Olympics News and Info

IOC awards 2012 broadcast rights in Chinese Taipei

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced an agreement with ELTA Technology Co. Ltd. (ELTA) for the broadcast and exhibition rights within Chinese Taipei to the Games of the XXX Olympiad (2012) in London.

ELTA has acquired the broadcast and exhibition rights across all broadcast platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, radio, the internet and mobile phone.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “We are delighted to continue our successful relationship with ELTA which began ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.”

IOC Executive Board member Richard Carrión, who led the negotiations, said: “ELTA have proved that they are an excellent broadcast partner for the Olympic Games, using cutting-edge technology to provide the best possible broadcast experience across a variety of platforms. We look forward to working with them to making unprecedented coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games available in Chinese Taipei.”

Sally Chen, CEO of ELTA said: "We are delighted to acquire the rights for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Our continuing partnership with the IOC since 2008 has helped ELTA achieve new goals and accomplishments within our industry. As the digital age keeps evolving at a lightning-fast pace, we always create new and innovative services to enhance our viewers’ experience of the Olympic Games."

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About ELTA Technology Co. Ltd.

ELTA, created in 2000, is the leading video over Internet service provider in Chinese Taipei. The company specialises in acquiring licensed video content and production for hybrid IP networks. ELTA is the sole distributor for many international broadcasting companies for IP networks, and a pioneer of HD and 3D broadcasting within Chinese Taipei. Distribution channels include CHT’s MOD service, HiChannel (internet broadband portal) and 3G mobile networks within the territory.

To contact ELTA: Peter Cheng, Vice President, ELTA Technology Co., Ltd., Tel: +886-2-2341-1100 x 250, e-mail: pcheng@elta.com.tw

For further information, please contact the IOC Communications Department, Tel: +41 21 621 60 00, e-mail: pressoffice@olympic.org

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The Pig’s Breakfast

Martyn Saville writes a pithy analysis of the logistical/financial shambles facing ordinary citizens who wish to buy tickets for the 2012 Olympics.

As he says:

"There must be a better method of selling tickets than this."

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Picnics and Mobiles Banned

Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics, on the pretext of "security", are considering banning spectators from bringing mobile phones and picnics to Olympics events.

Flasks, thermoses and larger quantities of food will all be banned.

Liquids of more than 100ml, camera tripods, phones, flags of countries not involved in the Games along with umbrellas (no rain predicted then?) are also all banned.

"Security" may well be the fig leaf excuse used by organisers for this ban. However, the real reason lies with the money being generated by sponsors from their marketing campaigns and food/drink etc concessions at the Olympic venues.

The Olympics is not about sport, but about money!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Tick Tock – Olympics Clock Stops

To add to the woes of the London 2012 Olympics organisers, who were already looking rather foolish for the glitch that prevents certain Visa card holders from buying tickets for the games, the 500 day countdown clock in Trafalgar Square (that was activated on Monday) stopped working on Tuesday.

The clock is supplied by Swiss based company Omega.

Incidentally, the actual time that the games are due to be officially opened has yet to be decided. Therefore the clock is, by definition, inaccurate.

Well done lads!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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London 2012 Celebrates 500 Days To Go As Tickets Go On Sale

London 2012 began its 500-days-to-go celebrations yesterday with the unveiling of the OMEGA countdown clock in Trafalgar Square. As official timekeeper for the London 2012 Games, OMEGA has provided a large countdown clock that will allow Londoners to see the days, hours, minutes and seconds until London’s big day on 27 July 2012 – the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. In addition, Olympic tickets have also gone on sale around the world, with sports and Olympic fans now able to apply to see the world’s best athletes compete at the Games.

 

The Greatest Tickets on Earth

Described by London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) Chairman Sebastian Coe as the “greatest tickets on earth”, now is your chance to apply for tickets to the London 2012 Olympic Games. UK and residents of designated European countries can apply through London 2012’s ticketing website at any time during the 42-day application period. It is not a first-come, first-served system within the UK, so take your time and decide which events you want to try and attend with your family and friends. Fans living outside the UK (including in the designated European countries) will be able to apply for tickets through their local National Olympic Committee (NOC) and/or its Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR). Sales processes may vary according to territory, so fans are encouraged to contact their NOC and/or local ATR for more details. We are proud to work with Worldwide TOP Partner Visa as the exclusive payment services provider.

 

Be There

Summing up what fans can expect in 2012, LOCOG Chairman Coe said, “London will be a fantastic place to be in the summer of 2012, with a unique atmosphere, and we look forward to welcoming the world to our city and to the UK. There is a huge range of tickets available, to see the best athletes in the world competing. My message is simple – be there.”

 

Counting Down

The OMEGA countdown clock was unveiled by four Olympic gold medallists from Team GB - rowers Pete Reed and Andy Hodge and sailors Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson. It stands 6.5 metres high, is 5 metres long and weighs around 4 tonnes. Its design reflects the look of the Games, with the beams of light on the clock being inspired by London and its connection with the Meridian Line in Greenwich, the home of time. The final countdown has now well and truly begun for those athletes looking to be at the London Games in 500 days’ time.

 

LONDON 2012

London was elected as the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad on 6 July 2005 at the 117^th IOC Session in Singapore. London eventually succeeded in the fourth round of voting, taking 54 votes from a possible 104. London faced stiff opposition during the vote from the other four candidate cities: Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid. There will be 26 sports on the Olympic programme in London in 2012 and around 10,500 athletes.

 

24 Hour Tube Service

A working party has been set up to look into the possibilities of running the Tube 24 hours a day during the 2012 London Olympics.

Suffice to say, Bob Crow the RMT spokesman has put his boot into the idea by noting that there is no union agreement over hours, pay etc.

Irrespective of the Olympics and union dinosaurs, why is that London does not have a 24 hour tube service anyway?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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British Olympic Association Pissing Money Away

As I have noted many times on this site, the Olympics "budget" (currently standing at £12BN, including £2BN running costs) is out of control.

It is little wonder that it is out of control as the Telegraph reports that the British Olympic Association (BOA) is again on its knees passing the begging bowl around for more money.

Andy Hunt, the BOA CEO, claims that there is a "financial gap" in its accounts.

Really?

What happened to the £6M in extra funding BOA was given by Locog just before the 2008 games in Beijing?

This £6M is on top of £28M from the Joint Marketing Programme Agreement, and another £6.5M from sponsorship/asset sales in 2009.

BOA seem to have pissed away £40M.

Where has all of this money gone, and why has the BOA failed to properly budget for the 2012 games?

With this level of incompetence it is hardly surprising that the main Olympics budget is out of control.

As regards the BOA, it is clear that not one penny more should be allocated to this inept and incompetent body.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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London Logo Farce – The Farce Continues VII

Unsurprisingly the International Olympic Committee has rejected Iran's complaint that the logo for the 2012 Olympics resembles the word Zion, and is racist.

"The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else."

However, I guarantee that this absurd and pathetic fuss over the logo will not die down.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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London Logo Farce – The Farce Continues VI

As we know, the London 2012 Olympics Logo (aka Lisa Simpson Gives Head) has attracted a fair amount of criticism since it was unveiled in 2007.

However, even by the standards of the Olympics, the latest fuss over the logo is absurd in the extreme.

The National Olympic Committee of Iran has sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) complaining about the logo of 2012 London Olympic Games.

For why?

Apparently, the logo says "Zion"???!!

The letter is signed by the Head of Iranian Olympics Committee, Mohammad Ali Abadi and the Secretary General of Iran's Olympic Committee Bahram Afsharzade addressed to the president of IOC Jacques Rogge.

"We appreciate the committee's efforts in line with developing the spirit of Olympism all over the world. We ask for your consideration of the following issue which if neglected, may have destructive effects on the future of sport, especially London Olympic Games in 2012.

Highlighting the values of Olympic, which ban any sorts of partiality, political, religious and racial measures in this field, may have a leading role to hold London Games better.

We have two years ahead to the opening of the games and unfortunately we see the games face with a critical challenge at the beginning which is raised by the racial attitudes of some individuals.

As internet documents have proved, using the word Zion in the logo of 2012 Olympic Games is a disgracing action and against Olympic's valuable mottos.

There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the games, especially Iran which abides by commitment to the values and principles."

The logo is undoubtedly dreadful in terms of aesthetics, and conveying the concept of the games. However, to claim that it actually says "Zion" and is intended to be a racial insult is nonsense.

That being said, this absurd objection will undoubtedly stir a large number of people up and there will be a lengthy and unnecessary fuss over this.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Volte Farce

The Telegraph reports that Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham council, has had to make something of a volte farce.

He had suggested that residents be charged to watch Jamaican and United States athletics training in Birmingham, in the weeks leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.

However, following a public bleating and outcry, he has had to backtrack.

I disagree with the public bleating, making money is entirely within the "spirit" of the games. Additionally, given the size of the ever increasing Olympics "budget" (£12BN including running costs) and the fact that the country has a £4.8 Trillion debt, any opportunity to reduce public costs should be grasped firmly.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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