Olympic Victory: Germany

Monday, July 30, 2012

2012 Olympic Equestrian Photos

Peter Thomsen of Germany competes in the equestrian eventing cross country phase at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 30, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Fans disappointed they can't see Olympic flame

The cauldron is made up of pronged components, which rose together when lit by seven young athletes as part of the Opening Ceremony festivities. It will be stationed at one end of the stadium, but, unlike the Bird's nest in Beijing, it's not high enough to be visible from the outside.

London's Olympic budget was cut because of the economic downturn but it's not known whether that contributed to the decision on how to place the flame.

"They have done a disappearing act with it," said Londoner Colin Millard, 58. "We can't wait to see some events, and it doesn't spoil your day, but of course you would like to think it is all part of the experience. You come to the Games, you get a photo with the flame."

Others were similarly bemused at the fact that apart from TV viewers, the only people who will able to see the flame are those fortunate enough to hold tickets for the track and field competition.

"It was like, now you see it, now you don't," said Linda Samuel, of Essex, just outside London. "I loved the Ceremony, and the flame was a dramatic moment. But now it's like it's not here."

The cauldron was the brainchild of designer Thomas Heatherwick and is made up of 204 flames in copper-petal bowls, representing the participating nations. They are mounted on stems of stainless steel, which were then painted in a shade of blue known as "bad black."

The cauldron stands at 25 feet high and weighs more than 35,000 pounds. At the end of the Games, the prongs will be dismantled and each one presented to the nation it represents.

TV Ratings Sail on Sunday in US Markets

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Greg Douglas from Canada in action sailing the Finn class during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Weymouth & Portland Venue at Weymouth Harbour on July 29, 2012 in Weymouth, England. (Photo by Richard Langdon/Getty Images)

Sunday, July 29, 2012

DT12, Dream Team 2012

TEAM USA, aka DT12

Sun, Lochte lead 200 free qualifying - Yahoo! Sports

Sun, Lochte lead 200 free qualifying - Yahoo! Sports:

'via Blog this'

Photo By David J. Phillip

LONDON (AP) -- Sun Yang of China and Ryan Lochte of the United States were back in the pool Sunday as the top two qualifiers in the 200-meter freestyle hours after their gold-medal efforts at the London Olympics.

Sun was fastest in 1 minute, 46.24 seconds coming off his victory in the 400 free on Saturday.
"I'll try to do my best, but the 200 freestyle is not my best event," he said. "It's more difficult for me compared to the 400 meters or the 1,500 meters."

Lochte was second at 1:46.45, having won the 400 individual medley on the first night of Olympic swimming.
"I didn't get to bed until like 2 a.m. so I'm a little tired, but it was a prelims swim, so I'm not too worried about it," said Lochte, who was out celebrating with his family.

Yannick Agnel of France was third at 1:46.60. Also advancing was Park Tae-hwan of South Korea, who finished second behind Sun in the 400 IM after initially being disqualified in the prelims and then reinstated. Park was fifth-fastest at 1:46.79.

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