London 2012: Olympic saltire flag ban lifted for Hampden - BBC News
The saltire flag will be allowed to fly over Scotland's national football stadium during the London Olympics, games bosses have confirmed.
The move came after they previously said it could not be flown over Hampden, which is hosting some Olympic 2012 football matches.
Scottish athletes represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games, under the banner of the Union Flag.
The Welsh dragon will also be allowed to fly at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
A spokesman for the London 2012 Organising Committee said the move had been backed by the International Olympic Committee.
Hampden is holding eight London 2012 football matches.
The original restriction did not apply to fans attending games at the stadium.
London Welsh to contest decision soon – Rugby News Update - Bettor.com
London Welsh to contest decision soon – Rugby News Update
London Welsh, a club that plays in the Championship, the second tier of rugby in England have defeated the Cornish Pirates over a two-legged final to be declared champions.
However, they are not being allowed promotion into the Aviva Premiership, the top tier of rugby in England, as they do not fill the minimum requirement criteria. Their application to join the country’s elite was rejected by the Professional Game Board, a decision that was upheld by the Rugby Football Union.
After securing the title, the club is keen to fight their case in order to secure their promotion into the top flight. They have a minimum of three months to know what tier they will be playing in, as the new season will start by then. It provides the club a very small window of opportunity to take the matter to court or settle for an out of court settlement. London Welsh were waiting till the season concluded, and now that they have emerged winners, they are in a strong bargaining position.
Club chairman, Bleddyn Phillips, said, "We shall be lodging an appeal in the very near future and in parallel we are pursuing all other available opportunities to make sure we can take our rightful and deserved place in the Aviva Premiership."
John Taylor, the managing director of the club has said that the refusal of the RFU has brought the situation into a tipping point. He referenced the need of the RFU to make the Championship a professional body, and they need to support the lower league teams, in order to create a culture where the teams have an opportunity to advance.
He said, "The feeling is that even if we were to be in a situation at the end of it for whatever reason we didn't win this appeal, and we are going to fight it very, very hard, things will never be the same again. They will not be prepared to go through this again at the end of next season.”
It is going to be a long summer for London Welsh and they have to make important decisions regarding the future of the club.
VAUXHALL MOTORS LAUNCHES NEW ENGLAND TV ADVERT - 3d-car-shows.com
Today, Vauxhall Motors launched the sequel to their Home Nations football TV advert. ’Supporting a Nation’ features current members of the England Football Squad, football fans and Vauxhall staff from the Vauxhall Ellesmere Port production facility in Merseyside, the home of the Vauxhall Astra.
This new TV advert will air before the England versus Belgium friendly on 2nd June 2012 and subsequently around key fixture dates during the summer. The soundtrack ‘What a Life’ by Noel Gallagher’s band, ‘High Flying Birds’ is used again, a track which has become synonymous with football and was first used exclusively by Vauxhall Motors in the original Home Nations TV advert aired in September 2011.
The new advert focuses on the England team as they prepare for a major fixture. It reflects on how fans stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the players, supporting the team and bringing the nation together.
Ex-Liverpool and England legend John Barnes features in the Vauxhall advert and said; “As an England fan I share the same excitement that all fans feel before a big game. I really enjoyed standing alongside other England fans in the Vauxhall TV ad and can’t wait to support the boys this summer in Poland and the Ukraine.”
The England players prepare to leave the dressing room ahead of a big match, Steven Gerrard pulls on his England shirt, a fan follows the same routine as he puts on his ‘Gerrard’ shirt and joins the line-up of fans. Joe Hart ties his boots as he sits – headphones on – listening to music. The line-up extends into a pub where fans meet their friends to watch the England match. The fan line-up extends into the tunnel where the players exit the dressing room to stand together with fans, all united. Scott Parker acknowledges the fans as the team turn and walk down the tunnel.
Commenting on the inspiration of the new Vauxhall Motors advert, Peter Hope, Marketing Director stated; “We wanted the advert to reflect the unity of the nation getting behind the England team and bring the players and the fans together”
“During a major tournament we all become football fans and as the England Team sponsor, we wanted to capture the emotion just before a major England fixture. “
McCann Erickson Birmingham developed the campaign for Vauxhall Motors under the creative direction of James Cross and Tim Jones. Explaining the premise behind the advert, James said, “The advertisement captures the excitement and anticipation a nation feels heading into an international football tournament, but it’s not about being a die-hard football fanatic, it’s about people everywhere showing support for their nation. This advertisement is a celebration of that. And it’s this message of wide-ranging support that’s true of Vauxhall as a brand.”
To view the new Vauxhall England TV ad, visit vauxhallfootball.co.uk/england2012
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Bolt vows to ‘wow’ London Olympics - Westmidlands.com
Usain Bolt is aiming to “wow” the world with his performances at the Olympics.
Bolt got back into the groove on Thursday night with victory in the Rome Diamond League 100metres in 9.76 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. It was his fourth fastest time ever, with the previous three all world records.
Bolt will draw inspiration from London’s Jamaican community during the Olympics, and he warned rivals like Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake that his Italian job was just the start. He said: “I know I can go faster because this is the start of the season. I have a long way to go.
“I’m really looking forward to competing here. I haven’t competed in London for a while so I’m really looking forward to it. I know all the Jamaicans living here are looking forward to it also so I’m just preparing to put on a great show. At the end of the day I just want to wow people after this Olympics so I’m looking forward to it.”
Bolt was in London on Friday to launch Jamaica’s Bob Marley-inspired Puma kit for the Olympics. Asked whether he will need to improve on 9.76secs to win gold, and whether he can go faster, Bolt said: “That’s what I do. The season is still early. Everybody is running 9.8 so that’s good competition. 9.7 is also good for me.
“I’m happy with the way it is and just want to continue working hard and run faster so I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to go.”
Bolt’s performance in Rome put to bed any questions about his form after he ran 10.04secs in Ostrava last week.
“I never doubt my ability, never. People forget, and I keep explaining to people, that athletes have bad days,” he said. “Every athlete can – cricket, football, any sport – you have bad days and that was just one of mine and I got past it and now I’m just moving forward.”
Bolt decided after Ostrava that he needed a few early nights, which clearly did the trick. His triple Olympic triumph in Beijing was fuelled on a diet of chicken nuggets – but there will be no repeat of that in London.
“The good thing about the fact we are in London is there will be a lot of Jamaican food – the only thing I have to worry about is putting on weight,” he said. “There will be no chicken nuggets this year.”
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