. After a year following Beijing, she looked back to her best
last year, winning gold in the 800m freestyle at the World Championships in Shanghai.

But there is plenty of room for improvement for GB. Jo Jackson was GB's only other medallist in the pool in Beijing, finishing 3rd behind Adlington in the 400m freestyle, but the signs of improvement are there. At last year's World Championships, GB picked up five medals in the pool, though Adlington's gold was the only one that came in an Olympic event. Liam Tancock will be hoping to transfer his form in the 50m backstroke to the 100m event, while Ellen Gandy and Hannah Miley will be hoping to repeat their medal-winning performances from Shanghai in the 200m butterfly and the 400m individual medley, respectively.

On a global level, attention will very much be on Michael Phelps. Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. There'll be no repeat in London as this time he's "only" going for seven golds and he faces stiff competition from his US team-mate Ryan Lochte, whom he goes up against in two events.

Australia's days as a dominant force in swimming seem to be coming to an end, with only two gold medals in Shanghai last year. China finished second in the medal table behind the US at the Worlds, though it remains to be seen how much home advantage played a part in their five gold medals.

One area of success for GB recently has been in open-water swimming. Keri-Anne Payne, Cassie Patton and David Davies all won medals in Beijing and Payne became the first Briton to qualify for London in any sport when she won the world title last year. Injury has forced Patton into early retirement and Davies is back in the pool for this Games, so Daniel Fogg is GB's representative in the men's race.

GB MEDAL CONTENDERS
Rebecca Adlington
Keri-Anne Payne
Liam Tancock
Ellen Gandy
Hannah Miley
Fran Halsall
Gemma Spofforth

OTHERS TO WATCH
Michael Phelps (USA)
Ryan Lochte (USA)
Federica Pellegrini (Italy)
Cesar Cielo (Brazil)


GB SQUAD

MEN
50m freestyle: Adam Brown
200m freestyle: Ieuan Lloyd, Robbie Renwick
400m freestyle: David Carry, Robbie Renwick
1500m freestyle: David Davies, Daniel Fogg
100m backstroke: Liam Tancock, Chris Walker-Hebborn
200m backstroke: Marco Loughran, Chris Walker-Hebborn
100m breaststroke: Craig Benson, Michael Jamieson
200m breaststroke: Michael Jamieson, Andrew Willis
100m butterfly: Antony James, Michael Rock
200m butterfly: Roberto Pavoni, Joe Roebuck
200m individual medley: James Goddard, Joe Roebuck
400m individual medley: Roberto Pavoni, Joe Roebuck
4x100m freestyle relay: Adam Brown, Simon Burnett, James Disney-May, Craig Gibbons, Grant Turner
4x200m freestyle relay: Robert Bale, David Carry, Ross Davenport, Ieuan Lloyd
10k open water: Daniel Fogg

WOMEN
50m freestyle: Fran Halsall, Amy Smith
100m freestyle: Fran Halsall, Amy Smith
200m freestyle: Caitlin McClatchey, Rebecca Turner
400m freestyle: Rebecca Adlington, Jo Jackson
800m freestyle: Rebecca Adlington, Eleanor Faulkner
100m backstroke: Georgia Davies, Gemma Spofforth
200m backstroke: Steph Proud, Lizzie Simmonds
100m breaststroke: Kate Haywood, Siobhan-Marie O'Connor
200m breaststroke: Stacey Tadd
100m butterfly: Ellen Gandy, Fran Halsall
200m butterfly: Ellen Gandy, Jemma Lowe
200m individual medley: Sophie Allen, Hannah Miley
400m individual medley: Hannah Miley, Aimee Wilmott
4x100m freestyle relay: Jessica Lloyd, Caitlin McClatchey, Rebecca Turner
4x200m freestyle relay: Rebecca Adlington, Eleanor Faulkner, Jo Jackson, Caitlin McClatchey
10k open water: Keri-Anne Payne

[Elmer]

Phelps dropped out of the 200m freestyle as he knows Lochte will smoke him in that. He's hot favourite for the two butterfly events but Lochte will beat him in the medley events. USA are so far ahead in the 4 x 200 free and 4 x 100 medley that Phelps will get at least 4 golds. He will get at least 2 silvers in the medleys as no one else is within a body length of Lochte and Phelps in either event. The 4 x 100 free is always a close event with USA, Australia, Brazil and South Africa always tearing it up.

I would add Rebecca Soni (USA) in the breaststroke events. She's streets ahead of anyone else !

[Panda]

ARCHERY

Location: Lord's Cricket Ground



Number of events: 4

GB medal record:
1900: 0-0-0
1904: 0-0-0
1908: 2-2-1
1920: 0-0-0
1972: 0-0-0
1976: 0-0-0
1980: 0-0-0
1984: 0-0-0
1988: 0-0-1
1992: 0-0-2
1996: 0-0-0
2000: 0-0-0
2004: 0-0-1
2008: 0-0-0

Archery medals have been hard to come by for GB since it was re-introduced to the Olympics in 1972. GB has won just four bronze medals since then and adding to that in London will prove difficult.

Larry Godfrey is probably GB's best hope of an individual medal. He goes to the Games in good form after finishing as runner-up in last month's World Cup event in the USA and is ranked 9th in the world. He's joined in the team by Alan Wills and Simon Terry, who won two bronze medals in Barcelona in 1992.

In the women's team, Alison Williamson will be taking part in her sixth Olympics. She won individual bronze in Athens in 2004 but is the lowest-ranked of the British trio in London, behind Naomi Folkard and Amy Oliver. Williamson and Folkard were part of the team that narrowly missed out on bronze in Beijing.

The team events may represent GB's best chance of success, with the men taking bronze in the US last month. The women, representing England, took silver behind India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

South Korea is the top nation in the archery world, having taken gold in both team events and silver in the individual competitions in Beijing. Their team features Im Dong-Hyun, who has several world and Olympic gold medals in his collection, despite being severely short-sighted.


GB MEDAL CONTENDERS
Larry Godfrey
Naomi Folkard
team events

OTHERS TO WATCH
Im Dong-Hyun (South Korea)
Brady Ellison (USA)
Deepika Kumari (India)
Ki Bo-Bae (South Korea)


GB SQUAD

MEN
Larry Godfrey
Simon Terry
Alan Wills

WOMEN
Naomi Folkard
Amy Oliver
Alison Williamson

[Razzle Dazzle]

we were awsome in 1908

[Paddy]

Jul 5, 2012 21:50:51 GMT 1 Razzle Dazzle said:

we were awsome in 1908

Well it was held in London and we probably had half the competitors overall.

[Panda]

Gareth Warbuton has won his appeal against his non-selection and will run in the 800m in London.

All other appeals have been rejected.