Facebook has announced a dedicated portal for London 2012 to allow fans to "connect with their favourite Olympians" at the Games.
The section features dedicated pages for athletes and sports, including a complete timeline history of the competition since the 1800s.
The IOC said the portal would create a "social media stadium".
However, restrictions on what athletes can or cannot post will restrict some content from being published.
Participants are subject to tight guidelines over content posted on Facebook and Twitter, particularly in relation to brands and broadcasting deals.
It restricts the posting of any video from within an Olympic venue.
'Ambush'Mark Adams, from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that while visitors to the Games would be able to post videos and stills, athletes' activities would be curbed.
“Start Quote
End Quote Boris BeckerIt's impossible to think all day and all night about the next match, interacting with fans is a good thing”
"It depends on where they are," he said.
"If they're in a stadium, they can't. We have a relationship with various broadcasters around the world which provides the funding [for the Games]."
In addition, he said, the IOC would be watching for any attempted "ambush" marketing.
"It's something we always have to keep in our mind," he said.
"It does take away money from the Olympic movement. It's something that we have to protect."
Facebook, which announced the portal at its central London offices, said it hoped the portal would mean Olympics fans could interact with athletes in a way that had not been possible in previous Games.
Alex Balfour, from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) said there was now a "perfect storm" of technology to allow a "really rich experience" wherever fans were in the world.
"We want make sure our Games is available to that new audience of digital consumers," he added.
Facebook said it would allow fans to use the network to discover footage of their favourite athletes - but some content would be geo-targeted, meaning certain footage might not be available in certain regions of the world.
Mr Adams admitted that the IOC had been slow to adopt social networking, but was now ready to embrace it for London 2012.
"The way I like to think about the IOC and our relationship with social media is that the Olympics is one of the oldest social networks that has ever been.
"Everyone has an experience and shares that experience with their friends and their family - everyone has an emotional attachment to the Games. We're just digitising that experience."
Hot waterFormer world tennis number one and Olympic gold medallist Boris Becker told the BBC that using social media could help athletes prepare.
"It's very positive. It gives athletes the chance to get real opinions and real questions and to answer back.
"It's fun - everyone's online anyway. It's impossible to think all day and all night about the next match, interacting with fans is a good thing."
However, he warned that it was inevitable that some athletes might not think before they tweeted and so land themselves in hot water during the Games.
"The world and people are not perfect," he said.
"There will always be athletes who will take it out of line, but that doesn't mean that the platform is wrong."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
London 2012 Olympics: Winter Olympics ticket sales suspended over summer rule-breach allegations - Daily Telegraph
Locog has denied that there was any direct contact between Coe and Capralos, and on Monday the HOC issued a statement denying that it had acted improperly. The HOC said all discussion of tickets had referred to arrangements for the Sochi Games, not London, and had been transparent and legal.
The ethics commission investigation will not be complete until after the London Games.
The IOC and Locog have been criticised for a lack of transparency over ticketing. Under IOC rules 12 per cent of tickets – around 1.2 million – are distributed to overseas national Olympic committees for sale to the public in their territory. These rights are often sold on, and a small number of ticket agents have contracts with large numbers of NOCs, as well as operating hospitality contracts.
The IOC has been reluctant to take a direct hand in ticketing as it is hugely complex and, as the 2012 process has demonstrated, even market-leader Ticketmaster has failed to cope with the complexity and demand of London.
IOC executive board members Sir Craig Reedie and Australia’s John Coates have expressed disappointment that the Olympic Movement has been caught up in serious claims of possible ticket fraud.
“This is disappointing in the extreme,” said Reedie. “It is particularly difficult because there has been such extraordinary demand for tickets and we are taking these claims about the system outside of the UK extremely seriously. It will be investigated properly and if the allegations are substantiated we will administer the appropriate sanctions, we have to learn from this.”
Locog has a contract with Thomas Cook to sell both short-term breaks and premium ticket and accommodation packages, while its has several contracts with Cosport and JetSet, which is owned by Yugoslav-born multi-millionaire Sead Dizdarevic, who has a colourful history.
Dizdarevic admitted paying £80,000 in cash to Salt Lake City officials during the 2002 Olympic bribery scandal, but was given immunity for offering his testimony. He now has deals with many national Olympic committees and exclusive rights to sell international hospitality packages.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
New buyers may lift London art sales to $1 billion - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - London's art market is attracting the lion's share of business from an emerging class of super-wealthy collectors from Russia, the Middle East and China, and they are likely to be a big factor in a summer season of sales valued at up to $1 billion (638 million pounds).
Christie's, Sotheby's and smaller rivals like Phillips de Pury hold a three-week series of auctions featuring works by artists as diverse as Rembrandt, Renoir and Gerhard Richter.
Euro zone turmoil and slowing Chinese economic growth are giving investors the jitters, yet the high-end art market has defied gravity on a record-breaking streak.
New York has long been considered the global capital of the auction world -- most recent records have been set there, including the $120 million paid for Edvard Munch's "The Scream" at a Sotheby's sale in May.
London, a more natural fit for Russian tycoons who have homes in the city and Middle Eastern buyers just a mid-haul flight away, may be closing that gap.
Sotheby's has calculated that, while the number of lots sold to buyers from "new" markets has risen in both cities so far this year, the increase has been far more marked in London (33 percent) than New York (six percent).
"Particularly the Russians feel very comfortable bidding in the London sales as many of them have second homes and are very active here," said Helena Newman, chairman of Sotheby's impressionist and modern art department in Europe.
"I think that because of our geographic situation, we are the gateway to the East ... Central Asia, the Middle East and the East," she told Reuters at the company's London headquarters where star lots from the upcoming sales were on display.
"We definitely see that in the sales of recent years. It is a growing trend."
BILLION-DOLLAR BONANZA?
Beyond bragging rights, auctioneers are not overly concerned with who buys what where. Key lots for sale in London come from the United States, for example, and the market overall has become more globalised.
One of the prize lots of the season is English artist John Constable's "The Lock", being offered by Christie's for 20-25 million pounds and the only one of a series of six important landscapes by the painter to be in private hands.
It goes under the hammer on July 3 and should eclipse the 10.8 million pounds raised when it was sold in 1990 - a British painting record it held for 16 years.
On the same night, Rembrandt's "A Man in a Gorget and Cap" is on course to raise 8-12 million pounds.
On Wednesday, a Renoir nude is set to fetch 12-18 million pounds and the next week the same auctioneer offers Yves Klein's "Le Rose du Bleu", estimated at 17-20 million pounds and Francis Bacon's "Study For Self-Portrait" (1964) (15-20 million).
Christie's, the world's largest auction house, expects to raise at least 310 million pounds from its sales of impressionist, modern, contemporary art as well as those of British paintings and Old Masters.
The upper estimate is closer to 500 million pounds, and combined with Sotheby's low target of 210 million pounds, a billion-dollar art bonanza looks within reach.
"The four week summer season of major international auctions at Christie's ... is set to become one of the richest and most valuable series of auctions in company history," said Jussi Pylkkanen, head of Christie's Europe.
MIRO RECORD IN SIGHT
At Sotheby's, the top work of the season could be Joan Miro's "Peinture (Etoile Bleue), valued at 15-20 million pounds and in sight of the artist record set this year of 16.8 million.
Its appearance so soon after the February record is no coincidence -- auction houses tailor sales to reflect the latest tastes, and the Miro, along with works by Henry Moore and Surrealist Paul Delvaux, all follow recent auction highs.
The prominence of large, colourful, figurative works at Sotheby's, including Kees van Dongen's "Lailla", Marc Chagall's "L'Arbre de Jesse" and Delvaux's "Deux Femmes couchees", also reflects emerging market tastes.
Soaring prices for coveted works of art at a time of global economic uncertainty have long prompted warnings of a sharp correction and even collapse, but time and again in the last three years the market has defied the gloomiest predictions.
There has been weakening in Chinese demand and tastes can be fickle, but the very best works of art have generally risen in value since a sharp but brief drop in auction turnover in 2009.
The contraction was as much a reflection of sellers backing away as of falling demand, experts say, and auction houses believe they are back in a "virtuous cycle" of rising prices in turn attracting the very best works on to the market.
Institutional acquisitions have also played a key role in the recovery, with Qatar emerging as one of the biggest buyers of art in recent years as it fills a growing network of museums.
Widespread reports said the Gulf state paid $250 million for Paul Cezanne's "The Card Players" in a private deal, believed to be the highest price ever paid for a work of art. (Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
Source: uk.reuters.com
London athletes get top healthcare - Yahoo! Eurosport
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Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Civil partnerships should have been called marriage, says top divorce lawyer - Daily Telegraph
"However setting up a distinction, albeit in name only, has caused confusion in the public generally and resentment among gay couples who feel they are being put on a sort of "second tier" civil partnership track subordinate to their married heterosexual counterparts.
"We now have heterosexual couples saying they like the look of civil partnership for themselves and gay couple wanting marriage, when in reality they are the same thing."
"The government needs to sweep away the anomaly, legitimise gay marriage in state ceremonies and leave religions to make their own mind about which way they want to jump on the issue."
Her comments were made after Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke out against the debate over same-sex marriage after a gay Conservative MP said he had never felt "more distant" from the Church over the issue.
Writing in the Times, Lord Carey said it was supporters of "traditional marriage" who faced judgmental labels.
He said the consultation over allowing same-sex marriages was launched with "no backing" from the Conservative Party's manifesto and said many felt "alienated and distant" from the Government as a result.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sussex League round up: Horsham back to winning ways - wscountytimes.co.uk
Horsham recorded a comfportable win in the Sussex Premier League on Saturday, as Roffey suffered a first defeat of the season.
Current Champions Hastings Priory continue to lead after enjoying their fifth outright win of the season.
Preston Nomads, champions for the previous three seasons lie in second place, they, too, have won five games. Third placed Roffey suffered their first defeat of the season at home to East Grinstead.
Horsham enjoyed a comfortable win at home to Bexhill to consolidate fourth place whilst the battle at the bottom saw Eastbourne win for the first time this season in their away game at Worthing.
Another fine innings from Kirk Werners set up Hastings for a convincing home win against Chichester. The young Sussex all-rounder made 109 not out as Hastings were dismissed for 195.
John Morgan made 38 as Aussie Adam Zampa grabbed 4 for 78.
Morgan then stepped up with the ball to take 7 for 38 and with Werners taking 3 for 16 the visitors crashed to 59 all out.
Joe Gatting used his day off from county duties to whack a 63 ball century to take Preston Nomads to victory by four wickets at home to Brighton and Hove.
Brighton were bowled out for 198 despite 76 from Craig Young and 31 from Tim Jarvis, Carl Simon taking 5 for 39.
Gatting then hit 106 despite being dropped a costly three times. Rob Wakeford added 35 not out as Chris Liddle and Matt Wood each took two wickets.
Another Sussex youngster proved the match winner for East Grinstead at Roffey.
Will Adkin carried his bat for 86 not out as Grinstead made 176 for 6 facing a Roffey score of 175 for 6 declared.
For Roffey Michael Norris made 44 and Christ Plaister 32 as Craig Fowle took 4 for 62.
Adkin was dropped twice early in his innings but played a mature innings to see his side home despite drizzle and poor light for much of the time.
Andy McGorian and Stuart Whittingham each took two wickets for the home side.
Bexhill are finding life in the Premier League a tough battle after their promotion last year.
At Horsham they were dismissed for 138 despite 31 from skipper Malcolm Johnson and 26 from Tom Powell. Two leg spinners did the damage, Michael Munday taking 3 for 39 and Will Beer 2 for 21.
In reply Horsham cruised to 142 for 2 in just 25 overs as James Johnson made 60 not out and John Burroughs 40.
The Sussex success story continued as Luke Wells made 130 for Eastbourne at Worthing to take his side to their first win of the season.
Eastbourne looked in trouble at 30 for 3 but Aaron Mullins (55) joined Wells to rebuild the innings, Luke Vinter took 3 for 55 for Worthing.
Worthing then tumbled to 112 all out as Ed Giddins took 4 for 28.
Three Bridges continue to lead the Second Division by 21 points despite being held to a draw at Findon.
Bridges were dismissed for 168 as Jack Metters took 4 for 31.
Mick Demetriou then held the Findon innings together as they reached stumps at 132 for 8, he made 76.
Glynde, who finished third last season, are currently in second place following a six wicket win at Haywards Heath who they bowled out for 145.
In that total Ollie Graham top scored with 32 as Dale Tranter took 3 for 62.
Glynde them moved smoothly to 146 for 4 with 49 from Dominic Shepheard and 35 not out from Ollie Bailey.
St James’s lie third following their draw at Cuckfield where the home side made 209 with a hard hit 48 from Jamie Newson as George Taylor took 5 for 42.
In the visitors’ 189 for 8 Adam Davies made 31 as Ebrel Erwee took 4 for 60.
Ifield found it very easy at home to Sidley who they bowled out for just 122. Sam Steel was top scorer, he made 25 as Dan Groves took 3 for 36.
Raza Alli with 51 not out and Jovan Nel (53) took the home side to victory by nine wickets at 123 for 1.
Goring made short work of dismissing Pulborough for just 94 as Ellis Woolley took 4 for 19 and Matt Keen 4 for 34.
The home side then won by five wickets at 85 for 5 with 27 from Dan Pitham, Kuldeep Rawat took 3 for 43.
All league positions in Division 3 West remain unchanged after each the top five beat one of the bottom five.
Middleton’s Brandon Hanley enjoyed a fine all round game top scoring with 69 in their 218-9. Ben Hansford added 56 whilst Slinfold’s Guy Thorne took 4-68.
In reply Slinfold were blown away for just 50 as Hanley’s 4-28 was surpassed by Tom Davies who took 6-17.
Bognor remain second just three points behind after an equally resounding victory at home to Wisborough Green. The visitors were bowled out for just 89 with Elliott Clarke making 45 as Bognor won by 7 wickets.
Billingshurst also scored a maximum after a 4 wicket success at Arundel. Arundel’s 149 was marked by Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi snaring 5-30 and Mike Burroughs 50 not out led them to victory.
Stirlands remain fourth after a 131 run win at Littlehampton. Sean Heather (129) also scored a personal fourth (century in succession) and, as last week was ably supported by Will Gubbins with 73 not out.
Stirlands declared on 241-4 and bowled out Littlehampton for 110 with Chris May taking 3-11.
The result left Littlehampton pointless from the game and rooted at the foot of the table.
Steyning won a relatively low scoring game at Pagham making just 144. Pagham however were knocked over for just 92 after 6-37 from Matheesha Ranasinghe.
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Print this pageSource: www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Facebook's Explore London 2012: Get Social With The Summer Games - PC Advisor
Facebook is getting into the Olympic spirit with Explore London 2012 on Facebook, a portal where you can find and get Facebook updates from your favorite athletes, national teams, and individual sports during the Olympic Games in London.
Facebook says it intends to add national Olympics broadcasters such as NBC and Olympic sponsors to the London 2012 portal in the coming weeks.
The Facebook portal is the first of several efforts from the International Olympics Committee to get social during London 2012. The IOC also plans to launch London 2012-themed pages on Twitter, Tumblr, and Google+, as well as a partnership with Foursquare.
How To Like London 2012
To get Olympic updates on Facebook, all you have to do is “like” the pages for your favorite athletes, sports, or national teams via the Explore London 2012 portal. Then updates from that person's or sport's page, including personal status updates, medal standings, and photos, are pushed to your news feed. It's a simple way to keep up with personal updates from athletes such as swimmer Ryan Lochte or all the latest news from Team USA.
Explore London 2012
Facebook's London 2012 portal is well organized with a cover photo at the top, and then two profile photos for the Olympic Games and London 2012. Below that is a section of highlighted Olympic athletes, including LeBron James, swimmers Dara Torres and Michael Phelps, beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, and U.K. soccer star David Beckham. The site features about 200 of the several thousands of Olympic athletes competing in the games.
Below the athletes section are links to the Olympic national teams, and then to specific Olympic sports such as boxing, gymnastics, tennis, triathlon, and volleyball. Thirty-six sports are represented at London 2012, but the portal currently has links to 25.
Each Olympic sport is linked to the page for that sport's official international body. For example, liking aquatics will give you Facebook updates from Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), the world governing body for swimming. Liking Tennis means you'll get updates from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
A Facebook spokesperson says the company will add more sports and athlete pages to its portal before the Games begin.
Effective Use of London 2012
Facebook's portal is a handy way to find your favorite parts of the Olympics, but you might want to check out each individual page before liking to make sure you'll get updates during the games.
In my perusal of some of the top athletes' pages, most are maintaining their official pages with regular updates. But some weren't particularly active. That may change once the Olympics kicks into gear, but just be aware that some pages may not be as active as you'd like.
The Summer Olympic Games begin Friday, July 27 in London.
Connect with Ian Paul (@ianpaul) on Twitter and Google+, and with Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the latest tech news and analysis.
Source: www.pcadvisor.co.uk
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