London Olympics 2012

The London Summer Olympic Games 2012 was celebrated with the landing of the Olympic Torch in Great Britain at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. Football celebrity David Beckham, and The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, were part of the Official Ceremony to mark the start of the Olympic Torch Relay commenced it's journey on British soil. Some 7000 torch bearers took part in the torch relay as it maked it's way around Britain. It's final resting place was of course the Cauldron, to signal the commencement and closure of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

London 2012-

London has hosted the Olympic Games on two occasions, 1908 and 1948. The planned 2012 Olympics will make London the first city to have hosted the modern Games of three Olympiads

The London 2012 Olympics, and Paralympic Games, will use a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities. Some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park, and Horse Guards Parade.

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games go on sale in a couple of weeks time on the 15th March. Here...]

Here is a PDF of the competition schedule for the London 2012 Olympics . Here...]

For more information on where to stay in London Hub.

Many firsts at these games.

The great American Swimmer Dara Torres, attempted a record Olympic return to London in 2012. Torres has won twelve Olympic medals (four gold, four silver, four bronze), five of which she won in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that, at age 33, she was then the oldest member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Swim Team. Should Dara Torres manage to qualify for London 2012.

World Records fell during the 2012 Games . England traditionally strong in Athletics especially at home. As such many expected competitors from the United Kingdom to be especially strong prepared to win medals this time in London. No doubt the Americans will be superior in many events but watch the World record making rivalry to come to the fore in track and field events. In addition I expect this time cycling to be popular and exciting. with World records expected to tumble in both road and track events.

Australia too has a number of former Olympic medal winning Swimmers attempting to make a comeback and qualify for the London Olympics. The most famous is three time Olympic Gold Medal winner and multiple world record holder Ian Thorpe. Ian Thorpeannounced his retirement from competitive swimming in 2004 at the ripe old age of 23 years old. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 2001 World Aquatics Championships, he became the first person to win six gold medals in one World Championship. Ian Thorpe has been in training for around twelve months and announced he was attempting to qualify for selection for London 2012.Unfortunately despite his best efforts he did not quite qualify. As predicted, by the experts the lead time he gave himself was too short. He has some work to do but with his make up and experience one would have to say he is more than half way there.

Other Aussie Swimmers making a comeback for Australian Swimming is Olympian Libby Trickett. Geoff Huegill made a comeback to the Commonwealth Games last year. In doing so he had to lose 30 kilos in weight. Put in twice daily training sessions. The gamble paid off, and he won the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games. He now too has his sights set on London 2012. Libby Trickett has made the team.

 Many of the Olympic Competition events will  be held outside of London such as Manchester,  Newcastle on Tyne,  Hampden Park in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales.