Latest Athletics News
2008 Paralympic Games
Bird’s Nest National Stadium
Beijing, China
Saturday 6th September 2008
A record 4,000-plus athletes from 147 countries and regions, 10 times the figure at the Games' debut in Rome 1960, attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games as China promised 'Two Games, equal splendour' and certainly delivered as the majesty matched that of its Olympic counterpart.
Less than a month after the mesmerising Olympic ceremony captivated audiences around the globe - despite controversies over miming and digital fireworks - the Bird's Nest welcomed the 13th Paralympics in a vibrant performance of light, colour, music and movement.
More than four thousand athletes from 148 countries paraded around the stadium in a celebration of 'transcendence, integration and equality' before competition for the first of 472 gold medals across 20 sports begins tomorrow.
China, where six percent of the 1.3 billion population - 83 million - are disabled, have embraced these Games with over one million tickets sold and the stadium was full to its 91,000-capacity for the curtain-raiser.
At the heart of the extravaganza - centred on themes of space, time and life - was Li Yue, a 12-year-old ballerina who lost her left leg in the Sichuan earthquake in May.
After a solitary sun bird flew suspended in a starlit sky - created by torchlight from the audience - and three hundred deaf girls dressed in pure white signed in a stunning synchronised dance, Li led a 'never-ending dance'.
Li conducted a group of ballerinas with hearing impairment before being held aloft to a huge ovation.
Pages then peeled from a giant magic book to symbolise the change of seasons and the cycle of life before 2,000 children danced expressively and acrobatically - once again in utter unison - as frogs, seagulls, ducks and cows.
Songs and fireworks took place throughout the ceremony, while 750 pairs of hands imitated birds in flight before the finale.
International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven promised the Games would be truly memorable.
"During the 12 days of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games you will realise that the differences that you might have thought existed in the world are in fact, far less apparent,'' said Craven. "You will see that we are all people of one world."
Six of the hosts' finest athletes - including Pin Yali, China's first Paralympic gold medallist - escorted the torch on its final journey.
Hou Bin, who lost his left leg at the age of nine before going on to triumph in the high jump at the last three Games, had the honour of lighting the flame.
Hou, sitting in a wheelchair, pulled himself up a rope suspended from the stadium roof before igniting the flame and setting off yet more stunning fireworks that proclaimed the Games open.
Britain's 206-strong team were the 80th nation to enter and were led into the stadium by athlete Danny Crates, a three-time Paralympian and the defending T46 800 metres champion.
The 35-year-old from Heybridge, Essex, who lost his right arm in a road accident in 1994, described his nomination as Britain's flag-bearer as the "pinnacle" of his career having come close to missing out on the Games through an Achilles injury.
"It was pretty amazing, more than you could ever imagine - It was pretty overwhelming," Crates said.
"We knew from the Olympics that the British team would get a good reception, but it doesn't prepare you for stepping out into the stadium, seeing the Union flags flying. "The opening ceremony is always special but this topped the lot."
http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Tuesday 2nd September 2008
ONE of Leicestershire’s top young athletics talents is due to start life as university ‘Fresher’ in the USA this Autumn (or should that be ‘Fall’) as British Under-23 international Rory Fraser has travelled to the States to embark on an athletics sports scholarship based in New Mexico - once there he will have the golden opportunity to compete on the high profile NCAA circuit where fellow British athlete Hannah England representing Florida State won the 1500m title so impressively this year.
Fraser, (21) from the Leicester Owls club, an Under-23 Team GB representative at the 2006 European Cross Country Championships in Milan, will be attending the University of New Mexico, based in the rarefied air of the high altitude mountains of Albuquerque - the favoured USA-training base of Britain’s world marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe.
Albuquerque is one of America's most attractive south-western cultural centres; the city is beautifully located among the spectacular ranges of the Sandia Mountains.
Paula Radcliffe said of the area: "The air is cleaner and the scenery and running is beautiful and motivating, as well as tough. The weather is also better there (than in England)...it's nice to be able to train in a T-shirt and shorts and dry sunshine."
The reigning Leicestershire cross-country and 800m champion, will represent the ‘Lobos’ athletics team over cross country and 5,000m on the track under the guidance of head coach Joe Franklin.
In only in his second year at New Mexico having joined in 2007 from Butler University, Franklin, under his tutelage, senior Jeremy Johnson won the Mountain West Conference men's title and earned All-America honours by placing 20th in his NCAA Cross Country Championship debut.
Fraser has been in excellent form over the 2008 outdoor season in the United Kingdom and currently has a personal best of 13mins 49.02secs over his favoured 5,000m distance set at the (BMC) British Milers Club Nike Grand Prix meeting in Manchester on May 31st and is on a full scholarship in the US - that basically means he will receive full funding for all tuition and living expenses and additional kit.
Many leading British athletes have benefited from university life in America including the likes of Liz McColgan and Becky Lyne, plus current Team GB under-23 international Andy Baker, based at Butler University in Indianapolis.
Speaking to him recently from his base in New Mexico, Fraser, reflected on his decision to go to America and what he has discovered since arriving in Albuquerque on August 10th.
“Initially it has taken a week or so to settle in but now I’m just getting down to some good training.
"The weather has been fantastic, the sun never seems to stop shining, and although it is hot the humidity is low so it makes things much more bearable.
“There is so much variation in the running you can do, plenty of things to keep you occupied whether it be up in the foot hills or down by the rivers.
”Just cant wait to get on and race now, I here that the races start at eye balls out and then get faster - just want to race a couple of time to get a feel for it and then have a good race come Nationals and hopefully better what Andy Baker did last year.”
The (NCAA) National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary organisation through which American colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. It is comprised of institutions, conferences, organisations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes.
In the 2007/08 season the Lobo men turned in their best ever (MWC) Mountain West Conference performance, finishing second overall with a score of 51 - the team's best at a conference meet since 1965. UNM also had a programme-best four athletes earn all-MWC honours on the men's side.
Located at 5,335 feet above sea level, the Great Friends of University of New Mexico Track & Field Stadium has been the home of the Lobo track and field program since 1985. The stadium is a multifunction, 5,000-seat facility that was renovated in the summer of 1996 to include a soccer field.
The opportunity to train and compete year-round in Albuquerque, gives athletes an extra advantage with its mile-high elevation, more than 300 days of sunshine a year and legendary reputation, Albuquerque is a favourite training location for some of the world's top track and field athletes. The world class training environment and facilities at UNM provide an opportunity for exceptional running and field event performances.
Article by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com
The official web-site of the New Mexico Go Lobos is available on the following link: www.golobos.com
Tuesday 2nd September 2008
ENGLAND Athletics are interested on getting the views of competing athletes on the current and future provision of Athletics Competition In England.
They would like your support to help them and other providers to enhance and develop athletics competition for you between the years 2009-2016.
There are some excellent competition models in place across the country at present but they believe that the sport must embrace change and be prepared to review and evolve its competition programmes / formats to not only attract and keep more people in the sport, but to improve performance levels across the range of events.
They are deliberately focusing this survey to get the views of athletes, whose interests should be at the heart of our work.
England Athletics is in the process of producing a strategic plan that will be launched in the Autumn. This plan will directly influence the way that we work and focus the best use of our resources.
The closing date for receipt of this survey is September 19th - To contribute to this process, please click on the below link: www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Z25m4jR7sm_2bnDpYih2PoNQ_3d_3d
Monday 1st September 2008
UK Athletics have parted company with performance director Dave Collins.
Collins has left his post with immediate effect after being told his contract, due to expire next March, would not be renewed.
Charles van Commenee, who as chef de mission led Holland to their second most successful Olympics in Beijing, where they won 16 medals including seven golds, is being tipped to succeed Collins.
The Dutchman was a candidate after the retirement of Collins' predecessor Max Jones four years ago but, frustrated by the slowness of the interview procedure, instead accepted the job of performance director with his national Olympic committee.
UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos believes the time is right for a change, with the Olympics Games in London in four years' time in mind.
De Vos said: "I would like to place on record my thanks to Dave for his contribution to the sport over the last four years.
"He has led a radical overhaul of our performance systems which will provide solid foundations on which we can now build to ensure athletics fully meets the challenges of 2012 and beyond.
"Our planning for this next Olympic cycle got under way several months ago and this decision and any subsequent appointment is the culmination of this detailed process.
"It certainly is not a negative reflection on what has gone before, on the contrary there is no doubt we have made progress since 2004.
"However we now need to take the next step on the performance ladder and give ourselves and British athletes the very best chance of success at a home Games in 2012."
Wednesday 27th August 2008
THE team to represent England Athletics East Midlands at the 2008 Experian Robin Hood Half Marathon that takes place in the city of Nottingham on Sunday 14th September.
The squad will be competing in an Inter-regional event against the other 8 England Athletics regions with the winning team receiving a prize of £250.00 per athlete.
Nominations from each of the 5 counties that make up the East Midlands region were sought through the East Midlands Council and the six-team members chosen are:
Men
Mark Powell (Leicester Owls) - East Midlands Half Marathon champion - reigning Birmingham Cross Country League champion
James Douglas (Charnwood) - Leicester Half Marathon champion
Bruce Raeside (Notts AC) - uk:a Indoor City Challenge 800m champion
Women
Clare Woolis (Sutton Harriers)
Kirsty Wigham (Wootton Road Runners)
Nicki Nealon (Huncote Harriers)- World Masters Half Marathon champion
www.experianfestivalofrunning.co.uk/
Wednesday 27th August 2008
ENGLAND ATHLETICS are planning and organising officials courses for Autumn 2008.
They will include health and safety courses and courses for endurance officials.
If you would like to book on any of the courses that appear below please click on the link and complete the relevant application form.
Level 2
4th October 2008 (Field Judge) Harvey Hadden, Nottingham
4th October 2008 (Track Judge) Harvey Hadden, Nottingham
12th October 2008 (Timekeeper) Loughborough University
12th October 2008 (Starter and Marksman) Loughborough University
2nd November 2008 (details to be confirmed but in the West Midlands)
Level 3
25th October 2008 at Loughborough University (for new Level 2s and existing Level 2 and 3 UKA officials)
26th October 2008 at Loughborough University (for existing Level 4 and 5 UKA officials)
Details of how to book can be obtained from their website: www.englandathletics.org/east-midlands/officials/officials-courses/east-midlands-courses/
Monday 25th August 2008
GREAT BRITAIN’S highly successful Olympic team landed at Heathrow via a British Airways plane with a special gold nose following the 10-hour flight from Beijing.
The team returned on a plane featuring a message reading "Proud to bring our British heroes home" emblazoned on the fuselage of the aircraft, renamed Pride after the British lion mascot.
The athletes finished fourth at this summer's Games with 19 gold medals, 13 silver and 15 bronze in Britain's most successful Olympics for 100 years.
Olympic gold medallists including Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington touched down just after 3pm before being taken to a hotel to meet the waiting press.
The countdown to London 2012 began last night when the Chinese handed over the Olympics to Britain at the end of the Beijing Games.
Britain has the daunting task of trying to match the pomp and ceremony of this year's Games which have widely been seen as a great success.
Team GB's return follows parties attended by thousands across the UK yesterday in celebration of their sporting achievements. More celebrations are expected today. At yesterday's spectacular closing ceremony Mayor of London Boris Johnson received the Olympic flag from his Beijing counterpart.
Billions of people around the world watched the capital's special eight-minute segment which offered a preview of what sports fans can expect in 2012, while across the UK flags were raised and celebrations were held to honour the occasion.
Thousands of flag-waving supporters gathered outside Buckingham Palace in the Mall to watch a show including a live link-up with the closing ceremony in China.
A series of pop acts then took to the stage as well as Olympians including Bradley Wiggins, Phillips Idowu and Michael Phelps.
Lord Sebastian Coe paid tribute to the British team and the boost their performance had given to the next Olympics in London.
Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Games, said: "Team GB have just provided us with the most extraordinary platform, those guys just performed way beyond what I think any of us were expecting."
Team GB chief Simon Clegg said: "We had a fantastic team party in the Olympic village for the whole of the British team after we got back from the closing ceremony.
"We have been living in a bit of a bubble, but it's going to be so exciting to see how much it's been embraced by everyone at home."
Beijing, China
Sunday 24th August 2008
MAYOR Boris Johnson has received the Olympic flag to signal the start of London's reign as Olympic host city for 2012 and spark celebrations in the capital.
An eight-minute handover presentation, featuring a red double-decker bus, football superstar David Beckham and musicians Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis followed, an estimated 40,000 people celebrated the handover at a party in London.
Johnson was handed the flag by IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in front of 91,000 capacity crowd at the Bird's Nest National Stadium.
The Mayor waved the flag four times, as directed, before handing it to an usher. He will bring the flag back to London on Tuesday and fly it outside City Hall alongside the Paralympic flag when those Games have concluded in September.
He will also display the flag at a major celebration in Beijing tonight for athletes, organisers, senior politicians including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, spectators and the media.
"I'm profoundly humbled by the immense privilege I've been given today," said Johnson. I'm also intensely proud. Proud of the athletes who pulled in the best medal tally for decades. Proud of the people behind them who've delivered this stunning success. And proud beyond all that London is now in charge of the Olympic legacy.
"The next Summer Games return to a country which I frequently boast has either invented or codified just about every major world sport.
"We will draw on that heritage and we will draw on our wit, flair, imagination and ingenuity to build on what we've all witnessed in Beijing and deliver a fantabulous Olympics in what I consider to be not only my home, but the home of sport - sport is coming home. See you in London!"
The International Olympic Committee awarded the Games of the 30th Olympiad to London on 6th July, 2005.
London won a two-way fight with Paris by 54 votes to 50 at the IOC meeting in Singapore, after bids from Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated.
Mayor Johnson says he is "absolutely determined" the 2012 Olympics will cost less than the current £9.3bn budget.
London will become the first city to stage the Olympics for a third time in 2012 on both previous occasions the capital has staged the Games at short notice - Rome pulled out of hosting the 1908 Olympics following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1906 and in 1948, London staged the Austerity Games following World War II.
Beijing, China
Saturday 23rd August 2008
AMERICAN Hyleas Fountain was awarded the Olympic heptathlon silver medal Saturday at a ceremony in the Athletes' Village following the expulsion of original runner-up Lyudmila Blonska for doping.
Steve Roush, the US Olympic Committee's sport performance chief, presented the medal to Fountain after she moved up because Ukraine's Blonska tested positive for methyltestosterone and faces a life ban for her second offence.
"I think it's great to get the silver, and I won it in a fair way," Fountain said. "But it's not my place to judge her. I just wanted to get on the medal stand. I didn't know where it would be. I'm very happy with the silver."
Fountain joined Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the only US women to ever claim Olympic heptathlon medals, scoring 6,619 points to finish behind Ukraine's Nataliia Dobrynska by 114 points.
Russia's Tatiana Chernova, who had 6,591 points for fourth, moved up to third to take the bronze previously awarded to Fountain.
Beijing, China
Friday 22nd August 2008
LEE MCCONNELL has pulled out of Great Britain's 4x400m women's relay team after suffering an injury.
The 29-year-old Loughborough University Sports Scholar is thought to have suffered a quad muscle tear in her right leg during the second round of the individual 400m competition.
The Scot was set to be in the strong team alongside 400m Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu and world silver medallist Nicola Sanders, in a chase for a relay medal.
Her absence could make way for Tasha Danvers, the 400m Hurdles bronze medallist, while Vicki Barr and Donna Fraser will make up the squad.
UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins said: "It is a big disappointment as she has made a huge contribution to the success of our 4x400m relay squad in recent years."
Beijing, China
Thursday 21st August 2008
BRITAIN’S Liz Yelling remained in good spirits despite the only eventuality she had not planned for - back luck - ruining the Commonwealth bronze medallists Olympic marathon dream.
The former Loughborough-based athlete had enjoyed a perfect preparation for the gruelling event and was hopeful of making a big improvement on her 25th-place finish in the 2004 Athens Games.
However, having led the field through the opening miles of Sunday's race, Yelling was tripped from behind and trampled by a number of fellow competitors.
The 33-year-old regained her footing and worked her way back into the leading pack, but she sustained a suspected rib fracture in the fall, an injury that continued to hamper her progress throughout the race.
Yelling reflected on her performance last Sunday said: "All my training had gone perfectly and I was relaxed and really looking forward to it.
It was such a big group because we didn't go off particularly fast, so I decided to go to the front because I've got such a long stride and tend to get clipped a lot. I did that for safety and sat there and felt really good and really comfortable.
"About nine miles into the race, I decided to tuck in and got back into the middle of the pack. Someone took me out from behind, I hit the tarmac and people were jumping all over me.
"I did roll and got up quite quickly and got back to the front group, but after two miles the pain started kicking in.
"My ribs were killing me and the fact I couldn't really breathe without it hurting restricted my breathing for the remaining 16 miles.
"I was forced to run within myself in the second half of the race, which was extremely frustrating, but there was nothing I could do.
"I kept trying to run quicker but had to back off again."
"I'm disappointed but have to live with what happened," she said.
"I had trouble breathing and they sent me for an x-ray and said nothing was cracked. But it doesn't always show up.
"Laughing, breathing and crying hurts, so I've been quite delicate since the race and have been dosed up on paracetamol.
"With the marathon you're putting a lot of eggs in one basket and the Olympics is only every four years.
"I'd prepared meticulously for it in the past six months from qualifying in London to training in Florida. I sorted out stomach issues, nutrition and I tried to tick every box.
"On the day of the race I felt amazing but because of something out of my control it went a bit Pete Tong in the second half.
"Sport can be cruel but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Although I'm massively disappointed, I have to accept it."
Yelling wasn't the only British athlete to see her chances thwarted by injury, with world record-holder Paula Radcliffe again suffering heartache.
The Bedford & County team mates, who grew up as training partners, shared an emotional embrace on the track after the world record holder, recovering from a stress fracture, came home just three places ahead of Yelling.
"I know Paula so well and know what it means to her," said Yelling.
"My tears were for her and for me. I was gutted for Paula and hope she can pick herself up and bounce back - she's still the world record-holder."
As for Yelling, she is unsure what the future holds and will sit down with husband Martin to discuss her next move.
"I'm just going to use the next two weeks to sit down and reflect and see where I'm going to fit having a family into my life, possibly before 2012, if I want that to be part of my plans," she added.
Beijing, China
Wednesday 20th August 2008
LYUDMILA BLONSKA, the Ukrainian athlete who won silver in the women's heptathlon, is facing disciplinary action after failing a drugs test.
It is understood Blonska, who has already previously served a two-year ban for drugs, tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
The case is expected to come before the IOC's disciplinary commission and executive board, which meet on Thursday (21st August).
Following Blonska's silver medal Britain's Kelly Sotherton, who finished fifth in the event, called for a worldwide policy to prevent drug cheats from returning to compete in the Olympics.
The IOC refused to confirm the positive finding, saying in a statement: "The IOC does not comment, or provide information, on any doping cases until a decision is made by either the disciplinary commission or executive board."
Blonska, (30) was given a two-year ban in 2003 after testing positive for steroids. If the latest positive test is confirmed by the IOC on Thursday then she could be given a lifetime ban.
Sotherton said early this week: "I'm not happy she competed again. We have rules in our country that we abide by. We don't bring anybody who cheated previously, so why should any other country?
"I'd have been really upset if she'd won gold. The penalty you should pay if you take drugs is not to compete at the Olympics."
Under usual IOC procedure, Blonska will be stripped of her silver medal and her accreditation for the Games withdrawn. It would mean the USA's Hyleas Fountain moving up to silver, Russia's Tatiana Chernova moving up to bronze, and Sotherton's official finishing position being fourth.
Tuesday 19th August 2008
UK ATHLETICS is pleased to announce the extension of a partnership with the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, which will see a 2nd World Class Coaching Conference held this autumn, at Loughborough University. The provisional dates are Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October.
Following the success of the 2007 World Class Throws Conference, the RPMF working with UKA, will seek to reach new heights by staging a World Class Jumps Conference, featuring some of the World’s greatest exponents of the various events, and their coaches.
Final details for a full weekend of presentations and practical demonstrations by the World’s very best exponents are being confirmed and more news will follow shortly. The RPMF are currently in discussion with Stefan Holm and his father/coach, Jonny, to lead the High Jump section and Mike Powell, the World Record Holder, and successful coach to head up the long jump.
The pole vault will hopefully feature American Beijing Olympic silver medallist Jennifer Stuczynski and her coach, Rick Suhr, to explain the training programme that has allowed her to rise to the very top within 4 years of first picking up a pole! In the triple jump we will capitalise on the recent, and hopefully current, success in the event to have the “Best of British” coaches and athletes joining us to share the knowledge and experience of those who have been there and done it at the very highest levels.
The Conference shall feature long jump and high jump programmes on one day, and triple jump and pole vault on the other, to allow coaches to attend multiple presentations. In addition, some of our most talented young athletes and their coaches will also be invited to attend a special one day clinic which will allow them to work personally under the guidance of the invited coaches.
The Olympic Games in Beijing mean that exact details and confirmed attendees are proving difficult to finalise before the end of August.
For further details email conferences@ukathletics.org.uk to confirm your interest and we will send out a booking form once more details become available.
To check the review of last year’s event, which received widespread acclaim, you can visit www.rpmf.org.uk/pdfs/AW_Nov_29_News_10.pdf
For full details and information of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, please visit – www.rpmf.org.uk
Monday 18th August 2008
BRITAIN’S Paula Radcliffe has not ruled out one last attempt at Olympic glory in four years' time in London 2012 after finishing 23rd in the marathon in Beijing.
The 34-year-old Loughborough/Monaco based athlete was in tears as she crossed the finish line at the Bird's Nest National Stadium after a gutsy performance.
"It's not the end," she said. "We'll keep our fingers crossed for 2012, maybe the Olympics won't happen for me, but I can do it in 2012 if my body holds together. I guess that is what I need now, a bit of luck."
Radcliffe's preparations for the 26.2 mile race were far from ideal as she battled back from a stress fracture to her leg to compete, Radcliffe started well but faded and briefly stopped two miles from home with cramp.
The world record holder admitted she was not in the right shape coming to Beijing but pointed to 38-year-old winner Tomescu as her inspiration to compete at the London Games.
"I was trying to achieve the impossible I guess," she added. "The amount of running I've done coming in wasn't enough.
"But I didn't do all that work for nothing. It's just really frustrating.
"I knew I was pushing it coming in with three-and-a-half weeks of running. You can't take shortcuts in the marathon and I guess I learned that today.
"Fingers crossed for 2012. Look at Constantina – she’s 38! maybe I can do that. I know in London I will have all that support."
Having only confirmed her participation days before the marathon, Radcliffe was determined not to repeat her performance in Athens four years ago where she dropped out after suffering from dehydration.
The Bedford athlete started comfortably enough as she kept pace with the early pace setters
However, she started to tire just after the halfway mark as Tomescu hit the front and stretched the field with a burst that was to see her through to the end.
Radcliffe fought to stay in contention, but she had no response to the breakaway pack and she appeared visibly shattered.
"I would have walked because it was something that was actually ok walking. I haven't made the injury worse.
"If I felt I was doing some serious damage I would have stopped. It's horrible when you have to drop out, especially when it's the Olympic Games. So many people have worked so hard to get me here.
"I wanted to finish. It was really frustrating because I felt really comfortable. I could talk and tell (husband) Gary what was wrong.
"My calf was just so bad I had to stretch it. The pain felt like it was coming up from my foot. Early in the race I had this weird feeling that someone was kicking my foot away while I was running."
Thursday 14th August 2008
GLOBAL super brand Nike has launched an ad campaign to support Paula Radcliffe's bid to improve on the unfufilled promise of the Athens Olympics and win gold in the marathon in Beijing.
Radcliffe, who was hotly tipped to win gold in 2004 but eventually retired from the Athens marathon in hot conditions, has battled her way back from injury in time to compete in the event in Beijing on Sunday, August 17th.
Nike has launched ads in the Sun and a website, giving members of the British public the chance to support Radcliffe by signing their name on one of the 22,850 steps it takes to cover the 26.2 mile marathon.
One of the press ads suggests that Radcliffe "runs faster with the support of the British public".
Those that sign up to support Radcliffe will get their names printed in part of a double-page ad in the Sun on Friday.
The ad campaign, by Nike's agency Wieden & Kennedy London, is one of a number of tactical marketing initiatives the sports giant is rolling out based on key moments in the Olympics.
A quick-turnaround ad campaign has been planned to support Nicole Cooke, who won Britain's first Beijing gold medal in the cycling road race, ahead of her next event.
www.weruntogether.com
Wednesday 13th August 2008
WORLD record-holder Paula Radcliffe is set to run Sunday's marathon while Japan’s defending champion Mizuki Noguchi has pulled out.
Radcliffe has been a doubtful starter after failing to recover fully from a stress fracture of her left leg.
"Of course, I could do with a bit more time, but (I'll) just go in and give it a go. That's a hundred times better than watching on TV,'' Radcliffe commented.
"If it was a big city marathon or even a world championships I'd say do not push it, make sure I was well prepared.
"But I don't want to sit there watching it wondering what could have happened."
The 34-year-old Loughborough/Monaco based athlete has yet to win an Olympic medal, she was forced to drop out of the 2004 marathon in Athens with dehydration, and the 10,000m a few days later.
"It certainly means I have a lot of unfinished business with the Olympics," she said.
"But I also think the Olympics are something more special anyway."
Radcliffe was diagnosed with the injury in May but has been determined to make the trip to China.
"There were times in the last 12 weeks when I thought 'How can this be happening, has someone put a jinx on me?" she said.
"But then I'd go to bed and think 'No this is the Olympics, I'm not going to give up'.
"Regardless of what happened four years ago this still would have been something I fought for.
"I have not taken stupid risks with my leg - but at every point I have tested it and pushed it a bit further because you're taking a gamble."
Japan's Noguchi pulled out of the race after tearing her left thigh in training. Athens gold medallist Noguchi, (30) was bidding for unprecedented back-to-back wins in the Olympic women's marathon.
Macau, China
Sunday 10th August 2008
BRITAIN’S Paula Radcliffe is poised to declare herself fit to start next weekend's Olympic marathon in her bid to beat the odds and win a surprise gold medal.
However, the reigning champion, Japan's Mizuki Noguchi, seems less likely to make next Sunday's race after cutting short her altitude training in the Swiss Alps and undergoing scans for muscle soreness.
With both Radcliffe and Noguchi struggling for fitness, next weekend's race will be wide open but the British world record-holder and 2005 world champion does look like making the start after a week of clear training at the British camp in Macau, near Hong Kong.
Radcliffe fractured a femur at the end of May and her preparations were further interrupted when she was being bitten by a poisonous spider while training in the French Pyrenees last month.
But, apart from a typhoon disrupting outdoor training last week, Radcliffe has run regularly on roads and grass trails around the local golf course here and is scheduled to line up in Tiananmen Square.
Noguchi's troubles would ordinarily increase Radcliffe's chances of gold but the 34-year-old Briton has lost months of training time. It means neither she nor Noguchi seem likely to be challenging for medals.
Radcliffe, who is in Macau with her husband, Gary Lough, was joined by her parents, Peter and Pat, on Thursday as well as her two-year-old daughter, Isla, and is said to be in good spirits.
Radcliffe insisted that the searing heat of Greece did not affect her but she will have to contend with even worse humidity and temperatures in Beijing.
Pollution levels in the Chinese capital on Friday reached almost four times the World Health Organisation's recommended limits.
Saturday 9th August 2008
PETER COE, the father of two-time Olympic champion and Loughborough University graduate Sebastian Coe, died on Saturday following a short illness. He was 88. Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympic organizing committee, had delayed his trip to the Beijing Games to spend time with his father in a London hospital and had just arrived in the Chinese capital when his father died.
He plans to return to Britain for the funeral. The family was making arrangements but no details had been released.
Coached by his novice father, an engineer by trade who survived when his merchant navy ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic during World War II, Coe burst onto the international scene as a 20-year-old in 1977 when he ran to victory in the European indoor championships.
Peter Coe recognized that the prevailing coaching methods for middle-distance racing in Britain were outmoded and revolutionized the program for his son, focusing on repetitious speed work rather than longer, slower sessions. Working with the academics at Loughborough University, Coe helped to pioneer the use of biomechanics and biochemistry (amongst other things) in monitoring an athlete's training and performance, a practice now widely accepted and used at UKA's High Performance Centres.
"My father had an extraordinary influence on my life," Coe said last month.
"His view was that you couldn't be a specialist in every discipline within the sport," Coe said in a BBC documentary eight years ago. "He understood the basics of biomechanics and eventually became an extremely capable physiologist, but he didn't spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about those issues - he found people who could spend time worrying about them, while he concentrated on the coaching and bringing the team together."
Coe broke his first world record in 1979 before becoming a two-time 1,500-metre Olympic champion in 1980 and 1984, each time overcoming the disappointment of being beaten in his preferred 800.
British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan said Peter Coe was one of the best coaches he had seen.
"In the world of coaching and inspiring and influencing there are few men in the history of British athletics of whom it could be said that they were truly among the greatest," Moynihan said. "He had a quiet determination and concentration on detail.
"Peter Coe's contribution to Seb's success, to British athletics and to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him was always of gold medal standard."
Sebastian Coe was lobbying for the London 2012 bid in 2005 when his mother, Angela, died on the eve of one of his trips to canvas voting delegates. He flew out to Australia immediately after the funeral and presented London's bid in one of the meetings that helped sway voters in favour of the English capital over high-profile bids from Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid in July of that year. Peter and Sebastian Coe also co-wrote two books about athletics coaching.
XXIX Beijing Olympic Games
Beijing, China
Friday 8th August 2008
THE XXIX Olympic Games were officially started with a glittering and visually stunning opening ceremony in Beijing in front of a wowed crowd of 91,000 at the Bird's Nest National Stadium.
Many of the world's leaders - including American president George Bush, Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, and France president Nicolas Sarkozy were present as China showed they had spared no expense in welcoming the Olympic movement into Beijing.
Fully aware that the eyes of the world are on them, Chinese officials made sure they put on a show that would erase all of the problems they had suffered in the build-up, most notably some protests and worries over human rights and the constant air pollution worry.
Although the air quality and visibility was again poor, the massive and well orchestrated firework display that lit up the Bird's Nest could be seen for miles around - in a real show put on for the world by China.
Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the opening of the 29th Olympic Games at the culmination of the three-and-a-half-hour ceremony in front of a global television audience of one billion and over 80 world leaders and royals.
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said in his address: "For a long time, China has dreamed of opening its doors and inviting the world's athletes to Beijing for the Olympic Games, tonight that dream comes true.
"For 16 days, the Beijing Games will not only be a moment of sporting excellence, they will also be the discovery of other countries and will allow us to share the passion that only an event like the Olympic Games can bring to life."
"Beijing, you are a host to the present and a gateway to the future. Thank you!"
China imposed the strictest of security measures and deployed an extra 100,000 soldiers and police on the streets for the ceremony, while Beijing's airport was closed for the duration of the ceremony, and a no-fly zone imposed above the city.
Beginning in a blaze of fireworks followed by 2,008 drummers playing the traditional Chinese instrument the fou, the ceremony also included 29 giant firework 'footprints' - representing the number of modern Olympic Games - from the centre of Beijing to the stadium.
A light-show followed, with giant illuminated Olympic rings being raised up from the floor of the stadium, and a total of 10,000 well-drilled performers took part in the show, all in all making a staggeringly well prepared and ultra-expensive opening ceremony.
The lighting of the cauldron was performed by former Chinese gymnast Li Ning, who won three golds Los Angeles in 1984, then went on to build a huge sporting apparel company and turn himself into an icon of successful, modern China.
Mark Foster led the British contingent into the arena, and 7ft 6in basketball star Yao Ming carried the Chinese flag.
The procession of athletes took place with nations appearing according to the number of brush strokes required to write each country's name in Chinese.
Team GB therefore became the 115th team to enter the arena, with Australia - traditionally third into the arena by alphabetical order - appearing third last.
Britain's track and field athletes were absent from the ceremony as they are yet to travel to Beijing from the team's Macau training camp.
Video highlights are available above.
Saturday 9th August 2008
OCTOPUS Media Technology, an agency specialising in online video services. In association with the London Development Agency and with BT sponsorship, have launched a new website to support Team GB in Beijing.
Anyone can record and upload video messages for a favourite athlete, sport or a general message to cheer on Team GB. This is not a commercial venture, they are just trying to encourage the public to support the athletes representing Great Britain at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as they believe this can really make a difference.
Upload your video support messages for a favourite athlete, sport or send a general message to cheer on Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The messages will be played out on in Beijing at London House so please show your support for over 300 athletes representing Great Britain. YOU could really make a difference!
To visit the site and post a video click on the following link: www.l2b2008.com/
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BBC Sport | Athletics
IAAF | World Athletics
7 September 2008 - Paris, France - Team USA was the winner with 89 points in a closely contested match in Charlety stadium for the fourth edition of SEAT DecaNation, with Germany in second place with 85 points, one more point than France who were third.
EAA | European Athletics
London | 2012 Olympics
World Sports | News
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