British Cycling Performance Dir DAVE BRAILSFORD is rumored to become "Sir Dave" after the cycling team's "incredible Olympics performance," according to Benedict Moore-Bridger of the London INDEPENDENT. Brailsford and his team have seen their riders claim 12 Medals from a total of 14 road and track events, including eight Golds (INDEPENDENT, 8/8). ... MICHAEL PHELPS defended Chinese swimmer and two Gold Medal winner YE SHIWEN and said it was "sad" that her Olympic performances had been greeted with skepticism when she broke the world record in the 400m individual medley. Phelps said, "It's kind of sad that people have a great swim and that's the first thing they say" (JIJI PRESS, 8/8). Mandopop singer FISH LEONG sparked controversy on Chinese social media with a comment after Malaysian badminton player LEE CHONG WEI lost to world champion Chinese player LIN DAN in the Olympics final. Leong tweeted: "What an exciting match! Cry cry...but still very proud." Many on Sina Weibo accused Leong, who is Chinese but hails from Malaysia, of "betraying the country" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/8). ... Most-capped German national team player LOTHAR MATTHÄUS "will work as a TV analyst for German pay-TV channel Sky" during the upcoming Bundesliga season. The 51-year-old will join Sky for its "match of the week" broadcasts on Saturday evenings (DPA, 8/7). ... For 11 years, HARALD STENGER was the press spokesperson of the German football national team. Next week's friendly against Argentina will be the last appearance of the former "Frankfurter Rundschau" reporter. The German Football Federation announced that Stenger's contract, which ends on Aug. 31, will not be extended (DPA, 8/7).
LEGEND IN THE HOUSE: The AP’s Stephen Wilson notes ROGER BANNISTER, the
first man to break the four-minute mile, was “front and center at
Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night to watch the men's 1,500 meters.” He
sat with LOCOG Chair SEBASTIAN COE, who won the Gold Medal in the event for Great Britain in both the '80 Moscow and '84 L.A. Games (AP, 8/8). The AP’s Jill Lawless notes former U.S. Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE was “spotted at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, and actress SUSAN SARANDON watched men's water polo alongside gold medalist CARL LEWIS on Monday.” Microsoft Founder BILL GATES
“has attended events including table tennis and beach volleyball.” But
otherwise, Lawless writes “megastars have been few and far between” at
the Games (AP, 8/8).
NO GHOST TOUR TICKETS AVAILABLE: The FINANCIAL TIMES’ Helen Warrell noted London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON
was “quick to dismiss suggestions last week that the Olympic Games had
turned some parts of central London into a ghost town as tourists
flocked to the stadium and Londoners heeded warnings not to overburden
public transport.” Johnson said, “That’s absolutely not the case. In the
West End we’ve got big crowds in the heart of London area." He added,
"We’ve got footfall up about 16 per cent on last year and the
(companies) are getting ... ready for crowds at Hyde Park, big crowds in
Victoria Park so (things are as good) as they could possibly could be” (FT.com, 8/6).
