Coming Soon: "First" - The Official Film of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Here is the trailer for the film "First" which is the official film of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  The documentary follows 12 athletes as they compete in the Olympics for the first time.

For more information about this movie, you can check out articles from Digital Spy, the Daily Mail and the Hollywood Reporter.

Best of London 2012 - The Video

This video comes from the International Olympic Committee.  Unfortunately, you can't watch it here on my blog.  Once you click on the start button though, you'll be provided a link to the video on YouTube.    I promise you, it's worth taking the time to watch.

Another London Olympic Photo Blog!

Guess I'm not the only one with a London Olympic photo blog.  Be sure to check out this great photo blog by photojournalist Dan Chung of The Guardian newspaper.  Chung captured the London 2012 Olympics using smartphones.

Shots Around London - Part 3

It looks like a lot like a Mazda Miata, but it's actually an MG.  MGs were last sold here in 1980.  I think I read somewhere that they were going to be re-introducing the MG to the United States, but I can't find anything recent on that.

The ubiquitous black London cab isn't always black anymore.

Some stuff that's available at English McDonald's that isn't available in the States.

Badminton - Men's Singles Final (From August 5, 2012)

 Wembley Arena

The badminton played at the Olympic level is nothing like the badminton you play in your backyard.  At this level of play, the shuttlecock can fly at speeds of 200 miles per hour.   And unlike the the plastic shuttlecocks used by most people, the best shuttlecocks are made from 16 feathers from the left wing of a goose.


Check out this video to see just how fast this game can be:

Dan Lin of China

Chong Wei Lee of Malaysia

 Lin celebrating his gold medal win.

 Lin (left) and Lee (right) on the podium.

 Long Chen of China won the bronze medal in the men's singles.

Dan Lin

The Olympic Park at Night - Part 2

The Water Polo Arena

The Coca-Cola Beatbox

The Olympic Stadium

I only recall seeing the horses at night, although they were probably there in the day too. I got the sense that the horses were used for crowd control.

The Basketball Arena

The Olympic Stadium

Now this is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.  It's a waterfall created by Julius Popp that can "write" letters and words.  There were a series of these waterfalls along one of the walkways that was under one of the bridges in the Olympic Park. 

I really don't think this one picture does this work of art justice, so please see the video below:

If you'd like to have one of these fountains for your home, you can get one here for only $100,000 (and up). 

Last Trip to the Olympic Stadium

Women's 4x400m Relay - Round 1

 American Keshia Baker

 American Francena McCorory 

 American Diamond Dixon in second.

American DeeDee Trutter in the lead on the anchor leg.  The US won this heat in a time of 3:22.09.  In the final, the US won the gold medal in a time of 3:16.87.  Sanya Richards-Ross replaced Keshia Baker in the final.

Decathlon Medal Ceremony

Ashton Eaton of the United States was the gold medalist (center on the podium) and Trey Hardee was the silver medalist (right on the podium).

 Gold medalist Ashton Eaton

Silver medalist Trey Hardee

The first exchange in round 1 of the men's 4x100m relay.  American Jeffery Demps passes to teammate Darvis Patton (middle lane).  The US won its heat in a time of 37.38.  The US lost to Jamaica in the final.

In the women's 5,000m final, Americans Molly Huddle and Julie Culley finished 11th and 14th respectively.

Women's 4x100m Final

The first exchange in the women's 4x100m relay.  American Tianna Madison has just passed to teammate Allyson Felix (far lane).

The US set a world record time of 40.82.

The US team of Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter on their victory lap.

The field for the women's 1,500m final included Americans Shannon Rowbury and Morgan Uceny.  While Rowbury finished sixth, Uceny was tripped and did not finish the race.

Oscar Pistorius of South Africa running the anchor leg of the 4x400m really final.  South Africa finished eighth. 

Shots Around London - Part 2

Instructions on how to ride the escalator.

Isn't it always Pimm's o'clock?  (I've been a fan since 1979.)  Here's a recent article about Pimm's from the New York Times.

Covent Garden

 The Icecreamists (Agents of Cool)

Yeah, you read that right.  What you may not be able to read on the label is, "Free Range and Organic/Freshly Squeezed/The Ice Cream They Tried to Ban."  More on this unusual flavor here.

Rhythmic Gymnastics - Day 2

In today's two rotations of the individual All-Around Qualification, each competitor performed once with the clubs and once with the ribbon.

In today's rotation of the group All-Around Qualification, three of the team members used the ribbon while the other two used the hoop.