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Rogge: London Games will not become an 'Olympishambles'
IOC chief insists that everything will be fine by the time the opening ceremony begins
Despite a welter of negative headlines in recent days, Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC, has insisted that the London Games have not become an 'Olympishambles'. According to The Daily Telegraph the closure of the M4 (now reopened), the security crisis, problems at Heathrow and the collapse of the O2 network "have highlighted the vulnerability of London's infrastructure", but Rogge said he was convinced everything would be "fine by the time of the opening ceremony".
BECKHAM DOES NOT WANT TO LIGHT OLYMPIC FLAME
David Beckham has removed himself from the running to light the Olympic flame, reports The Daily Mail, saying that the honour should go to an Olympian. Beckham, who was not selected for Stuart Pearce's Olympic football squad, insisted that someone "who has done incredible things for our country and won gold medals" should light the cauldron. Despite the disappointment of not playing for his country this summer, Beckham said he was "proud" to have helped bring the Olympics to London.
DOPE CHEATS WILL 'NEVER ESCAPE', SAYS CHAMBERS
Redeemed drugs cheat Dwain Chambers has warned athletes planning on doping at the Games that they will "never escape". He told The Times that if the testers failed to get you then the guilt would. Chambers, who now speaks against drugs at schools, said: "You may look at times and statistics but it doesn't help your life. It ruins your life and you will regret it for ever."
FEMALE SAUDI ATHLETES HEADED TO THE GAMES
Saudi Arabia has drafted two female athletes onto its Olympic team, and for the first time in Olympic history all participating nations now have women representing them, said The Independent. Even though Saudi Arabia would "not endorse" women as recently as April, 17-year-old middle distance runner Sarah Attar, and judoka Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani have now been added to the team. With Qatar and Brunei also sending women for the first time, London will likely see the highest number of female participants in Olympic history. ·
