The AP’s Stephen Wilson noted London will “provide a stunning mix of old and new” at Olympic venues during the Games. Beach volleyball players will be “diving across the sand in Horse Guards Parade, practically on the doorstep of the prime minister's 10 Downing Street residence.” Marathon runners and road cyclists will be “winding past Buckingham Palace,” and archers will be “firing their arrows at the hallowed Lord's cricket ground” (AP, 7/13). In Miami, Michelle Kaufman noted “just three weeks after the end of the Wimbledon tournament, the world’s eyes will be back on the All England Club” during the tennis competition for the London Games. The sport of tennis’ profile this summer “is elevated because of the historic venue at which it is being played.” Although the all-green backdrop “will be replaced by more colorful Olympic signage, and fans will not be permitted to queue overnight for tickets, most of Wimbledon’s traditions will remain intact” (MIAMI HERALD, 7/15).
LOOKING INTO DETAILS: The BBC’s James Pearce reported the IOC and LOCOG have “launched a joint investigation into the allegations” that Olympic sponsors' tickets “had been sold to the public for 20% more than their face value.” The company “at the heart of the allegations is CoSport, based in the US.” It is the world's “largest authorised re-seller of Olympic tickets.” Hundreds of British citizens “have purchased tickets from CoSport, taking advantage of EU laws which permit them to buy from the allocations given to other European countries.” It was “only when the delivery of CoSport tickets” to the U.K. began last week that “it became clear that many of those sold to the British public were actually tickets which had been promised to sponsors, rather than any individual countries” (BBC NEWS, 7/13).
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT: In Indianapolis, David Woods notes locally-based USA Track & Field “has been using scientific techniques for years,” but a partnership with St. Vincent Sports Performance “has increased the opportunities.” Of 125 athletes on the U.S. track team for the London Olympics, “55 have used St. Vincent services.” St. Vincent physician Todd Arnold said, "We believe that we can squeeze every little drop of orange juice out of this orange to maximize performance, and to reduce injury risk so they can keep training." St. Vincent Sports Performance Exec Dir Ralph Reiff said that he “expects USA Track & Field's template to be implemented by other sports governing bodies.” St. Vincent also has “agreements for medical care with three other Indianapolis-based national governing bodies: USA Gymnastics, USA Diving and USA Synchro” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/16).
