Olympics

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Saudis Allowing Women to Compete in Olympics

Women will wear 'sport hijabs' covering hair, but not face

(Newser) - Whoah. Saudi Arabia has decided to allow female athletes to compete in the Olympics for the first time in history. The move ends speculation that the country might have faced banishment from the London Olympics for gender discrimination. The only female competitor currently up to Olympic standards is show jumper...

Olympic Torch Bearer Proposes During Relay

David State stopped mid-relay and handed off torch

(Newser) - Olympic torch bearers probably don't often stop in the middle of their relays, but David State had good reason: He got down on one knee today between England's Marske-by-the-Sea and Loftus, handed the torch to a security official, and proposed to his girlfriend Christine Langham. She said yes,...

Neo-Nazi Linked to Munich Olympics Massacre

Willi Pohl chauffeured attacks' mastermind

(Newser) - The killings of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972 have long been blamed on a Palestinian terrorist group—but Black September didn't act alone. The planner of the attacks was assisted by German Neo-Nazi Willi Pohl, 40-year-old German intelligence documents released by Der Spiegel reveal. When...

British Royal Makes Olympic Team

Zara Phillips chosen for equestrian team

(Newser) - Princess Anne has long been the only British royal to have competed in the Olympic Games but daughter Zara Phillips is about to join the ranks. Phillips, the queen's granddaughter, has been selected as one of five members of Britain's equestrian team at this year's London Games,...

Putin to Snub London Olympics

Medvedev to attend instead

(Newser) - Even though Russia will be hosting the next Winter Olympics in 2014, Vladimir Putin will snub this summer's games in Great Britain, reports the Guardian . Apparently Russia's recently re-elected president is unhappy with Britain for a range of reasons—being accused of human rights abuses, British MPs blocking...

Olympian Loses Bet, Will Wear Mankini to Games

Shooter Russell Mark will don it during opening ceremonies

(Newser) - Australian shooter Russell Mark may have won gold and silver in previous Olympics, but he lost a pretty big bet this go-round—and he's now stuck parading through the opening ceremonies in London wearing a lime-green mankini. The not-exactly-fashionable swimsuit was popularized by Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat, and...

Usain Bolt Leaves Girlfriend to Focus on Olympics
 Usain Bolt Leaves Girlfriend to Focus on Olympics 
tabloid says

Usain Bolt Leaves Girlfriend to Focus on Olympics

World's fastest man 'will have plenty of time for relationships'

(Newser) - The fastest man on the planet has one thing on his mind, and it's not romance. Usain Bolt has broken up with his girlfriend in order to focus on the Olympics, reports the Sun . "He will have plenty of time for relationships," says its source. "At...

Olympic Flame Lit in Greece
 Olympic Flame Lit in Greece 

Olympic Flame Lit in Greece

Torch begins first leg of its journey

(Newser) - The Olympic flame has been lit and is on its 1,800-mile journey around Greece before it makes its way to London next week. A “high priestess” (read: actress) ignited the flame by catching the sun’s rays in a mirror at a ceremony in Olympia’s Temple of...

London Cabbies Sitting Out Olympics

Some 40% of drivers to strike over city rules

(Newser) - London is planning travel restrictions for some 109 miles of its streets during the Olympics; a third of that distance will be reserved for athletes, members of the press, and officials. London cabbies aren't happy about it: Some 40% of the city's 23,200 black-cab drivers plan to...

US Still Rules in Decathlon

Americans dominate sport heading into London Olympics

(Newser) - In 2008, China beat out the US for most Olympic gold medals; this year, it's poised to garner the most total medals. Olympic glory has become a little less common stateside—but when it comes to the decathlon, we're set to do ourselves proud. The three favorites for...

London Warns Olympics Fans: Don&#39;t Post Pics
 London Warns 
 Olympics Fans: 
 Don't Post Pics 
olympics 2012

London Warns Olympics Fans: Don't Post Pics

Olympics protected by stringent branding laws

(Newser) - The Olympics are headed to London this summer, but visitors and athletes alike better beware of what they post online, reports Mashable . London has passed legislation ahead of the games to penalize people who violate the games' official branding. Legally speaking, this would include:
  • Athletes posting media of themselves with
...

Can Greece Afford Olympic Teams?

Cuts force suspension of domestic track and field events

(Newser) - The birthplace of the Olympics might no longer be able to afford participation in the games. Crushing austerity measures mean there's not enough state funds to pay coaches and training staff, so Greece's Athletic Federation is now suspending all domestic track and field events until the government coughs...

US Men's Soccer Knocked Out of Olympics

El Salvador scores last-minute goal to knock out U-23 team

(Newser) - The US won't be competing in men's soccer at the Olympics, thanks to a heartbreaking goal that came literally at the last minute. El Salvador battled the US to a 3-3 draw last night, the AP reports; the US, which had been heavily favored to win its group...

Prince Harry Fosters World Peace—With Beach Volleyball

British royal son bonds with Brazilians on the beach

(Newser) - If Prince Harry isn't fighting in Afghanistan , eyeing a climb of Mount Everest , or leading a bar hop in San Diego , he's ... fostering international relations through volleyball? The British royal son spent three days in Rio to publicize this year's London Olympics and Brazil's 2016 games,...

US Sending 500 FBI Agents to London Olympics

US government worried about athlete protection in London

(Newser) - The US government is so concerned about security preparations for the London Olympics that authorities plan to send 500 FBI agents and 500 other security personnel to protect American athletes and diplomats, reports the Guardian . US officials are worried about new legal restrictions on Britain's anti-terrorism "stop and...

London Olympics Blasted for Using Endangered Wood

Team USA will use basketball court for training

(Newser) - At next year’s London Olympics, the US basketball team will train on some pretty rare ground. The court is being made from eucalyptus wood logged in a 1,000-year-old Tasmanian forest that's home to endangered species such as the Tasmanian Devil, activists allege. The UN World Heritage Committee...

2012 London Gold Medals 'Sold' for $10M: BBC

The money is just an 'investment,' say officials

(Newser) - A boxing official made arrangements to "sell" two 2012 Olympic gold medals to the Azerbaijani team for $10 million, according to an investigation by the BBC . Millions of dollars in secret payments have already been made to international boxing organization World Series Boxing, sources say. In exchange, the head...

Greek Sprinters Cleared in Faking '04 Car Crash

Olympians accused of ducking drug tests

(Newser) - A Greek court yesterday overturned convictions for a pair of Greek sprinting stars accused of faking a car crash to avoid a drug test on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympics that were supposed to catapult them into national heroes. The judges ruled that there was reasonable doubt as...

USOC Threatens 'Redneck Olympics' With Lawsuit

Apparently they're not happy about the name...

(Newser) - The Redneck Olympics, held last weekend in Hebron, Maine, may be forced to change its name. Not the "redneck" part, the "Olympics" part. Harold Brooks, who held the three-day event on his land, got a call from the US Olympic Committee's legal division Monday telling him if...

London Riots Raise Olympic Fears
London Riots Raise
Olympic Fears

London Riots Raise Olympic Fears

Games will be secure, organizers vow

(Newser) - An outbreak of rioting and looting just as officials from almost 200 Olympic committees were visiting London has left organizers scrambling to reassure the world that security won't be an issue at the 2012 London Games. Officials say they are confident that local authorities will be able to handle...

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