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London Bits - Games Related Odds and Ends

July 30, 2012

Over Tweeting
Social media has become a real problem here at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and not just for U.S. goalie Hope Solo, who was pulled into a meeting with her coach and team captains for her tweets criticizing former U.S. star turned TV commentator Brandi Chastain’s. Chastain’s comments about the U.S. defensive play during the NBC broadcast of the America 3-0 win over Columbia apparently bothered Solo, who let the world know.

Insidethegames.biz reported today that over eager tweeters among the estimated one million spectators lining the men’s cycling road race course jammed the airways and prevented “key timing data from being broadcast by the BBC and other broadcasters that “left millions of viewers baffled and unable to follow the race properly. “

International Olympic Committee spokesman, Mark Adams, said the tweeting prevented GPS data prevented from being received by broadcasters. The web new service quoted Adams suggesting fans should hold back, unless it was urgent.

"We don't want to stop people engaging in social media and sending updates, but perhaps they might consider only sending urgent updates. Of course if you want to send something, we are not going to say 'Don't, you can't do it', and we would certainly never prevent people. It's just [a case of] if it's not an urgent, urgent one, please take it easy."

Adams said talks had taken place late last night and early this morning in attempts to solve the issue. "We are taking action on a number of things," he said. "It's a network issue, teething troubles, and it is that which we are working on."

Empty Seats Row – Day Two
Much of the British press was focused on the controversy over pictures and television broadcast showing rows of empty seats in some Olympic venues. The headline on a story in London’s Daily Mail read “Ticket Touts Disgrace.” The story reports “Prized Olympic tickets entrusted to foreign delegations are being openly sold by touts on the streets of Britain,” and that Scotland Yard arrested 20 people attempting to sell tickets.

The paper reported the revelation became know late Sunday night after a day of controversy and the launching of an official investigation over the empty seats at key events, including the Sunday night swimming finals.

Meanwhile, measures are being taken to fill the embarrassing spaces in the stands with British “troops, students, and teachers.” It goes on to report that “Olympic boss Lord Coe claimed the venues were stuffed to the gunwales and dismissed pictures of empty seats as holiday snaps.”

Missing Keys!

The Times reported today that the Metropolitan Police have been accused by the Olympic organizing committee of losing a set of internal keys at Wembley Stadium even through the police had been called in to investigate the missing keys in the first place. Police told the paper there was no sign of “criminal activity.”

Bonkers but Brilliant
Remember Benny Hill? The British do. For two days running now the English tabs have been referencing the former British television comedian and his constant use of scantly dressed women during comedy skits in reference to the women’s beach volleyball competition.  How can they not?

 As Daily Mail columnist Jane Fryer writes; “Maybe it’s the troupes of bikini-clad cheerleaders who keep running out to dance the conga and writher on all fours. Or it could be the Benny Hill tune that blasts out every time linesmen rush forward to rake the sand off the red court lines.

“Or perhaps it’s the D.J. yelling ‘This isn’t Wimbledon, you’re allowed to make some noise here. Whatever it is, women’s beach volleyball is not your average Olympic sport.” The headline on her column reads: “Benny Hill and bikinies . . . it’s bonkers but brilliant.”

For those who aren’t old enough to remember Benny Hill, try this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6gRX7-NgM

For 2012 Olympic Games news, features and daily quotes from Team USA athletes, coaches, staff and family members, visit http://www.usrowing.org/Pressbox/2012Olympics.aspx.

Ed Moran

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