Neal Vaughan's blog

Great Britain Olympic Football Team

2011-05-27T10:21:03Z

Come London 2012 and the Olympic Football final in Wembley Stadium the issue of a Great Britain Football

Football 2012

team will have been debated long and hard. Will Team Great Britain compete? The factual answer will probably be NO.

1 The Facts
2 The Hurdles To A United Great Britain Team
3 The Solutions
4 Yet More Problems
5 The Final Team?

The FactsEdit

A Great Britain Football team does not exist and has not since the team failed to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games in Munich 1972. Why? Because Great Britain is a United Kingdom made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of these Nations has its own National Football Team, and National Football League and are recognised as individual Nations by Footballs World Governing body, FIFA

The Hurdles To A United Great Britain TeamEdit

There have been recent negotiations between FIFA, The British Olympic Association and all the football nations that make up Great Britain. These negotiations have not gone well!

FIFA seem to have little problem with a united Great Britain Olympic Football Team competeing in the Football 2012. The British Olympic Association also have expressed a wish to make it happen. However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland simply do not want to be involved, fearing the dilution of their own football sovereignty. This problem was highlighted as recently as The Summer Olympic Games of Beijing 2008. The English Women’s Football Team qualified, due to their performances at the previous years World Cup, but they were denied a place at the Olympics because the other three football nations of Great Britain refused to give their consent.

The SolutionsEdit

There have been recent moves that suggest there will be a football team from Great Britain at London 2012. The nations that wish not to compete as an untied team have suggested that England, under the English Football Association, could compete.

Under the rules of competing England would have to choose a squad of English players, under 23 with 3 players allowed to be older than that. England does have a very talented Under 21 team, flying out to the Under 21 World Championships as we speak and if allowed to compete this team would be one of the favourites to win.

Yet More ProblemsEdit

So Great Britain, or England, do compete in the Olympics, this is great; but how would the hugely influential top flight football clubs feel about releasing their valuable players?

Added by Porterfield

The Olympics will be on when the English Football season has just started and the football season will carry on the whole time the Olympics is on. Also most of the top players from these clubs would have also just competed in the national European Football Championships in June. So if you were Alex Ferguson (Manchester United Manager) would you want Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) competing, when he should be playing for his club? The same would apply for mangers of football players such as Kieron Gibbs and Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea) and one of the worlds most expensive players Andy Carroll (Liverpool). Even as recently as this week in mid May 2011, Jack Wilshere has been reportedly persuaded to drop out of the European Under 21 Football Championships by his manager Arsene Wenger.

The Final Team?Edit

David Beckham has suggested he would like to compete and he will be eligible, but the rest of the team could include pla

Added by Porterfield

yers from the lower leagues of the English league. This could be a very sad compromise.

So if you fancy a go, and you are English and you don’t play for a top club and you are under 23 then please write to the English FA and you never know….?

Check out the profiles of some of the players mentioned and please add your own. Also I would love to hear who you would pick if all the Great Britain home nations competed and the clubs played ball.

Olympic Test Events Annunced for Summer 2011

2011-05-15T19:26:06Z

The organizers of the Summer Olympic Games in London 2012 have announced their plans for testing the event venues for London 2012. In the following months many of the new venues for London 2012 will hold special test events, as part of a comprehensive 12-month testing programme. The testing programme will cover 42 events across 26 venues and involving 8,000 athletes from more than 50 countries.

A total of 150,000 tickets costing between £5 and £35 will be on sale across several events and altogether, a total of 250,000 spectators are expected to see events in the so-called "London Prepares" series.

However some of the events will be free, such as the equestrian test event in Greenwich Park.

Greenwich Park has stunning views of London's historic landmarks

Added by Neal Vaughan

Local residents of Greenwich will be given the opportunity to see the event on temporary grandstands, in the grounds of the stunning historic Royal Park. I have been to Greenwich Park many times and it great location overlooks the City of London and boasts a panorama that takes in many London Landmarks, including the Olympic Stadium (London) in Stratford. It will be a stunning backdrop for William Fox Pitt and the other 3 day event athelets from Team Great Britain.

Has anyone got a venue they think will be as stunning as this natural one? Have a look at all the venues for London 2012 for more information. Add picutes to the pages and make sure they are the best guide to the venues and sports you love. An interesting fact is that Modern Pentathlon has recently switched to laser shooting in place of the traditional air rifles and this will need to be rigorously tested at Greenwich Park.

Do you have any other interesting facts about the events and sports in London 2012? Have a look at London's Games and get some inspiration.

The first events to be tested, in July and August this year, will predominantly take place at venues away from the Olympic Park, the exceptions being the BMX and basketball events. The second group of events, from November to January next year, will include test the Aquatics Centre (London) and the Velopark (London).

More details on the list of events and ticketing can be found at: London 2012 Official Website

Paralympic Ticket Prices announced

2011-05-11T18:38:51Z

The application process for the London 2012 Summer Olympics had finished two weeks ago and now sports fans across the globe have the chance to see if they can afford to snap up tickets for the Paralympics at London 2012 as well

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, published its prices for the approximately two million tickets that will go on sale for the Paralympics from 9 September 2011. Tickets will cost as little as £5 for children and pensioners and £10 for adults. In fact the organisers say half of the two million tickets will be priced at £10 or less, 95% will cost £50 or less and 75% of tickets will be £20 or less.

As with the Summer Olympic Games, the most expensive tickets will be for the best seats at the opening ceremony but London 2012 Paralympics organisers hope low prices will bring big crowds to all the events.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "In 2012 London will play host to the world’s most exciting and talented Paralympic sportspeople. Interest is already huge and with some great ticket prices I want as many people as possible to be part of this fantastic event. From tennis to fencing and boccia to basketball, there is something for everyone, so start checking out what you want to see now so you are ready for when the tickets go on sale."

The website for tickets is the same as beforewww.tickets.london2012.com.

I think the Paralympics at London 2012 will be a great time to see the venues you may have missed in the rush for the Summer Games tickets. I am particularly interested in getting hold of Olympic Stadium tickets for the mens athletics. I think the UK's best athlete is David Weir and is someone I would definitely pay money to see. The London based athlete comes from just round the corner from me and is an inspiration to all. Check out his profile page and please add to it if you want its at David Weir

David Weir in advert with Father

Added by Neal Vaughan

Aviva did an advert featuring David Weir and his father recently. It is a great piece of video and his fathers narration is something special.

Chanel Four will be covering the Paralympics at London 2012 in the UK and they have a good website with lots of interviews and great images at the Channel 4 Paralympics website

BIKE MAN v CAR!

2011-05-10T18:51:02Z

Gee Atherton vs Renault Clio

Added by Neal Vaughan

The UCI Worl Cup for Mountain Biking has got underway and it looks like 2011 will be another good year for Gee Atherton. The Britsh based World Cup Champion started off the defence of his downhill crown with 3rd in the opening downhill event. This result bettered previous results for the GeeMan, as he starts the long run up to next years London 2012 Olympics.

Gee Atherton is a bit of an internet hero when it comes to Mountain Biking. The brother of Dan Atherton and Rachael Atherton has used his bike to jump on snow and also has appeared in a TV show racing a car!. The Atherton family have their own website at Athertonracing and seem to be on course to be huge stars of London 2012 Check out this video here, of the Bike v Car episode but also on Gees Wiki page Gee Atherton Also have a look at his Bro Dan Atherton and sis Rach

Great Adidas Video

2011-05-08T17:42:55Z

Just got hold of a great Adidas video and posted it on the Phillips Idowu page - check it out

Neal Vaughan's blog

Great Britain Olympic Football Team

Contents

The FactsEdit

The Hurdles To A United Great Britain TeamEdit

The SolutionsEdit

Yet More ProblemsEdit

The Final Team?Edit

Olympic Test Events Annunced for Summer 2011

Paralympic Ticket Prices announced

BIKE MAN v CAR!

Great Adidas Video