London is planning travel restrictions for some 109 miles of its streets during the Olympics; a third of that distance will be reserved for athletes, members of the press, and officials. London cabbies aren’t happy about it: Some 40% of the city’s 23,200 black-cab drivers plan to strike during the games. Read Bloomberg via Newser
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Strike called for UK border staff on eve of Olympics
Sweet, “Border staff are among government workers who are set to strike on the eve of the Olympics, union leaders announced Thursday, risking longer lines at Heathrow airport’s passport control for visitors arriving for the Games.” Read for instance CNN.
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Behold, ultra-rower Chris Duff meeting a basking shark around here (the Faroe Isles, that is)
Tough guy Chris Duff has been visiting the Faroe Isles the past seven weeks, en route from Scotland via Orkney, Shetland and the Faroe Islands to Iceland. Rowing alone in a modified Wayland Marine Merry Wherry 19-footer. Apparently the last stint to Iceland has been called off (280-miles in 6 days), due to bad weather, but still he made the first 205 miles in 5, rowing the final 59 miles nonstop to avoid being blown off-course.
Here is him encountering a basking shark near Vestmanna. GoPro FTW.
Read more on his website
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CC photo #201: Men 50 back medalists at Rijeka 2008
The Rijeka 2008 European Short Course Championships men’s 50 backstroke medal winners. From left to right Lubos Krizko (Slovakia, bronze in 23.47), Stanislav Donets (Russia, gold in 23.22) and Aschwin Wildeboer Faber (Spain, silver in 23.28). See result list here
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Danish Darlings introduce Mie to their Wax On Wax Off ritual
Off On-Sport.dk: ‘Waxing is a tradition and part of the Olympic preparations of the Danish swimming girls. Here it is Mie Østergaard Nielsen who has come under loving care by Rikke Møller Pedersen and Pernille Blume.’
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Ranking the Summer Olympic Sports (don’t worry, we’re on top)
Even with aquatics separated into 4 sports, we get two in top 7 :-)
1. Swimming One of two sports synonymous with the Summer Olympics, swimming rightfully dominates the opening week. Of course, having Michael Phelps is a big advantage, but as 2008 showed, the swimming events are usually exciting, with close, and in some cases, historic finishes. Swimming also gets bonus points because we are currently the dominate country. U-S-A! U-S-A!
See FANIQ
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Behold, sheep can swim
This was shot just a couple of weeks ago by the Leven Estuary in Cumbria, when a flock of 25 sheep were cut off by a fast-rising Morecambe Bay tide. Now, I know for a fact that sheep can also drown, but that is another (embarrassing) story.
Btw, last minute, me so sleepy now, via fwi.co.uk
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London shortening Olympic Opening Ceremony to end on time
Oscar-winning director of “Slumdog Millionaire” has been forced to trim parts of the ceremony – including removal of a stunt bike sequence – to make sure the show finishes on time and spectators can get home before public transportation shuts down. London organizers said Boyle was “tightening” the ceremony by up to 30 minutes to ensure the show, scheduled for three hours, concludes between midnight and 12:30 a.m.
“This is like any other piece of film you would make, things end up on the cutting room floor,” London organizing committee spokeswoman Jackie Brock-Doyle said.
Read more on The Miami Herald
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Periscope-equipped float could be the ultimate coaching tool (or not)
