The 2012 Olympics - in Newcastle and the North East

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Adrian_Swall

Planning application submitted http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=M1JABDBSAP000 to show the olympics on the Big Screen on Grey Street near the summer outdoor cinema site.

If I can just get hold of that remote control?

Good to see that they are proposing to site the screen a little further down Grey Street than they did when the movies were being shown at Grey's Monument last year - will give more room for folk to watch.

[WilfBurnsFan]

I wonder if anything similar is planned for Euro2012? We could all do with a good laugh.

[Newcastle Historian]

Northumberland water to refresh Olympic athletes
by Philippa Goymer, Evening Chronicle, April 5th 2012



THOUSANDS of Olympic athletes will be revived and refreshed by Northumberland water throughout the London 2012 games. International athletes such as Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley will be hydrating themselves with our region’s waters, as well as thousands of visitors from all over the world.

A member of the Coca-Cola family, Schweppes Abbey Well will provide all bottled water for the Olympic events making Northumberland the pride of the Games. Mike Brunskill, 55, of Fairmoor, chairman of Morpeth RFC said: “It’s great news to hear that water from our town is the official water for the Olympic Games this year. The Olympics is a sporting event which will bring the nation together."

The spring was discovered in 1910 and the water is bottled at source in Morpeth, Northumberland.


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1rBpFyQtA

[Adrian_Swall]

In other Olympic news.....the London Underground have renamed all the stations with the names of Olympic Greats like Jessie Owens.

However, they have upset the Dutch by omitting Fanny Blankers-Koen. She won four gold medals in the London post war Olympics in London 1948.

Could we do the same here on the Metro?

Jarrow - Steve Cram, Gateshead Stadium - Brendan Foster. We also had Charlie Spedding but do we have any other Olympic greats?

I am sure we could find a home for Fanny up here!

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Northumberland water to refresh Olympic athletes
by Philippa Goymer, Evening Chronicle, April 5th 2012

THOUSANDS of Olympic athletes will be revived and refreshed by Northumberland water throughout the London 2012 games. International athletes such as Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley will be hydrating themselves with our region’s waters, as well as thousands of visitors from all over the world.

A member of the Coca-Cola family, Schweppes Abbey Well will provide all bottled water for the Olympic events making Northumberland the pride of the Games. Mike Brunskill, 55, of Fairmoor, chairman of Morpeth RFC said: “It’s great news to hear that water from our town is the official water for the Olympic Games this year. The Olympics is a sporting event which will bring the nation together."

The spring was discovered in 1910 and the water is bottled at source in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Thought it a little odd that there would be a quote from Mike Brunskill, 55, of Fairmoor, chairman of Morpeth RFC and thought Abbey Well must sponsor the rugby club but no they don't, or at least not according to their web site @ http://www.morpethrfc.co.uk/index.ph...=115&Itemid=32

[Ken O'Heed]

On Radio Newcastle 18/04/12 approx 715 a spokesman for Newcastle City Council (olympics) would not give the name of the firm that is manufacturing the aluminium olympic rings that will be fixed to the east elevation of the Tyne Bridge (other than stating it was based in Scottish Borders).

However in same interview he mentioned the names of 2 international hotel chains located in the region where football teams would be residing.

Obviously large amounts of olympic sponsorship has been paid over by the hotels to allow their name to be used in publicity - the small firm doing the work again "gets nowt"

Matches what I heard a few weeks ago about firms, charities etc being stopped from using "Olympics" and "2012" in titles, advertising etc in immediate vicinity of venues.

Explains why only 27% of people in this area in the Radio 5 survey mentioned think the olympics is a good thing for this area - however in south east in excess 70% do

After all it is the London Olympic Games !

But we are contributing to the cost of it

KEN

[Newcastle Historian]

Olympic torch disappointment - It is in a
car for half the route around the region
Evening Chronicle, April 18th 2012


FAMILIES hoping to see the Olympic torch being carried through their home towns and villages face disappointment after it emerged it will be driven around in a car for half the journey. In November last year, the organisers Locog revealed the route the torch would take – showing it criss-crossing the North East from June 14th to 16th.

Scores of ordinary people have been chosen to carry it on foot and streets are expected to be packed with onlookers as it passes, but last week we reported that former Toon striker Malcolm Macdonald was angry the flame will only go through Seaton Sluice in a car. Now we can reveal it will be in a vehicle for a total of 32 stretches of its journey through the region – the same number of times it will be held by torchbearers.

The London 2012 map shows the torch will be in a car at Whickham, Jarrow, Hebburn, Ryton and parts of rural Northumberland and County Durham. Games organisers say the car stretches are necessary to make up time.

Steve Ratcliffe, head of PE at Bedewell Primary School in Hebburn, said: “It is not exactly in the Olympic spirit, is it? I have always understood that the Olympic torch is carried by runners. They are robbing some places of an element of a build-up to the Olympics. It sounds like it is going to sneak through Hebburn.”


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1sOoQCDz2

[Adrian_Swall]

100 days to go (and 117 to the end!)

99 days to the Olympic football starting.

The draw takes place next Tuesday the 24th of April 2012 so anyone who is interested will know who will actually be playing.

PS
Is it 100 days to the opencast mining starting nearby at 'Science City'?

[Newcastle Historian]

Brazil and Spain to play at St James' Park in Olympics
By Colin George, Evening Chronicle, April 23rd 2012


BRAZIL, Spain and Mexico are coming to Toon after the seeds for the Olympic football tournament were announced.The Great Britain’s men’s team will avoid the trio after also being named as seeds for tomorrow’s draw. The four countries have each been seeded for the 16-team tournament which means they will be kept apart for the group stage.

Fifa's Olympic organising committee decided on the seedings, and the draw will also keep apart the European teams and the countries from Latin America. Britain’s women’s team have also been seeded for that competition, involving 12 countries, along with the United States and Japan.

In the men's tournament, Great Britain will be in Group A and play their matches at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday July 26, followed by Wembley Stadium on Sunday July 29 and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Wednesday August 1. Spain are seeded on the basis of being world champions and will play in Glasgow (July 26), Newcastle St James' Park (July 29) and Manchester (Aug 1).

Brazil are seeded as the "all-time top Olympic performer" despite never winning the competition, and will be in Group C playing in Cardiff (July 26), Manchester (July 29) and Newcastle (Aug 1). Mexico are seeded as the highest-ranked country outside of Europe and South America, and will be in Group B playing in Newcastle (July 26), Coventry (July 29) and Cardiff (Aug 1).


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1swceTRaY

[Adrian_Swall]

It will be just like watching Brazil!!

The Quayside Seaside will be transformed into the Copacobana!

Fans can get out their heritage Newcastle Strips from the seventies which were 'Brazil-like'.

Just wait until their female fans start dancing at the Monument!

It just keeps getting better and better.

[Ken O'Heed]

The draw (with the obligitory goldfish bowls and screw together balls) has just been completed and Mens games at SJP will be

July 26

Mexico v S Korea

Switzerland v Gabon

July 29

Spain v Honduras

Japan v Morrocco


Aug 1

Brazil v ???? ( To follow)


Depending on results it is possible there may another Brazil appearance here in Quarter Final

Personally I (and probably lots of others) do care about the womens games

KEN

[Ken O'Heed]

Missed from last post

Brazil play New Zealand KO 1430


AND

Quarter Final 4 August KO 1700

KEN

[Newcastle Historian]

Re

St James' Park Olympic football fixtures confirmed
By Andrew Fowler, Evening Chronicle, April 24th 2012


Olympic Football fans now know which fixtures from the London 2012 olympics will be played at St James' Park, after the draw at Wembley Stadium today.

The confirmed dates, teams and times for the St James' Park fixtures are now confirmed as:

July 26 - 14:30 - Mexico v South Korea
July 26 - 17:15 - Gabon v Switzerland

July 29 - 17:00 - Spain v Honduras
July 29 - 19:45 - Japan v Morocco

August 1 - 14:30 - Brazil v New Zealand

August 4 - 17:00 - Winner C v Runner-up D


Senegal were the final team to qualify for the tournament following a 2-0 play-off win over Oman on Monday and have been drawn against Team GB for their opening game at Old Trafford on July 26 (19.45 KO).

This is particularly important for Newcastle United fans, who see their beloved Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse linked with the Senegalese squad - officials from the national team played down these reports after the victory over Oman however.

David Luckes, sporting director of LOCOG believes today's draw will be a big help in shifting a large proportion of the 1.5million tickets that remain unsold.


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz1sxfkf5E6

[Newcastle Historian]

North East will play key part in Olympic football tournament
by Andrew Glover, The Journal, April 25th 2012


WORLD CHAMPIONS Spain will be joined by Brazil in playing Olympics football at St James’ Park this summer. Newcastle was handed fixtures involving the glamour teams when the draw was made at Wembley yesterday.

Spain, who are also European champions, will play Honduras in Newcastle on July 29 while Brazil, bronze medallists at the last Olympics, face New Zealand on Tyneside two days later. Brazil and Spain could also be involved in a quarter-final at the ground, which is hosting nine games in total.

LOCOG, the organisers of the games, confirmed yesterday that tickets were still available for the St James’ Park fixtures. A total of 1.5 million remaining seats for the football fixtures around Britain are expected to go on sale next month.

The men’s teams of Mexico, South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland, Japan and Morocco will also play in Newcastle, while in the women’s competition, Canada, Sweden, France and Colombia will head to St James’ Park.


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1t2fMUJcx

[anonymous1]

A nice way of promoting ticket sales by saying the 'glamour teams' are playing in Newcastle. One day the players might be their 'glamour teams', but for the most part, it's their youth teams because of the rules.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by anonymous1

A nice way of promoting ticket sales by saying the 'glamour teams' are playing in Newcastle. One day the players might be their 'glamour teams', but for the most part, it's their youth teams because of the rules.

They still have very good players in their youth squads. I have already been allocated a ticket for the mens Quarter final, I might look into getting some earlier rounds tickets when they come back on sale. I am interested in going to see the Canadian ladies team vs Sweden though since the Canadian mens team didn't make it.

[Ken O'Heed]

Originally Posted by anonymous1

A nice way of promoting ticket sales by saying the 'glamour teams' are playing in Newcastle. One day the players might be their 'glamour teams', but for the most part, it's their youth teams because of the rules.

Totally correct.

I am sick of Radio Newcastle presenters stating "we are going to see 3 of the world best teams at SJP"

As above comment the teams participating will be either Youth, Under 21 or Under 23 players supplemented with a Maximum over 3 "over age" players

Think what is going on regarding Team GB (have I got that right ?) mens football team being continually linked with the comments about a "footballer from Essex" being included in the squad - David Beckham, 37 year old on 2 May, now seeing out his latter years in a 4th rate league in USA, picking up a reported $6.5 million a year and at present not playing well enough to be included in his own team, Los Angeles Galaxy.


KEN

[WilfBurnsFan]

Does anyone know - will ticket sales be totally controlled in that control-freak IOC way that we all know and love or would punters be able to stroll up at five to five and pick up an unsold seat for a fiver?

[bigchrisfgb]

I don't get it. Those team (apart from team GB) have got to the Olympics like everyone else, by qualifying and on merit. These are promising young athletes and they are coming to SJP. I've never been a fan of the 2012 Olympics, I honestly think it was just another way for London to be bank rolled at the expense of the rest of us (as Ken Livingston even admitted). The thing is though Newcastle and the North East have been given a small part to play in the Olympics and we ourselves are getting an opportunity to see promising young athletes perform on our own ground.

[anonymous1]

Of course that's true, yes they got there on merit, but on merit relative to other youth teams. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I think a lot of the publicity for the football is slightly misleading, or at least stretching the truth.

I've no problem with the olympics, I'm not just another pessimistic complainer regarding the games.