GRP Rowing: Year-round Elite Training Opportunities

20.Jul.2012
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is excited to announce the launch of a new program for post-collegiate rowers focused on pursuing their full athletic potential and competing at the highest level of the sport. The Green Racing Project is designed primarily to fill the gap that exists after collegiate rowing, and serve as a bridge from collegiate racing to national and international level competition. Most rowers won’t reach their peak performance levels until after their collegiate careers, yet it is difficult to afford basic living expenses while focusing one’s efforts to training as a full time athlete. This program hopes to provide a long-term training situation that also allows an athlete to develop and use other skills, specifically those related to the mission of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, on a part-time basis.

The Green Racing Project rowers will work with Lead Coach, Dan Roock, who recently coached the Dartmouth lightweight men's 8+ to a silver medal at the 2012 IRA National Championships. Roock has also coached at the National team level, as well as at Cornell, Princeton and other programs. Coach Roock is excited at this opportunity to work with athletes on a more individualized year-round basis than is possible in a collegiate program.

The Green Racing Project was initially launched as an elite nordic ski team in the winter of ’09 with the dual goals of developing international caliber skiers and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Participating athletes work on projects related to the mission of the Outdoor Center which is:

    -to support and promote participation and excellence in lifelong sports with a special focus on rowing, nordic skiing, and running,
    -to use and teach sustainable practices, and
    -to protect and manage the surrounding land, lake and trails.

A small initial class of Green Racing Project athletes have been accepted to date, and the program is currently accepting applications for qualified athletes, with a goal of accepting a few more before the winter. Current team members include Emily Dreissigacker, Phil Henson, Kyle Lafferty and John Graves.

Athletes interested in the possibility of joining Craftsbury’s new year-round residential training and racing program, should consider participating in the upcoming Fall Training and Racing Program which will run from September 1 through the end of Fall racing. This program is designed to give athletes an opportunity to try out Craftsbury—and Craftsbury an opportunity to try out athletes.

To learn more about the Green Racing Project, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, please visit the website or email smallboats@craftsbury.com. Interested athletes can find application materials here and basic FAQs here.
Green Racing Project Website, with FAQs and Application

GRP Rowing: Year-round Elite Training Opportunities

20.Jul.2012
The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is excited to announce the launch of a new program for post-collegiate rowers focused on pursuing their full athletic potential and competing at the highest level of the sport. The Green Racing Project is designed primarily to fill the gap that exists after collegiate rowing, and serve as a bridge from collegiate racing to national and international level competition. Most rowers won’t reach their peak performance levels until after their collegiate careers, yet it is difficult to afford basic living expenses while focusing one’s efforts to training as a full time athlete. This program hopes to provide a long-term training situation that also allows an athlete to develop and use other skills, specifically those related to the mission of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, on a part-time basis.

The Green Racing Project rowers will work with Lead Coach, Dan Roock, who recently coached the Dartmouth lightweight men's 8+ to a silver medal at the 2012 IRA National Championships. Roock has also coached at the National team level, as well as at Cornell, Princeton and other programs. Coach Roock is excited at this opportunity to work with athletes on a more individualized year-round basis than is possible in a collegiate program.

The Green Racing Project was initially launched as an elite nordic ski team in the winter of ’09 with the dual goals of developing international caliber skiers and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Participating athletes work on projects related to the mission of the Outdoor Center which is:

    -to support and promote participation and excellence in lifelong sports with a special focus on rowing, nordic skiing, and running,
    -to use and teach sustainable practices, and
    -to protect and manage the surrounding land, lake and trails.

A small initial class of Green Racing Project athletes have been accepted to date, and the program is currently accepting applications for qualified athletes, with a goal of accepting a few more before the winter. Current team members include Emily Dreissigacker, Phil Henson, Kyle Lafferty and John Graves.

Athletes interested in the possibility of joining Craftsbury’s new year-round residential training and racing program, should consider participating in the upcoming Fall Training and Racing Program which will run from September 1 through the end of Fall racing. This program is designed to give athletes an opportunity to try out Craftsbury—and Craftsbury an opportunity to try out athletes.

To learn more about the Green Racing Project, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, please visit the website or email smallboats@craftsbury.com. Interested athletes can find application materials here and basic FAQs here.
Green Racing Project Website, with FAQs and Application

Reminder - July Local Dinner on the 28th

New month, new Local Dinner! Join us Saturday, July 28 as Craftsbury's Vermont Fresh Network Member Dining Hall treats us to a meal of Country BBQ, beginning at 7:00pm. They'll be serving familystyle this time, with a number of entrees, so you can sample a broad variety of dishes. Several members of the local agricultural community will be joining us this evening as well, so you can learn more about the fresh ingredients used in the evening's meal.
This month's dinner however also will feature live music after the meal! Hang out on the veranda after a lovely meal and enjoy the tunes!
Fruit juices, tea and coffee service are included with the meal. Soft drinks and small selection of beer and wines are available for sale in the office, BYOB is also fine. While we won't be offering a vegetarian option per se, given the diverse nature of the small entrees, most diets can be accommodated in one way or another over the course of the evening. If you have a specific dietary concern, drop the kitchen a line as to the suitability of the evening's menu.
Reservations are required to participate in the evening - only 70 tickets will be sold, so act now! Please contact the office prior to 2:00pm on Saturday, July 28, either by email or call 802-586-7767. Meals will be available for
$18/person for members age 13 and up ($21 for non-members)
$ 9/person for members age 6-12 ($12 for non-members)
Free for kids under 6
Not a member? You can find more about our affordable annual membership here. Memberships start at $25 for students and seniors, up to $100 for a family. As always, Craftsbury and Albany residents' membership is free, but we do ask that you complete this paperwork.

Any questions? Drop a line to the Office via email or call 802-586-7767. The kitchen's enthusiasm for this event is quite contagious - can't wait to see what they've cooked up! Hope you'll join in the fun.

Reserve via phone - 802-586-7767 or email.
Membership info, including for landowners and residents

London 2012: Dates for your diary By Ian Westbrook BBC 2012

The year 2012, one of the most anticipated for some time, has finally arrived - but why is it special?

It is unlikely to have escaped your attention that the Olympic and Paralympic Games take place in London and around the UK this year.
But the two big sporting occasions are not the only spectacles happening on these shores in 2012.
The Games have inspired a whole host of other special events, while there is also a big royal anniversary on the horizon.
So get out your new diaries and make a note of the key dates to remember around the UK this year.
CULTURAL OLYMPIAD

Leona Lewis is one of the big names signed up to perform at the Hackney Weekend in June

What is it? The largest cultural celebration in the history of the Olympics and Paralympics.
When is it? Various dates in 2012.
Why should I be excited about it? There may never again be such a big range of arts and cultural events taking place in such a short space of time across the UK. There are so many events going on under the umbrella of the Olympiad, that there should be something for everyone to watch or take part in.
One of the main highlights will be the World Shakespeare Festival, running from 23 April, consisting of 70 performances around the country, including all 37 of the Bard's plays being performed at London's Globe Theatre - each in a different language.
For art lovers, there is an exhibition of new landscapes by David Hockney at London's Royal Academy of Arts from 21 January to 9 April.
And music fans are well catered for, with BBC Radio 1 presenting its biggest-ever free, ticketed live music event - the Hackney Weekend 2012 on 23-24 June. Leona Lewis, Tinie Tempah, Plan B and Florence and the Machine are already signed up to perform and more of the 100 plus artists will be revealed nearer the time.
The Olympiad concludes with the London Festival 2012, which runs from 21 June to 9 September.
MUSIC NATION

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is one of the BBC orchestras performing for the Music Nation weekend

What is it? A special weekend of live music around the UK.
When is it? The weekend of 3-4 March.
Why should I be excited about it? The project, launched by the BBC and Games organisers Locog, is designed to show off some top UK musical talent with partnerships and performances.
Fifteen groups successfully applied to perform in the project and will put on a wide variety of shows, including the first performances of the Making Music overture.
Other items in the programme include a large chorus of three community choirs and school groups with dancers playing in Chester Town Hall Square, a huge concert with a Cambridge-based chamber orchestra, three choirs and a secondary school, and a multi-site, multi-group day of activity finishing with an indoor music and dance event in Sheffield.
OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

The torch has 8,000 circles on its body - one for each of the torchbearers who will carry it

What is it? The prelude to the Olympic Games involves the Olympic flame visiting 1,019 locations around the UK and Ireland in a 70-day relay.
When is it? The relay runs for 70 consecutive days from 19 May to 27 July.
Why should I be excited about it? The torch will come within 10 miles of 95% of the population and will be carried by 8,000 torchbearers, who will each carry it for about 300 metres.
It will go through every English county and every local authority area in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. A month after the original list of 1,018 venues was issued in early November, the Irish capital Dublin was added on, making it the only location outside the UK to be included.
Some creative journeys have been designed for the torch which will fly by zip wire from the Tyne Bridge, abseil down the Dock Tower in Grimsby, ride in an Isle of Man TT sidecar and travel on three railways, a tram and a canal boat, among other adventures.
The relay will be free to watch as it passes through towns and cities and a more detailed street-by-street route will be published nearer to the start date.
There will also be celebrations each evening to mark the end of the flame's journey for that particular day.
QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Queen Elizabeth II is the second-longest reigning British monarch behind Queen Victoria

What is it? A celebration of the Queen marking 60 years on the throne.
When is it? A bumper four-day weekend from 2-5 June after the late Spring Bank Holiday Monday has been moved back a week and an extra bank holiday has been added on to the end.
Why should I be excited about it? A series of celebrations is planned - the highlight coming on 3 June when the Queen's boat will be at the head of a 1,000-strong fleet making a seven-and-a-half mile journey along the River Thames to Tower Bridge.
The flotilla will include music barges and a floating belfry while Battersea Park will host a day-long festival and roads alongside the river, and the bridges crossing it will be traffic-free.
People are also being invited to take part in the Big Lunch - a project to get as many people as possible across the UK having lunch with their neighbours on the same day.
OLYMPIC GAMES

Rebecca Adlington and Chris Hoy celebrate gold medal success after the Beijing Olympics in 2008

What is it? Simply the biggest sporting event in the world.
When is it? 27 July to 12 August.
Why should I be excited about it? Because for the first time in 64 years, the Games are back in the UK. The world's top athletes will be performing in 32 venues - 22 in London with the rest spread around the country.
It is a once in a lifetime experience for British athletes and sports fans to play a part in a home Games. Organisers hope it will encourage more participation and interest in sport as a result.
Tickets for most events have already sold out but some are still on sale and more will be made available later this year.
For those without tickets, the Games will be shown live on big screens around the country, on television and online.
PARALYMPICS TORCH RELAY

The Paralympic torch relay starts less than a week before the opening ceremony of the Games

What is it? A much smaller event than the Olympic event, the Paralympic relay will visit the four UK capitals as well as Stoke Mandeville, the home of the Paralympic movement.
When is it? The relay takes place from 24-29 August.
Why should I be excited about it? On each day of the Flame Festivals, the torch will travel to local community groups and key locations in and around each city while lantern-making workshops will also be held and themed entertainment programmes staged.
People from all communities can participate in a lantern procession accompanied by specially selected torchbearers.
The first flame will be lit in London, with Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff following, before the four flames come together in Stoke Mandeville. There they will be combined into one flame which will be carried by 580 torchbearers, working in teams of five, to the Olympic Stadium for the start of the Paralympic Games.
PARALYMPIC GAMES

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius will be one of the big stars of this year's Paralympic Games

What is it? The biggest multi-sport event for athletes with a physical disability.
When is it? 29 August to 9 September.
Why should I be excited about it? Because, like the Olympics, it is a chance to see top athletes competing in Britain and it is the first time the Games have been solely held here.
Once again some sports were oversubscribed in the ticket ballot, and remaining tickets went on sale last month.
Around 4,200 athletes will compete in 20 sports in some of the Olympic venues.

London 2012 Olympic Games schedule released

The schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been released.

The first action will be women's football in Cardiff, Glasgow and Coventry on 25 July, two days before the official opening of the Games.
The middle weekend promises to be unmissable, with British trio Jessica Ennis, Christine Ohuruogu and Paula Radcliffe set to be going for gold.
The men's 100m final, with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt likely to be centre stage, takes place on Sunday, 5 August.

Download individual schedules from London 2012 website (PDF Format)

The dates, times, venues and prices for more than 600 sessions of competition across all 26 Olympic sports will be emailed to the 2.2m people who have signed up for information ahead of tickets going on sale on 15 March.
London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe described them as the "greatest tickets on earth for the greatest show on earth".

The things people remember are head to heads and we could potentially have one of the best given that Tyson Gay is going to make this a really tough run for Usain Bolt Sebastian Coe

Double Olympic champion Coe said: "This is a really big moment, a huge moment.
"In my own experience as a competitor this is the point that it suddenly becomes very real.
"I remember this point in the build-up to Los Angeles, and suddenly realising I was going to be running seven races in nine days.
"We are now getting to the business end of the project and we know from the number of people who have signed up for ticket information that there is a real hunger from all parts of the country to be there."
After the women's football group games on Wednesday and the men's on Thursday, the opening ceremony of the Games will take place inside the Olympic stadium at 1930 BST on Friday, 27 July.

Find out which events you can watch for £20

Mark Cavendish could capture Britain's first gold of the Games in the men's cycling road race the following day.
Attention will turn to the Aquatics Centre on Sunday, 29 July, where swimmer Rebecca Adlington hopes to be defending her gold medal in the women's 400m freestyle.
On Monday, 30 July, swimming legends Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe could be going head-to-head in the men's 200m freestyle, while Tom Daley expects to be competing for his first medal of the Games in the 10m synchronised platform diving final.
Rowing, taking place at Eton Dorney, will also feature heavily in the opening week, with Greg Searle's comeback 20 years after his Barcelona 1992 gold set to be one of the Games' most romantic tales.

DAVE GORDON'S BLOG Who are likely to be the stars of the Games? Can our heroes of four years before repeat their successes? Where will the dramatic action take place? Will history be made? We'll shape our plans accordingly

Track cycling, dominated by the British at Beijing in 2008, gets underway at the velodrome on Thursday, 2 August with Sir Chris Hoy hoping to lead the hosts to gold in the men's team sprint.
The Olympic Stadium's track and field events begin on the Friday, with Ennis in line to begin her quest for heptathlon gold and finals in the women's 10,000m and the men's shot put.
Saturday, 4 August is already being dubbed as "Super Saturday" with the climax of the heptathlon competition and the women's 100m final taking prime-time slots. The Olympic rowing and swimming competitions will also reach a conclusion.
The following day features an equally mouth-watering array of sport, with Radcliffe and Ohuruogu hoping to be involved in the women's marathon and 400m final respectively, before a potentially electrifying showdown between Bolt and American Tyson Gay in the men's 100m.
Coe added: "We can already start to picture what might happen. There is a recognition now that the men's 100m is a pretty serious moment and we have planned that to be fairly early on the evening of that Sunday.
"The things people remember are head-to-heads and we could potentially have one of the best given that Tyson Gay is going to make this a really tough run for Usain Bolt."

Phillips Idowu will be looking to go one better than his silver in Beijing

Also on the middle Sunday, British gymnast Louis Smith should be aiming to surpass his Beijing bronze on the pommel horse at the O2 arena, Ben Ainslie could be lining up to add to his three Olympic titles off the coast of Weymouth and the men's single's final will take place at Wimbledon.
Hoy and gymnast Beth Tweddle should be in action on Monday 6 August with Alistair Brownlee expected to be vying for a home gold medal in the men's Hyde Park triathlon the following day.
Canoeist-cum-doctor Tim Brabants, a gold medallist in Beijing, hopes to defend his kayak single 1000m title at Eton Dorney on Wednesday 8 August.
On Thursday, 9 August, Phillips Idowu could be adding an Olympic title to his world and European crowns in the triple jump final, while the women's football final takes place at Wembley.
The men's football final is on the concluding Saturday of the Games when the athletics programme reaches a finale and Daley competes in the individual 10m platform dive.
British boxers Tom Stalker and Bradley Saunders will hope to still be involved when the medals are decided on the final day of the Olympics on Sunday, 12 August.

Rice shoulders Aussie hopes on day one 27 July 2012

• 
• Stephanie Rice of Australia celebrates after competing in the womens 400 metre i... © Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

The most talked about shoulder in world swimming - and Stephanie Rice's mettle - will be put to the ultimate test as Australia look to create early momentum in the pool at the London Olympics.
Rice's campaign to retain her 400m individual medley title headlines the opening day of competition on Saturday, and lingering questions over her ability to overcome a nightmare preparation will finally be answered.
With a troublesome right shoulder causing problems for the bulk of her preparation, Rice is banking on her ability to rise to the occasion on swimming's biggest stage.
And despite needing sharp improvement to catch American race favourite Elizabeth Beisel and Brit Hannah Miley, head coach Leigh Nugent says it would be foolish to write Rice out of gold medal calculations.
"She's a great competitor and she won't go lying down ... it will be a fight to the death," Nugent said.
"But she is determined to defend her title and she can do that."
While Rice rose to stardom by winning three gold medals in Beijing, the four years since have been eventful to say the least.
She admitted to struggling for motivation after her Olympic success and missed the 2010 Commonwealth Games due to injury before battling back to win a bronze medal in the 400IM at last year's world championships.
She had more shoulder surgery late last year but a glimmer of hope appeared at Australia's Olympic selection trials in March.
There she showed her best form in three years and came out ranked first in the world this year in the 200IM and fourth in the 400IM.
"This has been her best year out of those three years and that's a bonus," Nugent said.
"In actual preparation elements of the training and so on, maybe not as consistent as what she had leading up to 2008, but she's a lot more savvy now and better for the experience of the Beijing Olympics."
Nugent said a successful opening night could set the tone for his team in London.
While Rice could represent Australia's best shot at glory on the first night of finals, the women's 4x100m freestyle relay team is also considered an outside chance at gold.
A final team featuring Cate Campbell, Melanie Schlanger and Alicia Coutts will attempt to chase down hot favourites the Netherlands, while comeback swimmer Libby Trickett will be out to impress in the morning heats to clinch the fourth place in the final.
US superstars Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will have their first showdown in the men's 400IM final, with Nugent labelling Australian youngster Thomas Fraser-Holmes a "smokey" for the bronze medal.
Ryan Napoleon and David McKeon will contest the me

Aussie tennis stars ready for action 27 July 2012

TENNIS: Australian tennis star Bernard Tomic epitomises the youthful exuberance that the Olympic Games brings to elite athletes when the world’s best athletes gather every four years.

Tomic is making his Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympic Games and has been soaking up the unique atmosphere of the Village while preparing for his first round clash with Japan’s Kei Nishikori at Wimbledon.

The 19-year-old, ranked 49 in the world, takes on Nishikori, who comes into the Olympic Games as the world No. 18 in what will be a tough first up task for Tomic.

The pair has never met on the ATP Tour but spent time together as teenagers at the Nick Bollittieri Tennis Academy.

“I spent a year with him going through the Bollittieri Academy so we trained with each other a lot but I’ve never played him,” Tomic said.

On the eve of the tennis tournament Tomic also spoke positively about his Olympic experience.

“It’s very different to stay somewhere like here (Olympic Village) and to see people you see in sports around the world is interesting,” Tomic said. “It’s my first time at the Olympics and hopefully not my last.

“I was a big fan of basketball so I was looking up to Lauren Jackson. To be here with them and to be a part of this is huge for me.

“Hopefully I can do well and Australia can do well.”

Tomic is joined in the men’s singles by 2002 Wimbledon Champion and triple Olympian Lleyton Hewitt, who takes on Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhousky.

Hewitt goes into the Olympic Games ranked 158th in the world, 62 places behind his opponent, but received a wildcard after his ranking slipped during a long injury lay off earlier this year.

Australia’s sole representative in the women’s singles Samantha Stosur is ranked five in the world and takes on Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, who she defeated in the first round of Wimbledon in June this year.

Stosur, who won the 2011 US Open, is also making her third appearance at an Olympic Games after representing Australia in singles and doubles in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Stosur will also team up with Casey Dellacqua in the women’s doubles with the Australians drawn to meet Spanish pair Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

They will be joined in the women’s doubles by fellow Aussies Jarmila Gajdosova and Anastasia Rodionova who tackle Russia’s Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova.

Birthday kick starts Wallace's Games 27 July 2012

• 
• Ken Wallace of Australia in action during a Mens K1 Class race during day one of... © Clive Mason/Getty

CANOE/KAYAK SPRINT: Beijing gold medallist Ken Wallace celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday and hopes he can make it a golden double at the London Olympic Games.
But it won’t be in the K1 500 event in which he won gold in Beijing.
The singles berth is held by teammate Murray Stewart, who prevailed in the Olympic selection trial.
Nonetheless, Wallace remains the reigning gold medallist in the K1 500 because that event is no longer on the Olympic program.
However, Wallace has switched to the K2 1000 event, in which he will partner David Smith, from Lake Illawarra in NSW.
Not being able to defend his K1 title has not fazed the 190cm Wallace, who also works as a lifeguard on the Gold Coast back in Australia when he is not being a full-time athlete.
“Murray got up and over us at the nationals where I didn’t have my best race,” Wallace conceded.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete and he’s very fit at the moment, and even fitter now.
“So I switched to the K2 event, which I’m pretty excited about because it’s a new challenge. I got two individual medals in Beijing (bronze in the K1 1000), so to try to get a team medal will be pretty special.”
Wallace said he first raced with Smith in the pre-Olympic regatta last year “for a bit of fun” and they teamed well together.
“It has worked out well; we have just jumped in the boat together and it just works,” he said.
The kayak team’s preparation leading into London has centred in Hungary, as it has for the past six years.
“Water polo and kayaking are probably their number one sports, so we get looked after very well,” Wallace  said.
The kayak course at Eton Dorney is expected to be wind-affected, so Wallace said he had tried to simulate those conditions in Hungary.
“In London, I think everyone is expecting it to be really windy, and a cross-wind as well, which isn’t exactly the best for kayaking or for rowing,” he said.
“So in Hungary, when it’s windy we make sure we’re out in it and try to train hard with the wind.
“People are also expecting a slower course, maybe, because there has been known to be a bit of weed in the course.”
Whatever his result in London, Wallace said he had no thoughts of retirement, particularly with Rio de Janeiro on the horizon in 2016.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport, so I’d like to be around for a little while yet, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Day of reckoning arrives for rowers 27 July 2012

• 
• David Crawshay and Scott Brennan of Australia compeate in the Men's Double Scull... © Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

ROWING: Australia’s rowers will face their busiest day of the 2012 London Olympic Games on Saturday as eight boats take to the water on the opening day of competition.
It’s a day that has the ability to set the tone for the eight day regatta and the women’s pair of Sarah Tait and Kate Hornsey will lead off for Australia in heat 2.
Tait and Hornsey were both part of the women’s eight crew in Beijing that finished in sixth place at the 2008 Olympic Games but have enjoyed success together in recent times with the pair combining for bronze at the 2011 world championships after a limited preparation.
Tait and Hornsey have drawn world champions New Zealand in their heat and will chase a top two finish to qualify directly for the gold medal race.
Australian men’s quad scull coach John Dreissen welcomed the tough draw his world champion crew received for their heat.
Daniel Noonan, James McRae, Karsten Forsterling and Chris Morgan will take on the form crew of 2012, Croatia, along with Poland and New Zealand, with the top three crews progressing to the semi-finals.
Driessen, who led the men’s quad to fourth in Beijing, before guiding them to silver, bronze and gold at the past three world championships, said it would provide the crew with a good yard stick for the regatta.
“By racing the Croatians who have won two World Cups we will get a clearer sense of how we are going,” Driessen said.
“The guys are feeling good and very confident. They are relaxed and have shown that in their rowing and movement around the boat.”
Defending Olympic champions David Crawshay and Scott Brennan will face off with medal contenders Germany in their first hit out in the men’s double scull.
In a tough heat that also features Slovenia, Crawshay and Brennan require a top three finish to move through to the semi-final stage as they aim to become the first combination to defend the men’s double scull Olympic title since 1924.
Leading Australian sculler Kim Crow will begin her two pronged campaign as she contests the heats of the women’s single scull.
Crow will row from lane three as she becomes one of a select group of athletes in Olympic history to contest two events in the one Olympic regatta.
The talented Victorian, who will also contest the women’s double scull with Brooke Pratley, faces six races in eight days and will look for a positive start in her first race.
In other racing on the opening day of competition the lightweight men’s four will take to the water, while the men’s eight, women’s quad scull and men’s pair all get their first taste of Olympic action.

Focused Hewitt at home on grass 27 July 2012

• 
• Lleyton Hewitt of Australia leaves the court after practice during previews ahea... © Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

TENNIS: If you were searching for a rival to Lauren Jackson as the best-known, highest achieving international sporting celebrity on the Australian Olympic team at the 2012 London Olympic Games, you didn’t have to look far today.
The big blonde basketballer sat at the right hand of team boss Nick Green at the morning media conference and on the left side was Lleyton Hewitt, tennis player extraordinaire.
Hewitt doesn’t do many press conferences where he is not the centre of attention – well, he didn’t used to when he was the world’s best player, winning Wimbledon and the US Open and bringing the Davis Cup back to Australia – but he had to patiently wait his turn while Jackson continued to luxuriate in the well-deserved glory of her appointment to carry the flag at the opening ceremony.
It made for an interesting comparison.  Jackson is considered to be at the top of her enormous game, still the best female hoops player in Australia and possibly the world, in the eyes of many.  Hewitt has been just as big a star in a sport that probably carries more international clout than basketball but is clearly well past his best now, although, as he was quick to point out, he continues to apply himself assiduously to being as professional as possible.
It is easy to imagine there is a bit of a generation gap in place and yet they are almost exactly the same age, both 31, with Hewitt born 76 days earlier.
Hewitt doesn’t much enjoy dealing with the perception that he is a has-been, and who could blame him for that. It was on the agenda again today.
A reporter told him, rather than asked him, that this would be his last Olympics – which is probably but not necessarily true – and fished for a hint about when the dreaded R-word, retirement, might raise its ugly head. A day or so earlier Hewitt had already put that one to bed, at least in the context of the immediate future, saying he would play next year’s Australian Open and beyond. So unsurprisingly, he didn’t respond directly other than to say the same speculation, the same question, has been following him around for the last 20 Grand Slams, or five years in other words. He didn’t quite sigh in exasperation but he didn’t have to.
“I’m still focussed on what I’ve got to do,” Hewitt said.
“Once you get clouded by other thoughts you’re not going to perform at your best. So I’ve done everything in my power to get as fit as possible since the operation (on his left foot, a problem that kept him off-court for 12 weeks) in February. I’m grateful to be able to play here.”
It is good to see him in the green and gold. His powerful sense of patriotism is well-known and highly respected, and it fits the Olympic dynamic very comfortably. There might be questions about whether tennis is entitled to be an Olympic sport but Hewitt’s attitudes are a potent antidote to that particular line in negativity. He is and always has been, through two previous Games, extremely proud to be a part of it.
A gold medal, he said, would “top off” what is already one of the finest careers in the history of Australian tennis.
For him, it is all the more uplifting that this is all happening at Wimbledon, the cathedral of the sport and the scene of his greatest moment, when he defeated Argentina’s David Nalbandian in the final in 2001.  
“I couldn’t think of a better place to play the Olympic Games than Wimbledon, the All-England Club. It feels so different to be able to wear the green and gold instead of all-white,” he said.
“The tradition of the place is second to none so every tennis player who plays this week is pretty fortunate.”
He was also pleased to find, in a hit-up with Roger Federer, that the courts are playing exceptionally fast, which he says will suit his game, and team-mate Bernard Tomic’s, too.
Ranked 158, these days, he concedes that he will be an underdog but the surface, the three-set matches and the unique atmosphere of the Olympics means that anything could happen. “We’ll see,” he said.
His first opponent is little-known Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Opals ready to chase elusive gold 27 July 2012

• 
• Members of the Australian women's basketball team after travelling via the Euros... © Olympics.com.au

BASKETBALL: After winning medals at the past four Olympics as well as the 2006 World Championship, Australia’s women’s basketball team is chasing the only thing that has eluded them over the past 20 years – an Olympic gold medal.

The Aussies have won a hat-trick of silver medals over the past three Olympics, and have a positive lead up to the 2012 London Games.

“Preparations are good,” said four-time Olympian Kristi Harrower.

“I think the preparations have been great. We’ve been getting better with every game and look forward to the Olympics that are ahead.”

In each of the last three Olympics the United States has defeated Australia in the gold medal game. With the likes of Harrower, Lauren Jackson and Suzy Batkovic possibly competing at their last Olympics, the team knows that this could be the best chance to claim the elusive gold.

“This will be probably be my last, along with some of the seniors, and we believe this is the best time for us to win a gold medal,” Harrower said.

“We have some great young kids coming though and we have a lot of depth.”

Head coach Carrie Graf has been pleased with the lead in and has confidence in the mix of experienced and first time Olympians.

“We’ve had tough opponents and great games and it’s been great for us to throw our emerging talent in the mix,” Graf said.

“We had some close games and but all in all the preparations have been great for us. The team is in a good positive head space and we can do something special if we just approach it the right way which is game by game.

“Our preparation is over other than a few practices. It’s time to put it out on the floor and see if we can do something unique.”

Since arriving in Europe ahead of the Games, the team has beaten the likes of France, Great Britain, Angola, China and Brazil.

They enter the Games as one of the favourites, a position they have been in since first winning a medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

The Opals take on Great Britain on Saturday 28 July and also face France, Russia, Brazil and Canada in the pool matches. The opening game sees the Opals come up against their former coach Tom Maher who is now coaching Great Britain.

Apart from gold medal favourite USA, the likes of Russia, Brazil, and the Czech Republic are likely to battle for the medals.

Kookaburras draw with rivals 27 July 2012

• 
• © Mike Hewitt / Getty Images

HOCKEY: The Kookaburras have missed an opportunity to send a message to rivals Germany ahead of the Olympics, drawing 2-2 with the world number 2 team in a practice match today at Riverbank Arena.

After controlling much of the game, the Kookaburras found themselves 2-0 up with seven minutes to go before conceding two late goals, being forced to settle for the draw.

The Aussies were on song early in the first half, with Eddie Ockenden a stand out in the midfield.

Although it was a practice match the game was hotly contested, as expected when these two great rivals meet.

Australia was on the early attack, however the German defence proved to be as solid as ever.

A breakthrough was eventually presented when Australia were awarded a penalty corner, with Kieran Govers delivering an accurate flick to make it 1-0.

Immediately after conceding a goal Germany went on the attack, putting Australian goalkeeper Nathan Burgers under much pressure. However he was up to the task with the score remaining 1-0 at half time.

Matthew Butturini was given an opportunity to extend Australia’s lead shortly into the second half, however the shot was well saved by the German keeper.

The Kookaburras continued to press and looked like scoring again after Govers found some space in the circle, however the shot hit the post.

Eventually they were given some reward for their effort, with the ever dangerous Glenn Turner drawing the goalkeeper before finding some space and making it 2-0.

Despite trailing on the score board the Germans weren’t done yet, scoring two late goals including one impressive penalty corner to level the score.

Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth said while he felt his team played well, they needed to finish off better.

“That was a sharpener for the tournament. I thought we played well but we need to be more thorough. According to our stats we had about eight good chances to score and they had two,” said Charlesworth.

Sharks relish challenge 27 July 2012

• 
• Billy Miller of Australia shoots during the 2012 World League Finals in Kazakhst...

WATER POLO: Can Australia turn its recent good form into an Olympic medal? That’s the question about to be answered by our men’s water polo squad.
Australia recently has beaten world champions Italy and drawn with European power Spain, teams they will meet at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Now, Australia’s focus falls to an elusive medal that has eluded it during 14 previous Olympic campaigns.
First up is Italy, an opponent that has traditionally resulted in nail-biting results. And that opening contest is one coach John Fox is relishing.
“They are the world champions and we are primed for that game,” Fox said.
“All of the pressure will be on them, and we will hunt them. It is a fantastic challenge and one we are all looking forward to.”
While the first game is always crucial at an international tournament, everyone associated with the Australian team recognises it is the first of many critical contests.

“Every game is basically going to be a one-goal game,” Fox noted.
“It is about making sure that one goal falls in our favour. It has been like that for a couple of years. We can match it with all the best teams, and we have to turn those performances into wins. We expect to play well in every game that we play.”
After the Italy game Australia will also face Kazakhstan, Spain, Croatia and Greece.
Australia will likely need at least two wins to advance to the knockout quarter final stage.
It is a feat that the team feels is likely.
"We've had some good results recently," debut Olympian James Clark said.

"Those results have given us confidence going into the Games. We're ready to play Italy in the opening game."

Richie Campbell, who also competed at Beijing, has confidence that this team can earn a spot on the podium for the first time.

"We want a medal for sure," Campbell said.

"Every game is going to be tough, it's the Olympics. We will take every game as if we are playing the best team in the world."
Australia has twice finished fifth in Olympic competition - at Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992).
Their best result at a World Championship was a fourth in 1998.

Worth hits targets for personal best 27 July 2012

• 
• Australian Athlete Liaison Officer Steve Waugh gets an archery lesson from Austr... © Paul Gilham / Getty Images

ARCHERY: With a new personal best score, Australian archer Taylor Worth has placed 23^rd in Friday’s men’s ranking round, to set up a battle of the Ashes against Great Britain’s Alan Wills in the first round match on the centre of Lords next Wednesday.
It was an action-packed ranking session at the Lord’s nursery, with Korea’s Im Dong Hyun breaking his own 72-arrow world record by three points with a score of 699, and along with his two Korean teammates also broke the team world record with a score of 2087.
In perfect weather conditions, 21-year-old Worth started strongly, scoring 338 after 36 arrows to sit in ninth place, and ended the 72-arrow shoot out with 668, improving his previous competition best by nine points to finish in 23^rd position.
“I was shooting really well in the morning, but in the afternoon I let my bow down and just lost a bit of my
“I was looking for a rank in the top 20 but I’m happy, it’s a competition PB for me.”
With Athlete Liaison Officers Steve Waugh and Kieren Perkins in attendance to show their support, Worth didn’t show any signs of nerves on his Olympic debut.
“I didn’t feel nervous, I felt excitement,” he said. “I was ready to compete and show the world what I’ve got.”
World number one Brady Ellison (USA) placed 10^th with a total of 676, whilst reigning Olympic champion Viktor Ruban of the Ukraine was down in 43^rd with 660.
Looking ahead to next week’s knockout competition on the hallowed turf of Lords, Worth has sent an ominous warning to his rivals.
“Ranking is completely different from match play and I feel that my match play is so much stronger than my ranking,” Worth said. “I’m going to get out there and focus and get down to work.”
Sydney teenager Elisa Barnard was in action in the women’s ranking round this afternoon, and placed 58th with a total score of 601 on her Olympic debut.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought, I just got on there and shot my arrows,” said Barnard. “A former Olympian told me this morning to just go out there and enjoy every arrow.”

She will now face Danish archer Carina Christiansen who placed seventh today with 663 points, in the first round of knockout competition on Monday afternoon. However the 19-year-old is not fazed about going up against a more experienced and higher-ranked opponent, and believes she has room for improvement.

“For me a draw is a draw, and a competitor is a competitor. I'm not concerned with whom I'm up against, I'm just going to get on the line and shoot to the best of my ability.”

“I've always been a dark horse in this area, I generally do rank pretty low but I can I soar through the ranks, so I'm used to going in as an underdog and giving them a run for their money.”

USA basketball megastars high on Mills 28 July 2012

• 
• Team USA basketball stars Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant) © Dave Lyall / AOC

BASKETBALL: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and other members of the superstar USA men’s basketball team have warned of the ability of Australian star Patty Mills to be one of the dominant players at these Olympics.
The Boomers will begin their Olympic campaign with a game against Brazil on Sunday. Spain, China, Great Britain and Russia are also in Australia’s group.
Speaking at a jam-packed media conference on Friday, Los Angeles Lakers veteran Bryant said 23-year-old Aussie Mills, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA, would thrive on the challenge in London.
“This is the stage,” Bryant said. “He’s playing against the best teams in the world and I know he is going to be up for the challenge. I know he is.
He works very hard and he’s very competitive, so I know he will be ready. I’ve followed him for a long time, I’ve been a big supporter of his for a while now. I know he has dealt with some injuries here and
Anthony, from the New York Knicks, recalled how a young Mills  burst on the Olympic scene at Beijing in 2008.
“Well, in 2008 we didn’t know about Patrick Mills. He kind of caught us by surprise and right after that he ended up in the NBA,” Anthony said.
“You know, he played a college season and ended up in the NBA. The guys were just surprised by how good he was in an international game when we played them.”
Mills is still to become a regular player in the NBA, but he is steadily increasing his game-time and his reputation is growing. Anthony said that with the Aussie team in London, it would be a totally different story for Mills.
“Over here it’s a different game, guys have different roles on their team than they do back in the US,” Anthony added.
“So you’ll be seeing a lot of and hearing a lot about Patrick Mills over here.”
Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden said of Mills and the Aussie team: “Patty Mills is definitely a very good player coming up, and they have other good players as well, so we definitely don’t take that team lightly. We don’t take anything for granted. We’ve got to go out there and play every game like it’s our last.”
Harden said all Mills needed to become an NBA regular was the opportunity.
“He needs a chance. He has the talent, he’s shown it. He showed it in college and he showed it at the (2008) Olympic Games. He just has to work hard and get his chance and he’ll be fine.”
Kevin Love, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, said Mills had the necessary self-belief.
“I think he just needs to play with the confidence that he always does,” Love said.
“He’s a guy who’s had success when he’s been out there on the floor, as a player in the NBA, and I think if he does that and continues to work hard and do his job he’s going to be good.”
Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams said of the Aussies: “They’re a good team, they’ve got some tough players. Patty Mills is a tough point guard who excels in international play, so they could do some damage. He’s a guy who can definitely put some points on the board. He’s very tough to guard, especially in this setting when he has the ball in his hands and really has the green light.”
And Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala said that while it was a blow to the Aussies that Andrew Bogut wasn’t available, they still had considerable potential.
“They really have a strong team,” he said. “With Patty Mills as the point guard they really have some solid players, even though Andrew Bogut’s not playing. We didn’t play them at the world championships, but we got to see them play and they were really solid.”

Volleyroos go down to Brazil in warm up 28 July 2012

• 
• The Australian men's volleyball team celebrate following their qualification for... © FIVB

VOLLEYBALL: The Australian men’s volleyball team, ranked 22nd in the world, took a set off the world number one ranked Brazil team today in the final lead-up match before its Olympic opener against Argentina on Sunday.
Section Manager Matt Sebbens said coach Jon Uriarte was very happy with the progression shown by his team in its 3-1 loss (20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25) to the Brazillians, who invited the Australians to play them at their private training venue at St Paul’s School.
“It was a very valuable hit-out against one of the best teams in the world,” Sebbens said.
“They started slowly but grew through the performance. Jon said they played some high quality volleyball in patches and just need a little more consistency.”
The Australians will have a final training session on Saturday afternoon.

Aussie horses clear trot up 28 July 2012

• 
• Sam Griffiths and his horse ‘Happy Times’ © Lauren Ryan / AOC

EQUESTRIAN: After a turbulent week for the Australian eventing team, losing two of their riders due to horse injuries, the team today cleared their first test at the ‘horse inspection’ at Greenwich Park ahead of tomorrow’s competition.
All horses must be presented to the Olympic Ground Jury (officials) prior to the start of competition to check the horses are ‘sound’ and ready to take on the eventing competition.
With the recent omissions of Shane Rose and Megan Jones, the spotlight was on all the Aussies as they entered the main arena, especially new team member Sam Griffiths and his horse ‘Happy Times’.
Griffiths has quickly settled in with the team, wasting no time to make himself familiar with the course and the venue.
After all horses cleared the trot up, Australian Team Head Vet Graham Potts said there was an air of excitement among the team.
“All horses breezed through the trot up and are looking really good. We were very pleased with how they presented and are now excited to get on with the job,” Potts said.
The first phase of the eventing competition commences on Saturday with Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths and Andrew Hoy set to ride. Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks will compete on Sunday for the second day of dressage competition.

Royal greeting for Aussie badminton team 28 July 2012

• 
• Leanne Choo and Renuga Veeran of Australia in action in their doubles match agai... © Julian Finney/Getty Images

BADMINTON: The Australian men’s and women’s badminton doubles teams will have a day to remember tomorrow on and off the court - a special meeting with the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles - before their opening round matches later that evening.
Prince Charles will be a special lunch guest at the badminton competition venue at Wembley Arena, seven hours before the Australians play.
But it is an opportunity the men’s doubles team of Ross Smith and Glenn Warfe and one of the women’s doubles team, Leanne Choo, and singles player Victoria Na did not want to miss.
Both pairs will return to the venue that night to start their Olympic Games campaign with a baptism of fire, with Smith and Warfe drawn to play the world number one Chinese pair, while Olympic debutants Choo and Renuga Veeran will play top 10 ranked Indonesia.
Coach Lasse Bundgaard said Smith and Warfe were excited to play the world’s best team for the first time and is confident they can finish in the top two in their pool to qualify for the next round of competition.
He said Choo and Veeran will have a tougher task in their pool, with their first match crucial to their campaign.

Beach volleyball ready to begin 28 July 2012

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• Tamsin Hinchley and Natalie Cook of Australia look on during a Beach Volleyball... © Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Olympic beach volleyball fans heading to historic Horse Guards Parade tomorrow tonight (Saturday) will have to wait until 11pm for the match of the day between Australia and the USA.
Sydney 2000 golden girl Natalie Cook will start her fifth and final Olympics with partner, three-time Olympian Tamsin Hinchley when they meet two-time and defending Olympic champions, US pair Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in the 15,000 seat venue.
Cook and Hinchley, fifth in Beijing, gained last minute qualification for London through the Continental Cup in Moscow.
“We probably could not have asked for a better game first up match actually against Misty and Kerri. We would rather play them early in the tournament,” said Cook.
“They haven’t played for a couple of weeks and we may catch them napping.”
Australia’s top ranked FIVB pairing of Becchara Palmer and Louise Palmer will kick start their tournament against German pair Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig tomorrow (Sunday) at 4.30pm.

London 2012: explore the Olympic Park in 3D and dive into full 360º panoramic interior shots of the venues

From the showpiece Olympic stadium to the cutting-edge sustainable design of the Velodrome, our interactive map of the Olympic Park takes you inside the architectural stars of London 2012
• Click on a venue and follow the link to see the 360º panoramic interior shots
• To explore the panoramic photographs click and drag, or swipe in any direction to pan around the venue
• Even better in full screen mode - choose a venue and then click on the square icon in the top right-hand corner

70 days 8,000 runners 8,000 miles Torch relay FAQs

2. 1158: We will soon be switching to the live text commentary here, where you can follow the rest of the relay and stay across all the news and events until 18:30.
   From all of us here in the BBC 2012 team we'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of you for joining us on this amazing 70-day torch relay.
   We know from your messages that you've been thrilled, excited, inspired, moved - and have been largely united in your support of #bbctorchcam.
3. 1151: The Gloriana is expected to reach Tower Bridge at about 12:45.
   It is there that the final torchbearer of the morning's relay, 22-year-old basketball player Amber Charles, who played a key role in London's winning bid, will carry the flame in front of City Hall and Tower Bridge.
4. 1145: The pictures have just shown the Gloriana passing underneath Westminster Bridge.
   The next torchbearer will carry the flame when the barge passes the Tate Modern.
5. 1142: And here they are, wonderful images of the London Eye as the helicopter flies past. Now zooming down on the Gloriana and the flotilla.
6. 1140: We're hoping to bring you pictures from the helicopter soon.
7. 1121: The lighting of the cauldron at the Olympic Ceremony this evening is "one of the best kept secrets," according to IOC President Jacques Rogge. "I would love to know (who will light it), but I don't know," he has said.
   We'll all have to watch tonight to find out. Coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony starts from 19:00 BST on BBC One - the main event begins at 21:00 BST.
8. 

   1112: BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam tweeted this picture and added: "Crowds starting to gather in Battersea Park to see the #OlympicFlame on its last day."
9. 1108: More suggestions coming in for additional Olympics sports. This one is from Dick Mowbray, who tweets: "@BBC2012 Restore the 'race in armour' to the Olympics - and get all the olympic athletes to swear the Olympic oath before 'Zeus horkios'."
   
10. 1107: Robert Hall is now reporting about the "ceremonial finale" as the torch prepares to pass Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. "I think the crowds are only going to get bigger," he adds.
11. 

    1101: Here is a picture tweeted by the London Port Authority of torchbearers waiting at Imperial Wharf for Gloriana:
12. 1059: We had one extra bank holiday this year but maybe we should have had two, and allowed everyone out of the workplace for the fnal day of the torch relay.
    Andrew Bennett tweets: "@BBC2012 just leaving the office to see the torch pass Bishops Park. Only one person left in the office #oops."
    And he's not the only, as The Backstage Centre reveals: "The #olympictorch will be near @CCSkills office again today! Big group of us headed down to #towerbridge to watch it float by @bbc2012."
13. 1054: A vote coming in to see the Tug of War back in the Olympics. Dailyexpresslol tweets: "@bbc2012 - it has to be tug of war - what greater team sport is there and not being completely in shape is a bonus for the anchor."
14. 1053: Sound on torchcam at the moment will be intermittent, but you can still enjoy the river views.
15. 1048: This current shot you can see is coming from the media boat not far from Gloriana. You will see the occasional shot of BBC reporter Robert Hall, who is reporting on today's events, but this feed will also bring you up close and personal with the torchbearers! Get your sea legs ready!
16. 1040: Just getting a view of the underbelly of the helicopter which has been providing our amazing images of the torch going down the Thames. Watch this space for more torch shots when they come through!
17. 

    1036: Carrie Forde tweets: "Happy Olympics day! The #OlympicTorch passed through #Richmond on it's final leg to the Olympic Stadium. #London2012."
18. 1032: Not sure if this was the wisest tweet from Simon RJ: "@LBRUT great to see the Olympic tourch go past on the river - I wonder of my boss has noticed I am not in the office yet! ;)
    However, special dispensation HAS to be granted today, surely!
19. 1025: The Groovini tweets: "Oh geez, torchcam is making me teary. What am I going to be like when the Games actually begin? Yay Olympics!"
20. 1025: Good knowledge from Stephen E Morgan, who makes a very good point in his tweet: "@BBC2012 Bring Rugby back to the Olympic Games, USA must be tired of holding the Gold since the last Rugby event in 1924 :@)"
21. 1020: The president of the International Olympic Committee) Jacques Rogge has said at a press conference: "This morning we had a meeting with Locog and I am pleased to say London is ready and we are eagerly waiting the opening ceremony."
    Excellent news. No last-minute dusting or hoovering to do? That was always the case when my mum had visitors. I should add that she keeps an impeccable household!
22. 1015: Anastasia won a silver medal at the World Junior Rowing Championships racing in the GB coxless four.
23. 1014: Anastasia Chitty stands, holding the torch aloft, and waves to spectators overhead on the bridge.
24. 1012: We can see one of the torchbearers carrying the flame on the Gloriana.
25. 1007: Are there any former Olympic sports that you'd like to see re-instated to the Games?
    How about any of these? Tug of War, Rope Climbing, Swimming Obstacle Race.
    BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat have produced an image gallery of some of the more unusual sports.
26. 1000: Interesting soundtrack at the Olympic Park, as Claire Heald tells us in a tweet: "Waiting for Jaques Rogge in the IOC press conference. They're playing out Kung Foo fighting on the PA."
    Fast as lightning? A little bit frightening? It's a cult classic, yeah, but today I'd advise you to get your ears around some magnificence from Elbow instead.
27. 0954: Is this a new form of tourism? Campievanner tweets: "@BBC2012 Thanks to torchcam I revisited parts of UK I have been to & seen parts I need to visit without leaving work,home or bed. Miss you."
28. 0952: On board the Gloriana are seven young torchbearers, who will each get a trun to carry the flame over the course of the morning.
    Akosua Scantlebury, 25, works with youth clubs and she carried the flame past Richmond Riverside.
    Junior rower Anastasia Chitty, 18, will carry it in Chiswick. Nathalie Murphy, 25, who makes fundraising films, gets a turn at Putney. Football coach Terry Bobie Agyekum, 20, is up at Battersea Park. Weightlifter Jimmy Hazard, 19, will take the flame past Parliament and the London Eye. Yusuf Jimacale, 21, who works with a community football programme, will carry his torch from Millennium Bridge.
29. 

    0945: BBC 2012 team journo Martin Gough tweeted us this picture and said: "Crowds out in force at Barnes Bridge. Still 30 mins or so before Gloriana arrives @bbc2012."
30. 0940: For those of you who wanted to see this morning's Archery, there will be highlights on the BBC Sport website later. More details to follow.
31. 0930: Is it going to rain on the parade later? Check out the weather forecast here. Regardless, surely nothing will dampen the spirits!
32. 0923: At the moment you are seeing shots of the barge from helicam, but we will switch to some closer shots very soon.
33. 0921: Matthew Pinsent said the experience of carrying the torch was "wonderful, wonderful" and he added he liked the "rowing theme" of the event.
34. 0920: London Mayor Boris Johnson told BBC London's Breakfast Show that 3.9m people in London alone have seen the Torch. They were estimating that about 1.5m would see it so they're more than double that, he said.
35. 

    0919: Claire adds: "From tomorrow, this expanse of Park will be filled with spectators heading to the first sports sessions of the XXXth Olympiad. It's the last morning the staff and volunteers have it to themselves."
36. 0914: Meanwhile, BBC's Claire Heald tells us: "Overcast skies, reflected in the artwork on the Olympic Park this morning, are adding to the muted atmosphere before tonight's celebrations for the opening ceremony.
    "The drill noises and final dressing the Park activities of yesterday afternoon seem to have abated. Although they may just not have started yet...
    "What you can hear is the constant whirring of golf buggies, speeding about those who are important, busy or lucky enough to need one.
    "And people's feet crunching on the still-new gravel, as they walk to their Games time jobs."
37. 0909: The Gloriana is back on the move. And the oars are lowered into the water once more.
    Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily... 2012 is but a dream!
38. 0908: And Aquiss Broadband tweets: "@BBC2012 Lets not forget the torchcam convoy running team. They will be really missed! Surely we can give them a role tonight?!!!!"
39. 0906: So much love coming from you guys on twitter for the BBC 2012 team. Dougal Murphy tweets: "@BBC2012 Ian, Sarah, Ian, Claire, Jenny, Mike, Jane, Christine, Martin, Neville and all on #bbctorchcam #TorchRelay team: #gonnamissyouguys."
    All we can says is rightbackatcha - and thanks a million to everyone who has watched and supported the relay.
40. 0855: The Gloriana and the flotilla have come to a stop at Teddington lock.
41. 0850: If you missed the mass bell ringing this morning, where were you?? You can, however, read all about it here.
42. 0848: The torch relay will pause at 12:40 BST between London Bridge and Tower Bridge for the "final" torchbearer to step from the Gloriana onto the giant Olympic rings barge, moored in front of City Hall.
43. 0846: A BBC torchcam welcome to Jon Greko in the Unityed States, who tweets: "@bbc2012 Watching live from Kalamazoo, Michigan! It maybe 3:45 in the morning but I can't wait for the @London2012 @Olympics to start."
44. 0836: Excitement reaching fever pitch? You betcha.
    Here's what British diver Tom Daley thinks. He tweeted: "I can't believe the @Olympics @London2012 start today!!!! So excited!! So my #FF goes to @PeterWaterfield (my synchro partner for the games)".
    All the very best to Tom and Peter for the Games!
45. 0833: What a creative lot we are in the UK. Evidence provided by Laura's tweet: "@BBC2012 my daughters just went mental on pan lids to join in with the bell ringing :)."
    
46. 0830: Cook for London tweeted this picture of bell ringers at Borough Market.
    

    
47. 

    0825: PA Photographer Ben Birchall has tweeted this amazing picture: "I'm not often proper amazed... But this truly IS amazing. The crowds are phenomenal."
48. 0822: I wonder how many people joined in across the country.
    Kathryn Louise Geels ‏abstained but she did have a good excuse as she explained in this tweet: "I'm not ringing the cow bell I have because my housemate is asleep #London2012 #Bells @BBC2012."
49. 0821: Martin Creed, the creator of All The Bells, has told BBC Breakfast about his motivation behind his piece.
    "I was initially thinking of making a scuplture but then people would have had to go to one place to see it. So I thought of music, as it would go out across the county," he said.
50. 0820: Stunning helicopter shots on BBC torchcam of the flotilla making its way down the Thames - rowboats galore and cyclists on the river path. What a sight!
51. 0815: Did you find a bell to ring out? That was brilliant!
52. 0813: An incredible cacophony of sound as Big Ben - and thousands of other bells across London and the UK - chime.
53. 0812: The bells, the bells!
54. 0810: Want to know more about what's happening this evening? Catch up on all the latest build-up to the opening ceremony here.
55. 0806: It really is a truly spectacular sight as the Gloriana leads the flotilla down the River Thames. The golden flags on board the royal barge are gently fluttering in the breeze.
56. 0802: What a day for messing about on the river!
    Faheem Aslam tweets: "@BBC2012 what a glorious sight of the flame being rowed down the thames.our day is finally here 2nyt.will miss the torch relay bigtime."
57. 0756: If you want to know how the BBC's 2012 theme music was made, here's a brilliant behind-the-scenes video.
    It'll be available as a digital only download very soon.
58. 0754: It's not the first time the Gloriana has starred in such spectacular fashion - the £1m royal barge Gloriana led the river pageant during the Diamond Jubilee in June.
    Right now it is being rowed by 16 crew, who were chosen from a squad of 28 on-board rowers on the day.
    The squad is made up of former British Olympic rowing crews going back to the 1948 Games as well as future Olympians and includes Games gold medal winners James Cracknell and Jonny Searle.
59. 0753: Jennifer Schmidt tweets: "@BBC2012 can't believe it's the last day of #torchcam! The last 70 days watching from America have been very special. Gonna miss it!"
    We know just how you feel Jennifer!
60. 0750: The team of oarsmen and women on board the Gloriana are rowing the flame down river to Tower Bridge.
61. 0749: To the sound of three cheers from the crowd, the Gloriana sets off down the River Thames.
62. 0749: BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam tweeted this picture of the moment when Matthew Pinsent lit the caudron on the Gloriana.
    

    
63. 0742: Matthew walks down some steps to the river, where the Gloriana awaits.
    A magnificent sight as Matthew lights the cauldron on the boat.
64. 0740: Lauran passes the flame to four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Matthew Pinsent.
    He is the final torchbearer at the palace and will carry the flame through the Great Gate and taken on board the royal rowbarge Gloriana.
65. 0738: The next torchbearer is Lauran Ferebee.
    The 15-year-old is a young carer, helping her mother look after her younger sister who is 10.
66. 0736: Whoops and cheers for Mark, who is sporting a massive grin. And who wouldn't??
67. 0734: For the past 14 years Mark has travelled the world producing TV programes showcasing the inspirational stories of Olympians and unique cultural aspects of the host countries for the American audience.
68. 0733: With the palace providing a glorious backdrop, Jane and Mark Levy kiss torches.
69. 0730: Next up with the flame is Jane Caldwell, who works for a children's charity and also mentors young people.
70. 0730: Are you ready for the mass bell-ringing at 08:12?
    Conceived by Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed, All The Bells encourages everyone across the UK to ring a bell for three minutes.
    Thousands of bells are expected to be rung including church bells, hand bells, bicycle bells and doorbells.
71. 0727: The flame has emerged from the maze and has now passed to Cara Dartnell-Steinberg
    The 13-year-old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six. She was one of the first children in the UK to use the insulin pump and has subsequently helped many other children learn about the pump.
    She works on behalf of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has led a walk team of dozens of people each year since she has been diagnosed and helped raise thousands.
72. 0723: She's leading the way confidently while the Torch Security team follows. Great shots form helicam, showing the relay negotiating its way through tthe maze.
73. 0722: Klara is in the middle of the maze at Hampton Court Palace now.
74. 0720: The next torchbearer is Klara Weaver, a promising rower who was double junior European champion when she was 16, she has won four national titles, and has won Women's Henley twice.
    Klara volunteers at an Alzheimer's charity and is working on completing a medical degree at Imperial.
75. 0719: Alain sets of at a decent clip and soon makes it to the gates of Bushy Park.
76. 0717: Alain is a sports journalist. He has been travelling all over the world for more than 35 years going from one event to another, from Olympic Games to Olympic Games.
    He has been President of the Association of the Olympic journalists (OJA) since 2006.
77. 0716: Richmond Council tweets: "1,000 people now standing on Hampton Court Bridge! 1,200 at Pier 3 and 100 a Tedd Lock! #london2012."
78. 0714: Richard Todd Bradley sets off for his stint with the flame. A crisp jog from Richard and he passes the flame to Alain Lunzenfichter.
79. 0710: The flame is now with Ed Berman.
80. 0700: And our first torchbearer of the day is Rosie Hynes, nominated for her basketball achievements. She played womens basketball for England U16s and England U18s, and is currently part of the Great Britain under 20s squad.
81. 0657: Your writers this morning are Ian Hughes and Helen Bushby.
    We are delighted to have your company and look forward to hearing from you. You can tweet us here @BBC2012 or send a message on our BBC London 2012 Facebook.
82. 0655: Hello, fancy seeing you here!
    So it's Friday, 27 July 2012. It's been seven years in the making and it's finally here - the London 2012 Olympics open this evening!!
    Bit first we have the final day of the torch relay, which will kick off very shortly at Hampton Court Palace.
    The Olympic flame will negotiate the maze at the palace before boarding the royal rowbarge Gloriana.
    A team of oarsmen and women will transport the flame down the River Thames in a cauldron to Tower Bridge.
    The relay ends late in the evening with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the Games' opening ceremony.
    It is set to be a cracking day. So sit back and enjoy the ride.