As more celebrities attend horse races, Hollywood directors such as STEVEN SPIELBERG to English footballer WAYNE ROONEY are "putting money into the development of one particular horse." Rolling Stones guitarist RONNIE WOOD has a stud farm in the Republic of Ireland. Rapper MC HAMMER has been "the proud owner" of a Kentucky Derby entrant. Royalty is not excluded, as UAE-based Godolphin stable is owned by UAE Prime Minister SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM. It "turns out 200 winners a year." English football player MICHAEL OWEN is already co-owner in a stable which has trained many U.K. race winners. ManU Manager ALEX FERGUSON is also a racehorse owner (CNN, 7/25).
CARRYING THE FLAG: Chinese basketball player YI JIANLIAN has been picked to become the national flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony of the London Games. The decision rules out the chances of hurdler LIU XIANG and 2011 French Open women's champion LI NA (CHINA DAILY, 7/25). ... Cambodian taekwondo standout SORN DARVIN will become the country's first female flag bearer at the London Games. The Phnom Penh native won a Silver Medal at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia (PHNOM PENH POST, 7/25). ... After 12 years, Germany again has a female flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony on Friday. Field hockey player NATASCHA KELLER will lead the German Olympic team into the stadium. The London Games will be Keller's fifth and final Olympics. She said, "It is a great honor for me personally and certainly a very big Olympic moment" (SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 7/25).
