By David Baker and Tom Goodenough
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As the Olympic Torch has traveled the length and breadth of the country, police officers have been working hard behind the scenes to keep the runners safe.
But for one policeman, getting into the spirit of the Games was also included in the job description.
The officer in Sevenoaks showed off his moves on the beat as the Torch made its way through the town yesterday on day 63 of the relay.
Scroll down for video:
A policeman outrider dances for the crowd in Sevenoaks during yesterday's Olympic torch relay through the town
The policeman did his best to entertain the crowds waiting for the Olympic Torch to pass through on the 63rd day of the route after pulling up on his motorbike
And eager spectators lapped up the performance - posting photographs and videos of the light-hearted moment online.
As impressive as the policeman's dancing ability was, however, the Torch succeeded in winning back the limelight later in the day after it was dropped down from a helicopter into the ancient walls of the Tower of London.
The torch made its dramatic entrance into the capital in the arms of a Royal Marine.
And after its impressive touch-down, the flame has again been greeted by cheering crowds today on day 64 of the relay, which will cover five out of London's six 'Olympic boroughs' where events in the summer Games are to be held.
Martin Williams descends in front of Tower Bridge on his way down into the grounds of the Tower of London
The torch made its way past the restored Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich today as it begins its final journey to the Olympic Stadium
The torch resumed its London journey this morning at the Greenwich Royal Observatory overlooking the site of the Olympics' equestrian events, before it will pass through Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, ran the torch around the recently-restored iconic clipper to cheers from the watching crowds.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, left, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world carried the torch through Greenwich, whilst hero soldier Jaco van Gass, who lost his arm while serving in Afghanistan in 2009, held the flame as it made its way through Woolwich
Singer Paloma Faith carrys the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg through Newham today
And 15-year-old local resident Natasha Sinha, who was nominated to carry the torch for her dedication to swimming and cross-country running, took the flame past the equestrian arena.
The torch later traveled towards Woolwich where Private Jaco van Gass, 25, from South Africa, lost his left arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009.
Van Gass, who now lives in Woolwich, last year successfully trekked to the North Pole for the Walking With The Wounded charity, and was part of an attempt to climb Mount Everest this year.
British medal hopeful Phillips Idowu, who picked up a silver medal at the Beijing Games four years ago, said he was 'full of emotion' today as he carried the Olympic Torch in Stratford.
Dancers performing during today's carnival in Hackney, east London, take a well-earned break
More than 2,000 performers took part in the carnival celebrations in Hackney, east London, to mark the arrival of the Olympic Torch passing through
The triple-jumper was greeted by hundreds of excited well-wishers just a stone's throw from the Olympic Park in east London.
Idowu, who was born and raised in east London appeared overwhelmed by the crowd's support.
He said: 'It's an amazing feeling. I'm full of emotion right now.
'Being born, raised and schooled in east London, having the opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch in the home Games in front of my east London people... you guys have done me really proud.
'Thank you guys for coming out and hopefully in a couple of weeks' time I can make you guys proud also.'
The torch's earlier grand entrance into the capital plunged the symbol of the games into the city's historic heart, bringing Olympic pageantry to the British capital for the first time since it last held the event in 1948.
Paloma Faith, who completed the relay in huge heels, passed the flame on to Sheikh Sheikh
Former British javelin star Tessa Sanderson also took part in the relay through Olympic borough Newham today
Royal Marine Martyn Williams said he dedicated today's feat to the family of Lance Corporal Steven 'Jamie' Fellows who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in December 2008.
Speaking after abseiling into the tower with the flame, the 23-year-old from Nacton, Suffolk, said: 'Jamie was killed (when he was) with me in 2008 and it's nice to do something for him.
'I was driving a Jackal armoured vehicle in Sangin. It hit a roadside bomb, an IED, which struck the passenger side of the vehicle.
'He was killed in the incident, I got away with literally just a broken foot. A few months recovery and now I'm fully fit, so I'm very lucky.'
The Royal Marine, who works for Commando Helicopter Force's mobile air operations team, described the experience as 'an honour'.
'The view out of the helicopter was amazing, I got in the doorway and it was time to go,' he added.
Torchbearers Nadia Comaneci, left, and John Amaechi, right, carried the flame across the viewing platform of the North Greenwich Arena today
The torch relay has now entered its 64th day as it begins its final approach to the Olympic stadium
Sky high: The flame came down from the skies and was delivered to the eagerly awaiting crowd
After carrying the torch, he said: 'It was fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the Games. As a dual citizen - of South Africa and Great Britain - I've got double the chance of celebrating.'
Dame Kelly Holmes said that now the flame is in London, any doubt people may have about the success of the London Olympics would dissipate.
She said: 'The Games are going to happen and they are going to be a great Games.
'I think once the sport starts and that cauldron is lit people will focus on the excitement and the energy that the Games bring.
'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in a home Games and if you see around the nation what this flame has done to unite communities and people.
'It's now hit London and that's going to make people start to think 'wow, OK, this is something big'.'
Crowds: Hundreds of spectators take to the famous bridge as the torch arrives after its 63-day tour around the British Isles
A Royal Navy helicopter carrying the London 2012 Olympic torch flies over Tower Bridge
The 8,000-mile torch relay has already been a cultural draw for millions across the length of Britain, enticing crowds out to meet it wherever it goes.
Spectators in raincoats have flash-mobbed to its side, hoping for that once-in-a-lifetime chance to touch a bit of history and as it made its first appearance in London there was no less pomp.
Boris Johnson and Sebastian Coe were among those on hand to greet its arrival and both made speeches to signify its stint around the capital.
It is now set to make its way around all of the 33 London boroughs before it is handed over for the final stint at the Olympic Stadium to announce to opening of the Games on Friday next week.
But while for Londoners it will ignite a time of excitement, it will also spell the start of four weeks of extreme crowds and transport strains.
Eagerly awaiting: Dame Kelly Holmes waiting to carry Olympic Flame in the grounds of the Tower of London
Taken over the baton: British retired champion Dame Kelly Holmes poses for the photographers with the Olympic flame at the Tower of London
Handover: British Royal Marine Commando Martyn Williams (right) hands the Olympic Flame to the next runner Dame Kelly Holmes after its arrival at the Tower of London
Organisers have continued to try and smooth the way with regular Boris Johnson announcements at Underground stations calling on Londoner's to 'get ahead of the Games' while subway lines are festooned with big magenta and pink signs pointing routes to Olympic venues.
Cartoony ads with wide-eyed horses and beefy musclemen warn commuters to remember that Olympic competitions are taking place and to rethink their daily journeys.
Londoners who already struggle to get to work on any given weekday aren't convinced all will be well though- and haven't been shy about saying so.
The atmosphere of gloom has been segmented by the seemingly never-ending rain and a constant stream of headlines about the failure of security contractor G4S to provide enough guards.
But the mayor has a message for the naysayers: 'Put a sock in it.'
Writing in The Sun, Boris Johnson said: 'We've got an advanced case of Olympo-funk.
'We agonize about the traffic, when our transport systems are performing well and the world's athletes are arriving on time. ... We gnaw our fingernails about the blinking weather, when it seems to be brightening up a bit - and anyway, it's England in July for goodness sake and a spot of rain never hurt anyone.'
British Slumdogs: Performers dressed as 19th century workers arrive for Opening Ceremony rehearsal
Performers dressed in full costume were snapped on their way to the dress rehearsal of the Olympics Opening Ceremony today.
Hundreds of volunteers were seen wearing tattered clothing to bring to life the hard of the workers during the Industrial Revolution, although some of the actresses choice of footwear clashed with the 19th century skirts.
The extravagant show will be telling the history of Britain at the hands of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.
Performers taking part in the staging of the Industrial Revolution Olympics opening ceremony on their way to a dress rehearsal
The images from inside the Olympic Arena show a Hobbiton like landscape with real grass , thatched roof cottages and a big water-wheel and is said to be followed by the Britain shaped by industrial revolution with grey industrial backdrops.
The green fields will have a small menagerie of ‘animal performers’ brought in to give it a true British country feel.
There will also be a game of cricket in one corner and four giant Maypoles representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The performers are dressed in costumes matching the period they are trying to re-create, although some were seem wearing trainers underneath their skirts
Models of the buildings which make up the London Skyline; The Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall have been built for the performance but in bringing life to the true history of Britain there will also be a staging of the 1936 Jarrow march, when 200 men walked to London to protest about unemployment and poverty in the North-East.
The NHS will be honoured by real nurses pushing hospital beds around the arena, and there’ll also be a tribute to the suffragette movement and the Beatles.
A total of 10,000 performers have been brought in for the ceremony which has a budget of 27 million.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Top 8 Tips on What to Avoid During a Divorce by Vincent Pampley of Virtual Paralegal Professionals. - YAHOO!
This is a tipsheet about the typical mistakes made during a divorce.
(PRWEB) July 21, 2012
1. Not Putting the Needs of the Children FirstMany times, divorcing spouses become so focused on their own feelings and their own wants, they fail to recognize the needs of the people who will be most affected by the divorce: The Kids. When this happens, impossible schedules are created and the children are placed in the middle of a messy divorce battle by being forced to choose sides. Sometimes one parent may make an angry snide comment about the ex-spouse or a parent may reveal an argument in order to “win over” a child. When this happens, the damage to the child is significant. These types of negative interactions can be quite scarring and have long-term effects on children throughout their life. Children want to love both their parents and should be given the opportunity to do so. No young child should be forced to choose between parents. Each parent should make it a goal to continue to meet all the children’s emotional needs during this time of change.
2. Swinging from the Hip Instead of Doing Some Careful Planning
I’ve met with many clients who are considering filing for divorce but who do not carefully sit down and focus on their divorce objectives or engage in any form of divorce planning. Many people begin the divorce process not fully understanding the costs and fees associated with a divorce. This includes attorney’s fees, court filing fees, mediation fees, and the fees if a party chooses to hire a financial planner, seeks therapy, or hires a private investigator. Along with planning for the divorce, you should also prepare a post-divorce plan. Without a post-divorce plan, you are walking blindfolded. When you go from living with two incomes to living with one income, money becomes tight. Turns out, buying a new pair of $300 sunglasses can wait. Having a post-divorce plan will assist you in transitioning from married life to the single life. You should develop realistic expectations about your income and create a written plan for your finances.
3. Settling Your Case in A Way That Makes You Unhappy
Many times, a spouse will settle a divorce case quickly just to “get it over with.” However, this can lead to disastrous long-term consequences. When a divorce is finalized and the marital settlement agreement is put in place, many judges are reluctant to disturb any agreement that was reached by the parties. In other words, you are getting one bite at the apple. If you agree to waive your alimony rights, it will be extremely difficult to convince a judge down the line to set aside the agreement. The bottom line is that whatever you settle for now in your divorce, it may last you forever. Try to negotiate for what you want right now and this way you won’t wish you had done so later. You will likely be happier in the long run. This is why post-divorce planning (See Mistake #2) is so important.
4. Keeping the House
Do not keep the house if you cannot afford it. It is really that simple. Many people want to keep the house for a variety of reasons – whether emotional, financial, or out of mere revenge. Nevertheless, you should only keep the house if you can financially afford to do so. Do not rely on receiving child support or alimony to make payments on the house. If those payments are not made, it is the owner of the home who will end up in foreclosure.
5. Using Modern Technology (facebook, twitter, text messages, or e-mails) as a Tool for Name-Calling Your Ex-Spouse.
While it is important to have a support system when going through a divorce, using the internet to talk to anyone who will listen usually results in your personal information making it back to your ex-spouse, or even into court. While it may make feel you great to post horrible things about your ex-spouse or to send them messages with crude name calling, this will likely become embarrassing evidence later on. It is likely that your ex and their attorney are going to save these messages and then present them in court many months later (when you’ve probably already forgotten about them). Do NOT provide the other attorney with an opportunity to embarrass you in front of a judge and damage your credibility. Remember, always act as if the judge is listening.
6. Not Keeping the Lines of Communication Open with Your Soon to be Ex-Spouse
There is no question that it’s hard to communicate with someone that you are divorcing. However, if you are 100% closed off to the idea of communicating with your ex-spouse, you WILL prolong the divorce process. The more you are able to communicate with each other, the better chance you will have of completing the divorce process quickly and moving on with your life. If there is a child, the divorce does not cut your ties with the ex-spouse. Until the child turns 18, you are both responsible for the child. Even then, both parents will probably be grandparents together someday. Even though you are not able to be married together, at least try to be cordial.
7. Failing to Recognize Your Common Enemy – the I.R.S.
Many times people are so engulfed in the divorce and fighting over property that tax consequences are a forgotten memory until it is too late. You should consider working together with your spouse and hiring a divorce financial planner to minimize the total taxes you will pay after a divorce and sharing the money you save.
8. Neglecting to Update Wills or Life Insurance Policies
After heavily contested divorces, many people forget to change the beneficiaries on their Will, IRA’s, or life insurance policies. The result is that the ex-spouse you so desperately fought with over to keep the furniture could very well end up inheriting the furniture in the event of an unexpected death.
If you need assistance preparing your divorce please contact Virtual Paralegal Professionals at 540-562-8380 or legalaid171(at)gmail(dot)com.
By Vincent Pampley
Vincent Pampley
Virtual Paralegal Professionals
(540) 563-8380
Email Information
Source: news.yahoo.com
London 2012: Spoilsports who could poop Team GB's party - BBC News
Bad news: It turns out other nations can compete at London 2012.
Led by an expectant British media, gold medals are already being pinned on a host of British athletes, from triathletes to sailors, cyclists and boxers.
Some are clear favourites but the rest of the world's finest will still do everything to stop them winning - most while facing nothing like the same pressure to perform.
Here we take a sample of Britain's big names and gold medal prospects. From their many opponents, we have selected one rival who could spoil their party at London 2012.
Victoria Pendleton - Track Cycling
Meares, left, clashed with Pendleton at the 2012 World Championships in Melbourne
Meet... Anna Meares
Victoria Pendleton won five track cycling sprint world titles from 2005 to 2010, to the frustration of Australian arch-rival Anna Meares, who also finished up on the losing side as Pendleton won the 2008 Olympic final. Then, in 2011, the run ended and Meares took the gold as the Briton's form dipped alarmingly.
Pendleton, now 31, came through a dramatic and bruising encounter with Meares at this year's World Championships, on Australian turf, en route to reclaiming the world title - and the momentum in one of the Games' biggest personal rivalries. The two are not friends, as confirmed by Pendleton in a BBC documentary which made clear how big a factor defeating Meares will be for her this summer. "The only thing that really matters to me is going well in London," she said.
Men's Team Pursuit - Track Cycling
Meet... Australia
Cycling's Ashes extends to a far broader field than Meares and Pendleton, with the men's team pursuit all but guaranteeing another collision between Great Britain and Australia.
The two five-man squads have traded world records in the build-up to the Olympics with Britain, again, stealing the win at April's World Championships in Melbourne. Jack Bobridge, in particular, is a presence British fans could come to resent. The British credit Bobridge's phenomenal strength with hauling Australia up to level terms after Team GB won team pursuit gold at Beijing 2008.
Jason Kenny - Track Cycling
Meet... Gregory Bauge
Australians aren't the only track cyclists hoping to rain on a British parade. Sir Chris Hoy's sprint title, one of three he won at Beijing 2008, looks under immense threat from France's Gregory Bauge (pictured, top) - and there is not a thing Hoy can do about it.
British Cycling announced on Thursday that Jason Kenny - the silver medallist behind Hoy in 2008 - will race in the sprint at London 2012, up against Bauge, after rule changes reduced nations' quotas from two to one rider per event in the velodrome.
Bauge, 27, has won three of the last four sprint world titles. The other, in 2011, was stripped from him after he missed several dope tests and handed to second-placed Kenny.
Jessica Ennis - Heptathlon
Meet... Tatyana Chernova
Jessica Ennis is unrivalled as the poster girl for British hopes at London 2012, but her Russian rival Tatyana Chernova is both two years younger and the defending heptathlon world champion, having defeated Ennis in South Korea last year.
The two have spurred each other on for years since Ennis missed Beijing 2008, where Chernova won bronze. Ennis has the edge in the 200m and hurdles elements of the seven-discipline event, while Chernova can gain ground in the javelin, an area where Ennis has traditionally had to work harder. Ennis, crucially, beat Chernova in the annual Austrian warm-up event in May, setting a new British record in the process.
Alistair Brownlee - Triathlon
Meet... Alexander Bryukhankov
There are some who would say Alistair Brownlee's younger brother, Jonny, is the real potential spoilsport here. The two have dominated men's triathlon over the past two years, Jonny winning any race Alistair - who spent the early part of this year injured - did not enter.
Moreover, Russia's Alexander Bryukhankov has yet to win a world series race. How can he be a contender? Take a look at his consistency - never out of the top four or five at the top level, and importantly the only one within touching distance of Alistair Brownlee at last year's Hyde Park race, which was run in the same abysmal weather we can half-expect this time around. Bryukhankov leads this year's world series standings.
Rebecca Adlington - Swimming
Meet... Federica Pellegrini
Rebecca Adlington is defending two Olympic titles at London 2012 over the 400m and 800m freestyle distances. She is world champion in the latter, but Italy's Federica Pellegrini has since made the 400m her own in major events, winning world titles in both 2009 and 2011.
Both athletes could be distracted by other freestyle events - Adlington has the 800m and Pellegrini the 200m, in which she is the Olympic champion. The Italian, who turns 24 the day after London 2012's swimming events finish (Adlington is several months younger), has also changed coach a number of times, including a split with Philippe Lucas, who helped her to double gold at the 2011 Worlds. Adlington is notably faster than Pellegrini this year, and it may be that others (France's Camille Muffat, American Allison Schmitt) have a big say in the destination of this summer's 400m gold.
Louis Smith - Gymnastics
Meet... Krisztian Berki
Louis Smith is the gymnast with Britain's best chance of grabbing a gold medal at London 2012. His pommel horse routine won him a bronze medal in Beijing four years earlier and his personal best of 16.375, set only last month at the British Championships, is a score his rivals are unlikely to match.
However, to replicate that at the Games he will need a perfect routine. If he makes just one error, the likelihood is that his Hungarian rival Krisztian Berki will take the gold. Berki, four years older than Smith at 27, is the world and European champion. While Smith's recent form is superb, he has barely beaten Berki in international head-to-head contests and must hold his nerve during the world's most difficult routine to be sure of winning in London.
Tom Daley - Diving
Fallen by the wayside
Laura Bechtolsheimer v Matthias Rath
For a time, this looked like the equestrian grudge match of London 2012: Britain's Bechtolsheimer, the ex-girlfriend of Germany's Rath, looked on with bemusement in 2010 when he was handed the reins of Totilas - a superstar of world dressage, bought for the German team for in excess of £10m. However, Rath has glandular fever and has pulled out of the Games, while the GB team has proved so strong that Bechtolsheimer is one among several medal threats in the individual event.
Meet... Qiu Bo
Even the most fervent Tom Daley fan - and there are plenty to choose from - must concede that the teenager's chance of an Olympic title in either of his diving events is a slim one. An Olympian at the age of 14 and a world champion just one year later, Daley has since found his path blocked by 19-year-old Chinese star Qiu Bo.
China, remarkably, won all 10 diving events at the 2011 World Championships, while Daley had to settle for fifth as an individual and sixth in the synchro final. The shaft of light for Daley may be that Qiu Bo has occasionally cracked under the pressure, but - with a handful of other rivals in the mix - it will take a phenomenal performance and a slice of luck for Daley to win diving gold this summer.
Sarah Stevenson - Taekwondo
Meet... Hwang Kyung-Seon
Sarah Stevenson won a bronze medal at Beijing 2008, but that was in the +67kg weight category. She has since swapped to the lighter -67kg class, where she will have to get past defending Olympic champion Hwang Kyung-Seon of South Korea to win the gold.
Hwang, 26, is returning for her third Olympics and hails from a country which takes its taekwondo incredibly seriously. At last year's World Championships, a haul of three gold and four silver medals for South Korea - on home soil - was considered a disappointment. Stevenson's build-up has been hit by injury and Hwang, who only won world bronze in 2011, has a point to prove.
Shanaze Reade - BMX
Reade hoping for Olympic BMX gold
Meet... Magalie Pottier
Shanaze Reade's crash in the 2008 Olympic final, as the heavily-backed favourite, became one of Beijing's most memorable moments. Now 23, Reade believes she has the maturity to hold it together at London 2012. But France's Magalie Pottier leads the charge among a number of rivals who could feasibly ride their way to gold.
Picking a BMX winner is not easy - all three 2008 Olympic medallists never again won a major medal, though Olympic champion Anne-Caroline Chausson went on to coach Pottier, who is half a year younger than Reade and the current world champion, having taken bronze the year before. New Zealand's Sarah Walker, twice a silver medallist in the past three years, and Colombian flagbearer Mariana Pajon are two other strong candidates.
Paul Goodison - Sailing
Meet... Tom Slingsby
From 2002 to 2010, Paul Goodison did not drop out of the world's top three in his Laser sailing class. Now? He's ranked 10th. That figure will not matter much off the coast of Weymouth this summer, but it may be worth noting that Australia's Tom Slingsby is ranked world number one heading into the Games.
Not only that but Slingsby - seven years younger than Goodison, who is 34 - locked horns with the Briton in what reports termed a "heated argument in the pub" last month, following a race. That earned Slingsby the headline "Ready to rock the boat in medal fight with Poms" back home.
Lucy MacGregor - Sailing
Meet... Anna Tunnicliffe
Big GB-US match-ups are surprisingly rare at the Games, but this is one of the best. Lucy MacGregor skippers the British three-woman match racing boat and is number two in the world. Anna Tunnicliffe - nickname 'Tunnafunk', we're told - fills the same role for the United States and is world number one.
Tunnicliffe, 29, won Laser Radial gold in Beijing but hopped over to the new Elliott 6m class for a fresh challenge ahead of London. She also speaks with a British accent, having grown up in England until moving across the Atlantic at the age of 12. Her US citizenship arrived in 2003, and she insists an Olympics in Britain "is not 'going home' at all".
Bradley Wiggins - Cycling Time Trial
Meet... Fabian Cancellara
At the time of writing, Bradley Wiggins looks set to win the Tour de France. That is road cycling's crowning achievement and would be enough to persuade most people to merrily take the rest of their lifetime off, recuperating - but Wiggins has an Olympic road race within a week and then his main gold-medal target: the time trial.
Wiggins is the world time trial silver medallist, heading into his fourth Olympics at age 32. In his way is the defending Olympic champion, Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, a man who has time and again declared his passion for the Games - "the biggest thing in sport" as he calls it - not a view every pro cyclist shares.
This may come down to outside forces. Can Wiggins keep himself in the right shape and frame of mind, post-Tour, to be effective at the Games? And can Cancellara, who left the Tour in its early stages to be with his pregnant wife, regain focus for the Olympics?
Men's Four - Rowing
Meet... Australia
Whose foursome is more 'oarsome'? Hard to tell at this point. The British four won the 2011 world title but coach Jurgen Grobler still chose to re-jig the crew for the Games, bringing in Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge, which looked to have given them an edge in the early part of the season.
But Australia's four has been remodelled too and Britain tasted defeat twice in succession at the final World Cup regatta before the Olympics, in Munich. Australia were just a second off the pace when Britain won gold at Beijing 2008 - can the British hang on again at Eton Dorney in the days to come?
Mo Farah - 10,000m
Meet... Kenenisa Bekele
Mo Farah is looking to pick up an Olympic distance double in the 5,000m and 10,000m at London 2012. For inspiration he can look to Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, who did exactly that at Beijing 2008 and won over the longer distance in Athens, too.
Bekele has failed to qualify for the 5,000m at London 2012 but remains a big threat in the 10,000m, putting in a quick time as he chased Olympic selection in Birmingham last month. A persistent calf injury could hold him back at the Games and open the way for Farah to take gold.
Dai Greene - 400m Hurdles
Fallen by the wayside
Phillips Idowu v Teddy Tamgho
Frenchman Tamgho, the triple jump world champion, is one of several stars in the discipline who will miss London 2012. He has an ankle injury. Idowu himself, a silver medallist at Beijing 2008, has struggled with injury and barely competed in the build-up to this summer's Games. American Christian Taylor is a big threat.
Meet... Javier Culson
Among several dangerous rivals to Dai Greene in the men's 400m hurdles, Puerto Rico's Javier Culson is the name that stands out. Culson, who turns 28 just before the Games begin, was second behind Greene, 24, at last year's World Championships but marginally has the edge on the Welshman based on 2012 times.
Greene ran his personal best of 47.84 seconds in Paris earlier this month - the only problem is Culson ran faster in the same race, winning in 47.78, the year's leading time. When Culson won again in London, the newspapers summed up the challenge facing Greene as "three weeks to find two metres".
Mark Cavendish - Cycling Road Race
Meet... Peter Sagan
Normally, the news that elite Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd - a genuine Olympic road race contender - will not compete at London 2012 through illness would hand a modest boost to the credentials of world champion and home favourite Mark Cavendish.
However, he now has to pay attention to Slovakia's Peter Sagan, one of the stars of this year's Tour de France. Sagan, 22, has already declared "I want to win everything" and may be in the form to make a concerted push for Olympic road race gold. Though there are many more contenders in the offing and Sagan will be riding with no team support, he should deal well with the multiple climbs of Box Hill that the London course demands.
Nicola Adams - Boxing
Meet... Ren Cancan
In 2010, Nicola Adams - the first English woman to win a major boxing medal - picked up the second world silver medal of her career. The winner of that fight? China's Ren Cancan. Two years later, Adams came back for more. She went away with another silver, Ren Cancan with another gold.
When women's boxing makes its Olympic debut at London 2012, the Chinese boxer will be the favourite. But Adams has beaten her before and with a home crowd, may be able to find a way past when it matters.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Olympic torch starts first full day in London - The Independent
The triple-jumper was greeted by hundreds of excited well-wishers in Westfield, the shopping centre which thousands of ticket holders will pass through during the Games.
Idowu - who was born and raised in east London - appeared overwhelmed by the crowd's support, and tried to describe what it felt like to carry the torchon home turf.
"It's an amazing feeling. I'm full of emotion right now," he said.
"Being born, raised and schooled in east London, having the opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch in the home Games in front of my east London people... you guys have done me really proud.
"Thank you guys for coming out and hopefully in a couple of weeks' time I can make you guys proud also."
Idowu, who picked up a silver medal at the Beijing Games four years ago, is famed for his colourful haircuts, facial piercings, sweatbands and knee-high socks.
Earlier, the torch began its first full day in the host city at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, and there was a party mood as thousands turned out around the newly restored Cutty Sark clipper.
The flame started its London journey at the Greenwich Royal Observatory, across the River Thames from Canary Wharf and overlooking the site of theOlympics' equestrian events.
Natasha Sinha, 15, from Greenwich, who was nominated to carry the torch for her dedication to swimming and cross-country running, took the torch down into the equestrian arena.
It was then carried around Sir Christopher Wren's Old Royal Naval College before arriving at the Cutty Sark, which has recently undergone a £50 million renovation.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, founder of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1995 and a Cutty Sark trustee, ran the torch around the clipper to delighted cheers from the crowds.
The torch was later passed to soldier Private Jaco van Gass, 25, from South Africa, who carried the flame on to the stage at the Woolwich Live Site, a screen which broadcasts local news and BBC coverage of major events, sport, arts and entertainment.
Pte van Gass, who now lives in Woolwich, lost his left arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009.
He also suffered a collapsed lung, punctured internal organs, loss of muscle from the upper left thigh, multiple shrapnel wounds and fractures to his knee, fibula and tibia.
Last year he successfully trekked to the North Pole for the Walking With The Wounded charity, and was part of an attempt to climb Mount Everest this year, which was aborted because of dangerous conditions.
After carrying the torch, he said: "It was fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the Games. As a dual citizen - of South Africa and Great Britain - I've got double the chance of celebrating."
PA
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Katie Holmes Will Get Nothing In Divorce … - omg! on Yahoo!
070212_FFN_KatieSuri_ftr120702084853Oh no! Looks like Katie could end up with very little money when the divorce dust settles. Read on for more details! The divorce battle between Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise will end up in Tom’s favor financially, according to a new report.
Their pre-nuptial agreement reportedly reads that Katie will walk away with exactly what she brought in, according to TMZ, and that’s far less than the $15 million that was reported earlier in the week.
However, sources say that Katie isn’t stressing about the money.
“She’s not about the money. She’s not that girl. She loves to work,” a source tells TMZ.
Combined TomKat is worth about $275 million.
The real battle will be about their six-year-old daughter Suri. As HollywoodLife.com previously reported, Katie wants full custody.
“Katie wants sole custody of Suri. She doesn’t want Tom polluting her with Scientology,” a source told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.
Yikes! What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Are you shocked to hear Katie will walk away with not a lot of money?
– Nicole Karlis
TMZ➚
More on Tom and Katie:
- Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes Are Divorcing — It’s Official
- Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes Divorce: How They Should Break The News To Suri — Expert
- Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes — Their Marriage In Photos
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Source: omg.yahoo.com
TOWIE's Frankie Essex leads the fashion stakes as she shows off tanned legs while Lauren Goodger covers up in a long dress - Daily Mail
By J J Anisiobi
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She began her fledgling career as a reality TV star last year as minor supporting character.
However, Frankie Essex is fast emerging as the leader of the pack with her good fashion sense rubbing off on Lauren Goodger.
The 25-year-old blonde looked fantastic in her playsuit as she showed off her savvy style and slim tanned legs, earlier today.
A nice change: While Frankie Essex wore a revealing playsuit, Lauren Goodger decided to cover up today, in Buckhurst Hill, Essex
It appears Frankie may have already started giving her cast mates some fashion tips as Lauren opted for a uncharacteristic choice of outfit.
The curvy star, who has been loosing weight on the Cambridge Weight Plan, covered up her body in a loose fitting maxi dress.
Lauren, 25, wore a lovely black, brown and white sheer dress with a pair of jazzed up flip flops and a brown jacket.
Leading lady: Frankie has begun to emerge as a fan favourite with her stylish dress sense and good personality
Lights, camera, action: Frankie and Lauren had been filming at the salon this morning before heading off home for the day
In need of help: A friend of Lauren's was also at the shop but looked slightly inappropriately dressed in a low cut maxi dress
The girls had been filming at beauty salon Lauren's Way in Buckhurst Hill, before leaving the shop and moving on.
Frankie's pink playsuit was tight enough to reveal her new trimmer figure and she teamed the outfit with a pair of high wedges and wore her long blonde hair down.
While both Frankie and Lauren looked great, they were joined by an overdressed friend who wore an ill fitting black dress.
Supporting acts: Cara Kilbey and Billi Mucklow also made an effort to dress up for their day of filming at Lauren's Way
Here come the girls: The ever stylish Cara looked lovely in a pair of simple blue jeans and a floral top while Billie wore a print dress
The sandy blonde girl followed behind Goodger as she headed to her car, and wore a low cut frock that exposed a large portion of her chest.
Supporting cast members Cara Kilbey and Billi Mucklow also turned up at the shop and were dressed up for the filming.
Brunette beauty Cara looked as stylish as always in a simple pair of dark blue jeans with a floral top, while Billi tried her best in a printed dress.
The style queen: Lucy Mecklenburgh was spotted looking amazing at her boutique store earlier today also in Essex
Hard work: Newly engaged Lucy was moving some boxes of stock into her fiance Mario's car
Newly engaged Lucy Mecklenburgh was seen popping by her boutique shop to pick up some boxes.
The 20-year-old was dropped off by fiance Mario Falcone and looked very nice in tight jeans, a leather jacket, white T-shirt and wedges.
The new series of TOWIE kicks off tomorrow night on ITV2 at 10pm.
Here they come: Lydia Bright, left, and Chloe Sims were both out and about today filming scenes ahead of tomorrow's season opener
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Great of the bobby. terrific fun.But who the hell is Paloma Faith ? How did she get to take part?????
- norman , england EUSSR, 21/7/2012 16:24
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