Not the best of photos, but a really fond memory from the FINA 2010 World Cup leg in Stockholm. The Faroese swim team together with Alexander Dale Oen.
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Dale Oen won’t get a statesman’s funeral, so his municipality says “we’ll pay”
There has been talk about Alexander Dale Oen getting a statesman’s funeral, as did ski jumper Birger Ruud (1911 – 1998) and marathon runner Grete Waitz (1953 – 2011). But then yesterday the Norwegian government decided not to do this, and then the municipality of Øygarden confirmed that they would like to help as a final gesture to their local hero. The funeral will be from the small church of BlomvÃ¥g in Øygarden, with seating for only 300 people so they’ll have to make other arrangements also. Date not set yet, see BergensAvisen.
Image of Blomvåg Kirke courtesy of Bohuslen / Wikimedia Commons -
Australian Olympic Opening Ceremony uniforms unveiled
To coincide with the excitement of Fashion Week in Sydney, the Australian Olympic athletes have unveiled their highly-anticipated Opening Ceremony uniforms for the London Games.
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Correction, the penguin-thieves were not Aussies but Welsh
My mistake, I thought they were Australians, given that it happened in Australia and that Australians also manage to do strange things (or were they Welsh too?). Via WalesOnline
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Search for a Speedo Star with Keri-anne Payne
In an aim to inspire the UK to swim, Cancer Research UK and Speedo UK have launched a national ‘Search for a Speedo Star’ competition which will give everyday people the opportunity to become an athletic superstar; raising money for Cancer Research UK in the process. Via the17thman
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Winter swimmers in Copenhagen
Around 20,000 Danes swim in the sea during the winter, and swim even when the water is frozen over and dry. Warning, almost NSFW outside of Scandinavia and France.
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Rebecca Adlington launches British Gas Free Swims for Britain campaign
Mansfield star Rebecca Adlington recently launched the British Gas ‘Free Swims for Britain’ programme, which is giving away swimming sessions to those who sign up online to back our swimmers, as they prepare for the biggest competition of their careers. One young swimmer comments in the video, “It was fantastic, yeah, I think it is better than meeting the Queen!” :-)
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Alexander Dale Oen – Tribute
“Rest in peace, Alexander Dale Oen, 1985 – 2012. You were a great sports star and accomplished incredibly much in your far too short life. You will never be forgotten.”
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Dale Oen’s autopsy inconclusive, shock waves near and far
The autopsy conducted on Alexander Dale Oen Tuesday found no evidence on how he died, no anatomic cause of death and no trauma associated with the death, additional test are running but it could take eight weeks or longer to get final test results. The Japan Swimming Federation is reconsidering altitude training ahead of the London Olympics, letting it up to those athletes who feel uneasy whether to go or not go. The Australian Olympic Committe has instituted enhanced heart checks of its London-bound team. Back in Norway they’ve cancelled the big Bergen Swim Festival this weekend, arranging a memorial instead, somewhat of a relief to Danish swimming stars Lotte Friis, Rikke Møller Pedersen and Jeanette Ottesen bound to compete there, as they are in mourning too. Jeanette is devastated, says he was one of her best friends, coach Wildeboer tries to have everyone keep focus, saying Alex himself would try to use this in the most positive and respectful way possible. Tough days.
