Spain will be in London in 2012 after the defeat of South Africa

The Spanish field hockey silver medal in Beijing 2008, will be in the next Olympic Games in London, after South Africa's decision to abandon the place he had secured the reigning African champions to get today off the end of the Champions Challenge to be played in Johannesburg.

Round the South African Olympic Committee had set as the minimum requirement for not giving up rightful place as continental champion, obsessed as it is by not sending any equipment that London has demonstrated its competitiveness in recent months.

A major decision that will benefit the Spanish team, fourth in the world rankings, will not have to go and the pre-Olympic to be held in Japan, and Spain had been relegated after being sixth in the European final.

Gift did not come without some uncertainty, as the South African group came to rest in the semifinals of the Champions Challenge you faced today with India with a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard.

This advantage disappeared in the second half, in which South Africa is completely collapsed, only to fall 4-2 to finally an Asian team, measured in the final tomorrow with Belgium, who won by 3-2 to Argentina in the shootout.

A result that will allow Spain, and to achieve the Olympic ticket, to alleviate the sadness after the loss (3-2) suffered today against Australia in the first round of the Champions Trophy to be played in New Zealand

Madrid 2020 launches a competition to choose your logo

Madrid 2020 has launched a contest to choose the logo for the Olympic bid that calls for all schools in Spain during the 2011/2012 year teaching in a graphic design specialist, said the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE).

Each team won the competition, with a maximum of two people, get a scholarship to cover tuition fees for studies at the center or school you choose, with a maximum of 6,000 euros for tuition fees .

2020 Madrid admit enrollment in any course, even if not directly related to art education, provided to help complete the knowledge and training of students for their professional future.

The slower transport for the Olympics

The London transport authority, Transport for London (TFL), has warned that during the Olympic Games to be held next summer in the British capital will cause the collapse of passenger delays of up to half an hour at some stations.

According to estimates by the delegate of the carrier, Peter Hendy, during the busiest days of the Olympics audience then three million additional displacements, which will join the 12 million who regularly records the London Underground network.

About two thirds of the metro stations and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will not be affected by the crowds, as Hendy, while the busiest passenger will have to wait thirty minutes before being allowed access to a train.

Some points are more affected stations Canary Wharf, the financial heart of the city, where passengers can change to the DLR line leading to the Olympic site, as well as Bank, the Central Line, that communicates directly with the Olympic Park in Stratford.

Also suffer severe setbacks Bond Street station in the center of the city, crossing the two lines of London's busiest Central and Jubilee Line, and London Bridge.

"Much of London function quite normally, but some areas such as downtown and the surrounding Olympic areas, roads and public transport networks will be clearly affected," Hendy said.

The train and metro services will be strengthened during the summer months and will recommend drivers to avoid driving through the most congested in the British capital to try to mitigate the effects of congestion, according to the company TFL.

"We want to be honest and not make up things. We are not saying that if you work at London Bridge should not move, just useful to get off at another station, such as Monument, cross the bridge on foot and walk five minutes."

Olympic shooter dies Jaime Gonzalez Chas Coruña

The Olympic shooter Jaime Gonzalez Chas (A Coruña, August 11, 1933) died Monday at age 78.

Chas Gonzalez participated in four consecutive Olympics (Mexico City, Munich, Montreal and Moscow) between 1968 and 1980, precisely in the form of 25 meters with a gun.

An Olympic diploma in Munich, where he finished fifth in the competition was the biggest hit of Coruña, who were crowned champions of Spain on 59 occasions.

Subsequently he handles the training and attended two Olympic Games (Barcelona 92 ​​and Atlanta 96) as national team coach shooting.

Chas Gonzalez also contributed to the sport with the book 'The preparation of the shooter, "a comprehensive study of handgun shooting, which includes training systems and the physical and psychological preparation of athletes.

Married Mary "plays Europe in 2020"

The only Spanish member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Marisol Casado, has shown this Tuesday "quite optimistic" about the options of Madrid's bid to host the 2020 Olympics because, according to her, in the later edition to Rio Janeiro "touches Europe."

Therefore, the president of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) insists that now is the time to "work public relations" and find the formula to "convince the 112 IOC members" entitled to vote in the September 2013 meeting in Buenos Aires.

This work considers it necessary to make it "directly", using the change better than the Spanish representation has experienced over the previous application, where Spain "was only" a member of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, son of former the Olympic governing body.

"Now that we are three (counting also the president of the International Canoe Federation, José Perurena), more Doña Pilar de Borbón (Honorary Member), we are talking to the 'family'. This has to exploit it very well because is the same as you try to convince a person who is a communications professional, someone that is your 'family', "said Casado told Europa Press after delivering the inaugural lecture of the course-XLIV Session of the Spanish Olympic Academy in Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM).

With regard to the details of the bid, admitted that the technical issue is "well advanced" and insisted that, during the economic crisis would be feasible to "prove you can do things with less money than is currently being used to sometimes excessive "advantage that the IOC is" open "to this and not see" evil "becomes" a cut or a more sustainable use of spending. "

Rome's main rival
Closing the chapter of the 2020 Madrid candidacy, Marisol Casado said that "there is never small enemy" and that "makes it difficult to decide which is the rival city of all."

"In principle we could say that Rome is the rival, because it is in the same geographical space. And I think that after Rio, will play Europe again because his election was a strong jump. Obviously Rio de Janeiro was fit to organize, but there are certain risks that have had to run, "he said in relation to the focus on the" universality "as a decisive factor when choosing the final in Copenhagen.

Montreal's girlfriend turns 50

For all those who had the opportunity to meet through the television, even for those who knew her age after years, Nadia Comaneci has always been associated with an iconic image: that of a teenager clad in a white jersey combed bangs and a ponytail with an electronic scoreboard that reflected the score, beyond the grasp of 10.00.

It was that moment, and that happened in later days during the Montreal Olympics in 1976, that changed the course of a sport, women's artistic gymnastics. A milestone comparable in importance to break Bob Beamon in Mexico 1968 or the seven gold medals in swimming Mark Spitz in Munich 1972. A before and after the July 19, 1976.

That girl with long legs and grimly christened at that time as the bride of Montreal, yesterday met 50 years. And despite the time elapsed, an eventful life, his name remains the most celebrated athlete of the twentieth century and admired.

You can find numerous honors athletes with a larger and brighter than the Romanian, even in their own sport, but none has left a mark so deep as Comaneci. Before his international appearance in 1975, when he proclaimed European champion at age 13, women's gymnastics was renowned figures, yes, as the Czech Vera Caslavska or Turistcheva and Ludmila Soviet Olga Korbut, but in mannerisms and corseted without a trace of emotion.

Comaneci was formed from the eight-year marriage of coaches Bela and Martha Karoly, who breathed soul into this sport. His perfection, his charisma, the fact that a girl from a small country like Romania late challenge and overcome the powerful representatives of the Soviet empire, praised his gym and his popularity to heights unknown.
However, she does not consider the first Modern Gymnast: "No. I think that role would correspond to Olga Korbut in Munich 72. With her ​​popularity began to grow in the gym. Then, what happened in Montreal had a greater impact and therefore reminds me more of me than it ", claimed this week MARK, during a forum held in London for Laurus Sports Foundation, which is an ambassador Comaneci.

Revolutionary
"dazzled for three reasons," says the Spanish women's team, Jesus Carballo, who in those games went to the men's team. "For his personality, he was proud, introverted, almost to dislike, and due to their ability to concentrate. I had a great talent and was behind a huge workload, made ​​in Karoly."

Comaneci revolutionized devices such as balance beam, where it exhibited an absolute security, and the uneven bars, which introduced the loose, bequeathing some code with your name. In these two specialties garnered seven tens in Montreal, the first to be given in an official competition, but the markers of Swiss Timing could not compute the first day and showed a score of 1.00.

In these Games Nadia won the individual title, two more golds in bar and asymmetric, the team silver and bronze in the floor. Comaneci The phenomenon had not occurred with the current rules of the gym. It would have been forbidden to compete with 14 years and perfection would not have been rewarded with a 10, eliminated three years ago.

She acknowledges that nothing had been beaten. "No. Not really. When I got my thumbs up, people knew what it meant then a 10. Now everything is much more open, but also unfair and does not know exactly which corresponds to 14 or 15," says Nadia . "And I think the right age to compete should be from 15. That can compete in two Olympics. A girl aged 15 who was born in January Olympian, however good, will have to wait until 19 to participate in the Games and then it is too late, "he adds.

Comaneci was the first and only gymnast in three European titles straight chain (95, 77 and 79), but never won the World Cup. In 1978 I was in a crisis of growth and in 1979 he retired with a septicemia. In the Moscow Games and played in the attacking Soviet rivals had already cloned your workout. He had to settle for a single gold in balance beam and silver in the open competition and team. He retired in 1981, about to turn 21. Now fold the fifties, wearing a physicist who does not detract from that of his youth, but it's still remembered and admired as the bride of Montreal.

Dissolve the Olympic Consortium 2022 Zaragoza-Pyrenees

The Governing Council of Zaragoza-Pyrenees Olympic Consortium 2022 resolved to dissolve following the resignation of the capital of Aragon to lead the project and a half years after its establishment.

The City Council of Zaragoza based its decision on the lack of sufficient political support to take forward the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, as the waiver of the organization of this event was one of the CHA and UI requirements for the support of Juan Alberto Belloch inauguration as mayor.

However, the consistory Aragon believes that it is a project that has a "huge interest" and would wait for better economic times to pull it off, he told the media the city councilman of Culture and Environment, Jerónimo Blasco.

The Minister of the Presidency of the Government of Aragón, Roberto Bermudez de Castro, regretted that paralyze the aspirations of a territory as the Pyrenees, that "living through tourism", with decisions made "by people who have no establishment" in this field.

Therefore, announced that the Government of Aragón will invest in ski resorts, in its modernization, in the valleys of Aragon and Benasque and union Bielsa stations with those of France to the Pyrenees is a "territory dynamic "and" have more strength. "

The municipal group spokesman PP, Eloy Suarez, stressed that the justification for lack of funds reveals that the mayor has "teased" to the public because "he used it as an electoral platform without intending to carry on."

Meanwhile, IU spokesman, José Manuel Alonso, welcomed the agreement was a project estimate "unsustainable" economic and environmentally and does not respond or the interests or priorities of the city.

The Olympic torch will start its journey on May 19

The Olympic torch will tour the UK landmarks including Loch Ness, when you start your tour of the country on May 19, before lighting the cauldron July 27 London Olympic Stadium at the opening of the Games 2012.

British officials today unveiled the ten-week course will make the torch will be carried by some 8,000 person s arrive from Greece on May 19 at Land's End, on the southwestern tip of England.

1018 will pass places all over the UK and will be taken, as well as on foot, by various methods of transport such as boats, bicycles, tram and train , according to the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London (LOCOG) , to be held between July 27 and August 12, 2012.

After arriving in Land's End, the torch will travel to the county of Devon, southwest English, and then move to the English city of Bristol before entering South Wales. On May 26 will be in the medieval castle of Caerphilly (Wales) and three days later, the torch will be carried by train to Mount Snowdon (Wales), according to details released today.

On May 31, come to Cheshire (northwest English), more specifically to the Jodrell Bank observatory, while the June 2 will cross the Irish Sea by boat to the so-called Giant Causeway, a coastal area of ​​Antrim, Northern Ireland . On June 8 the torch will go to Scotland, where he will tour the Loch Ness and then start your journey south past the monument called the Angel of the North, in Gateshead, northeast England, before coming to Leeds (English center) the June 25.

Among other places of England, the bearers of the Olympic torch will arrive at the ruins of Stonehenge on July 12 and July 20 will already be in the Tower of London, his first stop in the capital that will host the Olympic Games. From there, the Olympic flame will pass for a week in various places in London before culminating in the palace of Hampton Court (south London) where it will be taken to the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the opening ceremony.

According to figures released today, 95 percent of the British population will at some point along the route about 16 miles from the Olympic flame . LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe, said the torch will pass through every corner of the UK and said that everyone "is invited to welcome plan and find out where they can go to participate in this historic occasion."

"Fifty percent of the torchbearers will be aged between 12 and 24. We will concentrate on young people, is a torch of youth" , said Coe. For its part, the British Minister of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, said the arrival of the Olympic flame to the United Kingdom in May 2012 will mark the countdown to the "greatest sporting event."

As is tradition, the torch will be lit in Olympia, Greece, in May 2012 where it will be airlifted to the UK.

The London 2012 medals

The organization of the Olympic Games and the medals have prepared athletes will wear in London. On July 27, 2012 will start the competition to get the medals.

Olympics 2012 - Britain has no money for equipment

The BBC has put on alert in the UK: there is no money to fund and prepare the athletes who must defend the flag of the organizer in the next Games in 2012 . The unique environment makes clear the British public warning from the British Olympic Committee: If there are alternative ways of financing the Games will be remembered not just for the good part of the British team.

The Committee's purpose is to financially support British some 550 athletes and 1400 people related to them and this includes spending on facilities, health care, media training ... Andy Hunt, head of the agency has made ​​it clear that Britain will team but what can not guarantee the results if the situation is as precarious: "There will be British team. The money does not affect this level. The problem comes in the amount and quality of aid we can give this team. We have a responsibility to fulfill the aspirations of the British people. We have to ensure we can compete because our people measure the success of the Games in terms of the success of our team. We need adequately trained athletes because it will be remembered by the facilities or ceremonies. We were reminded by our ability to be in the medals and create those special moments with the games and influencing the next generation of sporting heroes. "

The Committee plans to meet with the Government , which for now does not receive any money. All revenue from sales support and fundraising.a

The 2012 Olympics, bad time to get married or die in London

London. (EP / Reuters) .- The Londoners who live close to Olympic Park next year and want to get married, go to work, dine, drink and even die during the celebration of the Olympic Games are going to be involved in serious difficulties.

Churches, bars, banks, restaurants and thousands of businesses located near the park or on transportation routes that millions of fans and athletes must use to reach the Olympic venues are already making plans pending massive disruptions of service, delivery, schedules availability of labor and money.

Londoners are being warned they could face a shortage of fish and meat and that banks may have complications to supply their ATMs. In addition, many employees have been warned that they will have to fight for a place in an already collapsed public transport system.

Expectant couples to marry next summer in the church of St John, in the Stratford area where the Olympic Park, have few opportunities to do so, since the place is in the middle of the 160 km Olympic Route .

"I tell the couple that we recommend to choose another wedding date," he told Reuters Carol Richards, assistant parish of St John, who also said that in case of death the family must wait for a quiet day in the Olympic calendar for the funeral.

London traders, whose trading rights date from a privilege granted by Edward III in 1327 - are concerned that traffic restrictions to achieve something that happened even in times of war.

"Something that could not be two World Wars-stop Billingsgate, can occur with the Olympics," remarked Don Tylor, President of the association of fish merchants. Meanwhile, Greg Lawrence, president of the association of meat sellers Smithfield, said the worst part is that people can not even get to buy.

"If the streets are so jammed we can not ship nor have customers inside, this means that restaurants and shops do not have supplies of meat," he said. To reduce the pressure, advised merchants that store non-perishable items like water and paper, who shared creasen deliveries or small stores.