Stories about Sport from July, 2012
Trinidad & Tobago: Hoping for Medals
The MEP Blog takes a look at the country's past Olympic greats and 2012 medal hopefuls.
Guyana: Olympic Dreams
Guyana-Gyal explains how the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London “remind[ed] [her] to stay true to [her] dreams, no matter how mad they might sound to them people here.”
Latin America: Is 2012 the ‘Year of the Woman” at the Olympics?
The Americas Quarterly blog points out that although there is still a lot to do to end gender discrimination at the Olympics, “for the first time in history, every country competing in the London 2012 Olympics will have at least one female athlete, with many – notably in Latin America...
South Africa: Celebrating First Gold Medal in 8 Years
Congratulations have been pouring in for South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh who picked up South Africa's first gold medal after the country's dismal failures at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also South Africa's first male swimming Olympic gold medalist.
Ukraine, Russia: Olympic Athletes’ Birthplace Controversy
The official website of the London 2012 Olympics turned out to be not the most reliable source of info on a number of foreign-born members of the Russian team. Demanding corrections, Ukrainian netizens launched a protest letter-writing campaign, and even the Foreign Minister got involved via Twitter.
Cuba: Yanet Bermoy Wins First Medal for Cuba in London Olympics
Cuban judoka, Yanet Bermoy has won the first medal for Cuba in the London 2012 Olympics. Cuba's blogosphere is buzzing about the win
Caucasus: Olympic Women
Ianyan introduces its readers to the female athletes representing the three countries of the South Caucasus in the Olympic games in London.
Bahrain: ‘Boycott the Olympics’
Many Bahrainis are calling for the Olympics to be boycotted. First, a royal, who is allegedly personally involved in the torture of athletes, is attending the games. Second, most of the Bahraini squad is made up of African athletes.
Colombians Celebrate Unexpected Silver Medal
On Saturday, July 28, Rigoberto Urán became the first Colombian to win a medal in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He finished second at the men's road race final, behind veteran cyclist Aleksandr Vinokurov from Kazakhstan.
World: Nerd Olympics
When nerds follow the Olympic Games, a hashtag like #Nerdlympics is born. Find our favourite tweets in the hashtag here
Laos: Participation in 2012 Olympics
Laos sent three athletes to the 2012 London Olympics. An employee of the United Nations World Food Programme in Laos also represented the country when she was invited to become an Olympic torchbearer early this month
London: Triumph Beyond Medals for Bangladeshis
Five Bangladeshi athletes are in London to participate in the 2012 Olympics. Bangladeshis are not optimistic that their athletes will come back with medals. However, this is not the end of the Olympic dream for Bangladesh. Their main triumph is not on the field, but off the field.
Reasons to Boycott the Olympics?
With any major event, there are both celebrating and dissenting voices. The Olympics is no exception, and there are bloggers from across the world making their voices heard on why they will be boycotting London 2012.
Panama Pins Hopes on Eight Olympic Athletes
Panama will attend the London 2012 Olympic games with eight athletes. The biggest hopeful is Irving Saladino, current Olympic long-jump champion. Netizens and some of the Panamanian athletes share their hopes and concerns on social networks.
South/North Korean Flag Mix Up – Biggest Blunder in Olympic History?
"It is hard to host the event perfectly without making any single mistake. But this case of displaying the South Korean flag in a North Korean game...It is more than a mistake. I call it lack of preparedness." - South Korean on Twitter.
Argentina: The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo and the Olympics
Lillie Langtry from the blog Memory in Latin America explains that the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo are getting into the spirit of the Olympics by “asking various Argentine sportspeople to feature in their latest video campaign.” Langtry shares a video where Carlo Retegui, the coach of the women's...
Bolivia: Athletes Not a Priority at London Olympics
Bolivia is taking only 5 athletes to the XXX Olympic Games in London. A scandal related to the expenses of the Olympic leadership has exploded on social networks and reached the news media. The debate also focuses on the very poor level of sports in the country, which has never won an Olympic medal.
Philippines: Horse Fights
Heritage interpreter, tour guide, and blogger Ka Bino Guerrero writes and posts pictures about horse fights in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental in the Philippines.
Argentina: Athletes Tweet Photos From #London2012
Just days before the Olympic Games begin in London, Argentine athletes share photos from London on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Mali: Athletes Go to London Olympics With Heads Held High
"We will definitely be in London and our goal is to prove to the whole world that in spite of our struggles, our country is still standing." - Malian National Olympic Committee President
London Olympics: Ambush Marketers Be Warned!
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has taken stringent measures to try to ensure no ‘ambush marketing’ tactics are used during the London 2012 Olympics. A common feature at modern major sporting events, ambush marketers try to sneak in promotions of their brands and companies in front of the crowd and, most importantly, the TV cameras. Sports law bloggers and marketers posted their opinions on ambush marketing and the London Olympics.
