London Latest - Football Kicks Off; OCOGs Brief IOC; Games Lanes Into Effect

7/25/2012

Football Kicks Off

The first sporting action of London 2012 takes place today – but in Cardiff where the women’s football competition kicks off.
 
Team GB women’s team take on New Zealand at 4 p.m. in the Millennium Stadium in the Welsh capital, two days before the opening ceremony. Cameroon play Brazil on the same pitch at 18:45 p.m.

London 2012 is the first time that Great Britain has competed in the women’s version of the football event. It's also the first time that a FIFA-affiliated women’s tournament will be staged in the U.K.

The second group games will also take place in Cardiff on Saturday. However, the final games in the group stage will take place simultaneously next Tuesday at the City of Coventry stadium and Wembley Stadium, respectively.
 
IOC Session

Reports on the activities of IOC administration and presentations delivered by the coordination commissions and OCOGs of Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018 will dominate day two of this week's IOC Session.

The organizing committees of the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and 2016 YOG in Lillehammer will also update IOC members.

Torch Relay Update

The Olympic Flame will travel across North London today as it continues its journey around the capital.
 
The relay will be run by 153 torchbearers over 30 miles from Ealing to Haringey. The Flame will finish the day at Alexandra Palace with Olympic champion decathlete Daley Thompson lighting the cauldron for the evening celebration.

The day will also feature Australian Olympic Committee president and IOC member John Coates carrying the flame through Enfield. Coates was instrumental in bringing the Games to Sydney in 2000 and its delivery. The Sydney Olympics have often been credited by London 2012 organizers as a major influence.

On the same day that the Olympic football event starts, England’s FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks will carry the Flame alongside Wembley Stadium - one of the football venues for the Games.

Games Lanes Come Into Effect

The Olympic Route Network and Games Lanes restrictions take effect from 6 a.m. today.

Transport for London (TFL) is urging road users to avoid driving in central London or around Games venues while the restrictions are in place.

Bus routes are being diverted while TFL has sent out emails suggesting the use of various walking maps and cycle routes as alternatives for getting around the city.

Reported by Christian Radnedge

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