London 2012 Daily Diary

Dodge

This thread will try and keep people informed as to what’s happening each day at the games. We’ll give a full detailed timetable for all Irish athletes the night before they compete as well as giving an overview of any stars or stories that we think deserve highlighting. Dan and myself will be doing the previews but please feel free to post anything you believe is noteworthy

WEDNESDAY – JULY 25
Team Ireland
None in action, and no draws related to their competions are scheduled


Whats happening today then?
The Olympics, literally, kicks off when the GB women’s football team take on their New Zealand counterpart in Cardiff’s millennium stadium at 4pm today. An hour later the first action on English soil sees medal hopes Japan play Canada in Coventry’s RICOH Arena. The stadium has been renamed ‘City of Coventry Stadium’ due to Olympic sponsorship regulations. Both events are double headers with Cameroon/Brazil the second game in Cardiff and Sweden/South Africa in Coventry

This is 5th time women have competed at football and the USA have won 3 of the 4 gold medals on offer. They lost the 2000 final to Norway. Brazil, in action today, have lost the last 2 finals and with the world’s best player Marta in their side, they’ll be hoping to go one better. Marta is to the women’s game what Messi is to the men’s and there’s no end to compilations like this on youtube

Let’s hope we’ve an entertaining start to the 2012 Summer Games!

KevIRL

The soccer action is on bbc1 from 15:30 to 18:00 and then again on bbc3 from 19:00 to 21:00

Silvio.Dante

Thank you Dodge. This will be invaluable to me and I'm sure many more who will be trying to keep track of everyone competing...:)

Silvio.Dante

I wonder who they'll get to light the Flame on Friday night...

Jamie OD

The media kept throwing around the idea of David Beckham getting that role to make up for him being excluded from the British football team. However, it was confirmed it won't be him.

Silvio.Dante

Thank good ness for that. Steve Redgrave is being named in a few circles. I'm not sure though...

KevIRL

Dodge, Dan - Is the plan to have a new daily thread for each day? Considering how this olympics is time friendly for us Irish I imagine that there will be a large amount of posts and could be difficult to locate the always useful 'diary' post if everything is on the one thread.

My suggestion would be a new thread for each day.

Great work as always

nucker

Oh phew!!! Sorry for those who like Beckham, but I personally think he is overrated. He is popular but that doesn't mean he should light the cauldron. I don't think it should be a person who has already had lit it, there are rumours abound its Muhammad Ali.

KevIRL

Quite the boo-boo on day 1. North Korean womens soccer team walked off the pitch before the start of their match tonight when officials mistakenly used the South Korean flag on the big screen showing the teams before the match started

KevIRL

Fixtures, times and venues for tomorrows Men's Soccer matches

Honduras–Morocco (Glasgow, 12.00)
Mexico–Korea Republic (Newcastle, 14.30)
Spain–Japan (Glasgow, 14.45)
United Arab Emirates–Uruguay (Manchester, 17.00)
Gabon–Switzerland (Newcastle, 17.15)
Belarus–New Zealand (Coventry, 19.45)
Brazil–Egypt (Cardiff, 19.45)
Great Britain–Senegal (Manchester, 20.00)

Silvio.Dante

nucker wrote: »

Oh phew!!! Sorry for those who like Beckham, but I personally think he is overrated. He is popular but that doesn't mean he should light the cauldron. I don't think it should be a person who has already had lit it, there are rumours abound its Muhammad Ali.

That would be fantastic. I remmeber when he lit it in Atlanta and there wasn't a dry eye in the house...

Dodge

THURSDAY – JULY 26
Team Ireland
None in action, and no draws related to their competions are scheduled. Joe Ward is taking his case to CAS though


Whats happening today then?

Men's football today. 8 games spread throughout the day with Morocco and Honduras kicking off at 12 all the way through to GB and Senegal at 8pm

Men's football is the only sport that places age restrictions on competitors as teams are made up of Under 23s (with 3 over age players allowed). Spain as the dominant force in world football will be hoping to add Olympic gold (they won in 1992). Their squad contains 3 of the team that won recent Euros.  Brazil' teams looks strongest on paper though with players like Thiago Silva, Pato, Hulk and the exciting Neymar.

For many though Team GB maybe the biggest story. Due to the fractious nature of British football, GB haven't attempted to qualify for the Olympics in the professional era. The squad make up was subject of much media discussion as at first the IFA, WFA and SFA refused to deal with English FA. In the end no Scots or Northern Irishmen were selected. Welshman Ryan Giggs captains side in what will be his only international tournament

Dan man

Irish judoka Lisa Kearney has received the best draw possible it would seem in the - 48kg judo division. She has been given a bye through to the last 16 and in the last 16 she faces a difficult but beatable opponent, Shugen Wu of China.

Dan man

Dodge wrote: »

Men's football is the only sport that places age restrictions on competitors as teams are made up of Under 23s (with 3 over age players allowed).

Boxing has an upper age limit of 34 years of age. By the way look out for the boxing draw tomorrow, commences at 2pm. Let's hope for a good outcome for our boxers.

Silvio.Dante

KevIRL wrote: »

Quite the boo-boo on day 1. North Korean womens soccer team walked off the pitch before the start of their match tonight when officials mistakenly used the South Korean flag on the big screen showing the teams before the match started

I believe NK and SK have been drawn in one of the TableTennis competitions...:)

nucker

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

That would be fantastic. I remmeber when he lit it in Atlanta and there wasn't a dry eye in the house...

But lighting the cauldron goes to only one person per game. I am sure there are just as deserving people to light it

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

nucker wrote: »

But lighting the cauldron goes to only one person per game. I am sure there are just as deserving people to light it

Apparently bookies have stopped taking bets on Roger Bannister being the one to light it. I think it'll be a real shame if it's not Redgrave, who is surely GB's greatest Olympian ever?

No Irish involved in the tennis, but the draws were made today. Federer has once again paid someone off for this draw

Men:
http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/results/men's-singles.aspx
Women:
http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/results/women's-singles.aspx
Men's Doubles:
http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/results/men's-doubles.aspx
Women's Doubles:
http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/results/women's-doubles.aspx
Mixed Doubles:
Takes place on July 31st

Silvio.Dante

Redgrave does nothing for me on an emotional level.

Also he'd be relatively unknown outside of the UK. He's not a 'Stellar name'.

Bannister is an iconic name and it would be a good choice in my view...:)

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Denis Lynch is launching an appeal against his exclusion from the Olympic show jumping team.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/equestrian/2012/0726/330742-lynch-launches-cas-appeal/

Grainne Murphy pulls out of 400m IM to concentrate on freestyle events.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/swimming/2012/0726/330744-murphy-out-of-400m-im-at-london-2012/

The show jumping thing really annoys me. They pull one guy out for possibly drugging his horse and replace him with a guy who got his medals taken off him for drugging his horse. I'll find it hard to get behind any of them at this rate.

nucker

I have a strange hunch that Paul McCartney is the one lighting the cauldron.....don't know who he is (only joking)

Silvio.Dante

nucker wrote: »

I have a strange hunch that Paul McCartney is the one lighting the cauldron.....don't know who he is (only joking)

Ken Dodd's ugly brother...?

He won't be lighting the flame but will be leding the musical end of it I hear...:)

nucker

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Ken Dodd's ugly brother...?

He won't be lighting the flame but will be leding the musical end of it I hear...:)

Personally in the last few years, McCartney has really got on my nerves, he has put himself at every opportunity into the limelight where most people his age including celebrities has wanted to avoid it. I want to see someone who is less well known who has done something beyond the line of duty

KevIRL

Apart from the opening ceremony tonight there is also individual ranking events in archery today at Lords. No public tickets went on sale for this, nor does it appear like its being televised.

Wonder what goes on at it???

KevIRL

South Korea set a new world record in the ranking stage of the mens team event in archery today

KevIRL

Im dong hyun set a world record also in the mens individual ranking event. Was a s Korean 1,2,3 in that

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Boxing weigh ins were this morning. Draws are later today.

Denis Lynch's appeal against his dismissal from the team won't be heard until tomorrow morning. Hope they throw it out. Throw O'Connor out too for all I care.

South Korean sailing coach sent home after being caught drink driving. Greek high jumper failed drug test. Greek triple jumper kicked out for racist tweets. And the games haven't even officially kicked off yet.

Dodge

Late today. Sorry. HUGE preview coming tonight for the Irish in action on day one though

FRIDAY – JULY 25
Team Ireland
None in action. All important boxing draws set for 2pm. News should filter out soon after


Whats happening today then?
Only sport in Archery where we've already seen the first world record of the games as the legally blind Dong Hyun Im scored 699 in qualifying. We'll tabkle archery later in the games but the Koreans are favourites to win in each event

The big even today is the opening ceremony. Dan has gone through the rumoured happenings elsewhere, but its certain to be another extravaganza as London tries to top Beijing. Katie Taylor becomes the frst boxer since Francis Barrett in 1996. Sonia O'Sullivan was the last flag bearer to win a medal in 2000, and Tony Byrne was the last boxer to carry the flag and medal in the same year in 1956

Let the game begin...

Dodge

SATURDAY JULY 28

Irish team in action


10:00 – Cycling
Men’s Road Race – Dan Martin (Race Number 137), David McCann (138), Nicolas Roche (139)

10:32 – Three Day Eventing
Dressage - Michael Ryan with Ballylynch Adventure

11:00 – Gymnastics
Floor Exercise – Rotation 1, 4th in order – Kieran Behan
Vault Exercise – Rotation 4, 1st in order – Kieran Behan`

11:01 - Judo
Extra Lightweight - Round of 16 – Lisa Kearney v Shugen Wu (China)
Quarter finals - from 11.50 continue until semis end at 14:30. Final at 16:00

11:58 – Swimming
Men’s 100m breast - Heat 4, lane 8 – Barry Murphy

12:54 – Three Day Eventing
Dressage – Aoife Clarke with Master Crusade

14:15 – Boxing
Bantamweight – Round of 32 – John Joe Nevin v Dennis Ceylan (Denmark)

15:15 – Boxing
Middleweight – Round of 32 – Darren O’Neill v Muideen Akanji (Nigeria)

16:04 – Three Day Eventing
Dressage – Joseph Murray with Electric Cruise

13:30 – Rowing
Women’s single sculls – heat 1, lane 6 – Sanita Puspure
(First 4 qualify for quarters, rest go to repechage – 6 in heat)


20:30 – Swimming - (if qualified)
Men’s 100m breast – semi final – Barry Murphy

Silvio.Dante

Thank you Dodge. I just cannot wait. I've got the Beeb on already...:)

Dan man

Rise and shine everyone...the Olympics are here!

KevIRL

Off we go and Archery on BBC3.

Lords looking very different to usual

Dan man

There are 12 gold medals up for grabs today in swimming, fencing, road cycling, shooting, archery, weightlifting and judo.

Possible highlights of the day..........

Watch out for the big duel in the pool between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte at the Olympic swimming competition...........first battle between the two comes in the 400m Individual Medley. Heats are at 10:00am and final is on at 7:30pm this evening. It'll be a fascinating rivalry, let's see who gets the upper hand on day 1.

U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin goes for gold number 1 of a possible 7 as part of the U.S. relay team in the women's 4x100m freestyle. If she achieves the feat then she'll go down in history as most successful female swimmer at a single Olympic Games.

Dan man

Any of you who want to see how our first eventer in action gets on in the dressage element, over to the BBC red button with you....Michael Ryan on board Ballylynch Adventure is due to go in the next few minutes.... a score in the low 50s would be great....usual score for this combination is high 50s....remember, the lower the penalty score the better.

KevIRL

Phelps only scrapes through to the final of 400 medley

Dan man

A score of 60.20 penalties for Ryan and Ballylynch....a bit disappointing, needed low 50s but that would have been a big imrovement for this combination.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

KevIRL wrote: »

Phelps only scrapes through to the final of 400 medley

Some silly stuff there from him and from Lochte slowing up and cruising to the finish.

QueenOfLeon

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Some silly stuff there from him and from Lochte slowing up and cruising to the finish.

Lochte is the 3rd fastest qualifier - not too shabby. Having 5 from the final heat qualifying was a bit of a shock! The final at 7.30 today should be good, interesting to see if anyone will get under 4:10.

Next up for Ireland is Kieran Behan in Gymnastics at 11.

Dan man

The first medals of these Olympics will soon be decided....women's 10m air rifle shooting final is about to begin (11pm).....will know the first gold medallist of London 2012 shortly after.

shotgunmcos

Either silly or just super assured. Given the mileage these guys do in training they know the numbers inside out. Probably cutting it fine but calculated none the less. Its not like YI going into the polevault at 4:70 the other night. A more controlled risk IMO. Probably an indicator of how hard they will battle the final!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Either silly or just super assured. Given the mileage these guys do in training they know the numbers inside out. Probably cutting it fine but calculated none the less. Its not like YI going into the polevault at 4:70 the other night. A more controlled risk IMO. Probably an indicator of how hard they will battle the final!

Assured from Lochte maybe, but Phelps could very easily have missed out there. I don't expect them to go full on in the final, obviously, but still kind of risky to be at it in the heats.

KevIRL

Gymnastics on RTE 2 now

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Gymnastics on BBC3 too.

QueenOfLeon

Judo on BBC...Lisa Kearney will be on after the current match is over.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Behan started so well, was looking really good but then a slight stumble on second last move and then fell on his final landing. Such a shame, but what a story to be there.

Dan man

China gold, Poland silver, China bronze in women's 10m air rifle.

Truman Burbank

QueenOfLeon wrote: »

Lochte is the 3rd fastest qualifier - not too shabby. Having 5 from the final heat qualifying was a bit of a shock! The final at 7.30 today should be good, interesting to see if anyone will get under 4:10.

Next up for Ireland is Kieran Behan in Gymnastics at 11.

Lane 3 and lane 8 respectively for Lochte and Phelps, so essentially they will be racing themselves in the final.

Disappointing for Kieran, was pretty perfect up til that. He's on the vault around 12.10pm

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Behan qualified for all 6 individual events but is only doing floor and vault due to shoulder and ankle problems. Shame.

QueenOfLeon

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Behan qualified for all 6 individual events but is only doing floor and vault due to shoulder and ankle problems. Shame.

Didn't know that, that's a pity. Scores on the vault are already very high (16.233 is the highest). The live updates on the website are very well laid out. I can't remember how they did it for Beijing, but its very nicely done for London.

Dodge

Lisa Kearney just beaten by ippon in 'golden point' time. Was 1-1 after normal time

Pherekydes

Dodge wrote: »

Lisa Kearney just beaten by ippon in 'golden point' time. Was 1-1 after normal time

Can't believe she fell for that.

/I'll get my coat.

Truman Burbank

Disconcerting to see the volume of empty seats at the swimming, and even more so at the gymnastics. Thou I reserve my harshest criticism for spectators stepping from paths onto roads to take photos of cyclists.