London Bits - Games Related Odds and Ends

July 25, 2012

Bold Bolt
A story in The Sun reports that Jamaican track star Usain Bolt said he would not consider himself a track legend unless he wins again in London like he did in Beijing when he broke records in the 100 and 200-meter events. “Winning an Olympics once is not the mark of a great athlete.

“Anyone can win one. You have to do it again if you are to stand out from the crowd.”
Bolt added that when he was done with track he wanted to play soccer – for Manchester United of all teams. Bolt is quoted in the paper saying that team manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, “hasn’t seen me play, so you never know. There will be no one faster than me at the club, that’s for sure.”

Olympic Security
A shortage of available private security guards forced Britain to deploy a total of 18,200 British troops to pat down Olympic spectators and man security scanners. That’s nearly twice the 9,500 British troops now deployed in Afghanistan The Independent reported today.    
Want to Bet
As Friday night’s Opening Ceremony approaches, there is still a buzz in Great Britain about who will participate in the grand spectacle, what the Queen will wear and, in particular, who will light the Olympic Flame.

It’s gotten so much attention here in London, that the Brits are actually taking bets.
And it can be done online.
 
One site dedicated to bookmaking, “online-betting.me.uk” is offering odds on the color of the hat Queen Elizabeth will wear. Odds of 2/1 and 4/1 are being offered that she wears an orange/peach hat. Another online bookie says it will be light blue at 4/1 and yellow is getting 7/1 odds.

Other bets are being taken on if rain will extinguish the touch (7/4) and who gets to light the flame. British Olympic rowing icon, Sir Steve Redgrave is the big favorite at (2/5) followed by decathlete Daley Thompson at (7/2).

Ali Again?
Soccer hero David Beckham, snubbed for a role on the football team, is expected to play some role in the Opening Ceremony, but the surprise yesterday, as reported in The Daily Telegraph was the appearance of one of the world’s most recognized sports figures, Muhammad Ali.

The Greatest was in London and participated in a sports award ceremony with Beckham Tuesday night, which has led to speculation that at 70, Ali might have a role in the Friday night celebration. Remember 1996 in Atlanta when Ali surprisingly stepped onto the stage and lit the flame that ignited the cauldron?

Beckham told the audience that Ali “stood for so many amazing things throughout his life, whether it’s what he did in the ring or outside of the ring. His life and his career was all about survival and he is an amazing man.”

Rowing By The Numbers
There are 14 rowing events in the Olympic Games. Only Germany qualified boats in all 14 classes. Great Britain and Australia have 13; the U.S. has 12 and New Zealand 11.

There are 58 different National Olympic Committees rowing in London with 206 athletes participating. The U.S. has a total of 44.

The U.S. has won the men’s eight 12 times, a record for the most wins in a single event.

Host Great Britain hasn’t ever won a gold medal in a women’s event, but has won a total of 24 golds in the men’s events.

Three days until rowing begins.

Ed Moran

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