London 2012 Tickets Tours Hotels: London Olympic tickets 10 times over-subscribed

Olympic Tours London 2012 - Travel with the specialists

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The London Summer Games are set to be the biggest in history with the first round of the USA, UK, and European ticketing coming to close. Tickets to the most popular and expensive events were well over-subscribed. From here all the applications are put into a random ballot and successful ticket buyers are set to find out in early June.

At Spyns we have impeccably planned luxury tours to the London 2012 Olympic Games. If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com.

THE rush for London Olympics tickets has stunned Games organisers after the opening ceremony was 10 times over-subscribed.
 Ticket demand is so high for the 2012 event  that more than half of the 650 Olympic sessions are already be sell-outs, with officials now forced to introduce ticket balloting.

All sessions of track cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, triathlon, modern pentathlon, equestrian and the opening and closing ceremonies are sell-outs.

On current trending, most swimming and tennis sessions also will have to be ballotted.

The ticket application process closed overnight after officials allowed a one-hour extension to cope with a late surge.

London organisers offered 6.6 million tickets, triggering 20 million applications from spectators globally.
Highest demand has been for the $3226 tickets to watch the July 27 opening ceremony.

The clamour for tickets should enable London to exceed budget.

London Games chief Sebastien Coe said LOCOG would attempt to compensate unsuccessful ticket buyers with passes to other events.

Spectators are expected to learn in June if their application has been successful.

"We are thrilled with the response right across the board, in all sports and all sessions," Coe said.

"Certain events have seen massive demand - for example the Opening Ceremony, which is more than 10 times oversubscribed - so there will, understandably, be disappointment and we will find a way to go back to those people with other tickets.

"What is most encouraging is that the majority of applications are for multiple tickets and for several sports, which shows that friends and family are planning to go to the Games together."

Almost 1.8 million people have applied for tickets, with 95 per cent of orders coming from within the UK , pleasing organisers who want to see British fans in the stands.

LOCOG will now check and de-duplicate applications before running ballots across sessions which are oversubscribed and process applications.

Some of the tickets are the most expensive in Games history.

Track and field devotees will have to fork out about $1166 to watch the 100m final.

THE BIG-TICKET ITEMS AT THE 2012 OLYMPICS

Opening ceremony: $3236.

Closing ceremony: $2412.

100m men's final: $1166.

Swimming finals: $725.

Beach volleyball finals: $725.

Diving finals: $725.

Gymnastics finals: $725.

Boxing finals: $635.

Cycling (track) finals: $522.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting www.spyns.com.

London 2012 Tickets Tours Hotels: Team USA Wrestling dates and trails

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Wrestling freestyle events run from August 8th to August 12th at the

Travel with the specialists

London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. With the Closing Ceremony at 7:30pm London time on August 12th the two events coincide with each other perfectly for a 5-Day or 7-Day tour. We have arranged hotels, guides, excursions, VIP tours of Buckingham Palace, to name a few. If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com.

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The official world wide web site for the 2012 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials -- www.iowacitytolondon.com -- was launched today. The web site contains information for both athletes and spectators. The event will be held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the campus of the University of Iowa from April 21-22, 2012.

In late January, Iowa City (IA) was awarded the bid to host the sports most signature competition beating out bids from Columbus, Ohio, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Greensboro, N.C., Hampton, Va., Oklahoma City, Okla. and Pontiac, Mich. Since that time a local organizing committee comprised of representatives from University of Iowa Athletics and the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau have been working alongside the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Wrestling (USAW) to shore up details surrounding the event. They have been joined in those efforts by some of the sports greatest local figures including legendary collegiate and Olympic wrestlers Dan Gable, Tom Brands, Terry Brands, and Lincoln McIlravy.

The event will feature competition in the three Olympic styles of the sport - men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle. The competition will determine the U.S. athletes who will qualify to represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.

"It was important for our team to hit this first goal." said Iowa City/Coralville Area CVB President and local organizing committee member Josh Schamberger. "Tomorrow begins the one-year countdown. Our community is fired up and anxious to welcome our nation's best."

The goal of April 20, 2011 for the web site launch coincides with when the majority of area hotel inventory will open up. "Most hotels work on a 365-day calendar. We have some of the best properties in the country here in Iowa City, Coralville, Cedar Rapids...but don't wait, things will move quickly there." He added all-session tickets for the event will go on sale beginning at 9:00AM (CST) on Monday, June 6, 2011.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.

London 2012 Tickets Tours Hotels: Olympic Preview on Construction and Venues

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London is gearing up for the Olympic Games starting

Travel with the specialists www.london-olympiad.com

July 27th, 2012. With turf in place at Olympic Stadium, the Aquatic Centre complete, and the Underground “Tube” getting a revamp with extended lines to Olympic Village. At Spyns we have been eagerly waiting on the completion for Olympic Stadium and were given a VIP tour through it earlier this month. The 80,000 capacity stadium is ultra modern and it due to hold testing events by school athletes these coming months. Our sight www.london-olympiad.com is about to launch it tours now that we have finalised or itineraries. If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com.

If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com.

Construction and Venues


London has focused its Olympic energies on transforming the deprived East London, where the Olympic Park is under construction, but the occasion has been seized on to overhaul public transport, to showcase some sparkling new architecture, and to convert some well-known landmarks into Olympic venues. (Fun Fact: Watch as the Royal Wedding route passes Horse Guard's Parade, the future venue for beach volleyball.)

Upgraded Public Transportation

More than £17 billion has been earmarked for transport development in the run-up to the 2012 Games in this city that sees 20 million trips daily on the transport system. Served by five airports, London has the world’s second largest (and oldest) underground system, but pre-Olympics development saw the extension of the East London line (May 2010) and the Docklands Light Railway, the upgrading and modernization of all underground stations, investment on the Jubilee Line (serving Olympic facilities) to handle extra capacity, and a high-rail link between St Pancras International and Stratford International for the Olympic Park, shuttling spectators to the Games in seven minutes from central London. New cycle and walking lanes are also planned to encourage healthier modes of transportation. London, however, remains one of the most congested cities in Europe, with an average vehicle speed of just under 12 mph.

Olympic Venues

Most big-ticket events will take place in the Olympic Park but some medals will be vied for in more unusual settings, many that are open to the public today.

The Olympic stadium's design has divided opinion, with critics making unfavorable comparisons with Beijing's iconic Bird's Nest, but supporters have pointed to the 80,000-capacity stadium's ability to be dismantled as a major plus point.

Gymnasts and basketball finalists will be limbering up in the O2 Arena, to be temporarily rechristened the North Greenwich Arena 1; badminton contestants and rhythmic gymnasts will aim for glory in the North Greenwich Arena 2.

The Beach Volleyball competition will be held in Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, a beach ball's toss from Downing Street and next to St. James's Park.

Road Cycling takes to Regent's Park. (For great views of the park and Central London head to nearby Primrose Hill.)
Triathlon contestants and Marathon swimmers will make a splash in the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

Swimming and diving will be held in the astonishing form of the signature Aquatics Centre, a curvilinear £303-million piece of eye candy due for completion in late 2011 and the gorgeous centerpiece of London's Olympics display. Designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the center's wavelike form has been scaled back from original designs, but it remains an impressive and inspirational building.

Lovely Greenwich Park—London's oldest Royal Park—is the venue for Equestrian events and Modern Pentathlon.

In Woolwich, shooting will be staged at the Royal Artillery Barracks, while Lord's Cricket Ground will host archery.

Football (soccer) matches will kick off in 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium, the home of the English National Football team.

Tennis can really only be held at one venue—Wimbledon—with its famous grass courts, but rowers, canoeists, and kayakers will be heading off to Eton Dorney, near Windsor Castle.

Plan Your London Trip with Spyns www.london-olympiad.com

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.

London Olympic Guided Tours - Cable car to cross the River Thames for the Olympics

See London with the experts - www.london-olympiad.com

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At Spyns is about to let their Olympic website go live. We have been holding back as we plan the trips in London down to the finest detail. We have a selection og tours for every budget. Our Deluxe Gold tours are fully guided with VIP champagne tours of Buckingham Palace, a circuit in the London Eye with another glass, to name a few of the perks. Our Premiere Silver tours offer great service with guides in your hotel, a day-trip to historic Stonehenge, dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s famous restaurant Maze, and privately guided tours around London. Our Budget Bronze tours offer the ability to explore London independently while still being given the Spyns treatment. We’ll meet you at the airport, be around your hotel to help out, give you champagne trip in the London Eye to see London from 443 ft. If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com.

LONDON — A cable car across the River Thames could be built in time to take spectators between venues at next year's London Olympics.
Transport for London says construction will start this year. The transport company will pay the 50.5-million-pound ($82.2 million) cost rather than wait to raise private funding in an effort to get the project finished before the July 27-Aug. 12 games.
As many as 2,500 people per hour will be able to make the 1.1-kilometre trip from the O2 Arena to the ExCel centre in five minutes.
London Mayor Boris Johnson says it "will provide a truly sublime bird's eye view."
The O2 on the south bank will host events including the gymnastics and basketball finals, while ExCel features seven Olympic events and six Paralympic sports.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.

RACE first-timer Mary Keitany stormed to a win at the Virgin London Marathon, leading reigning champion Liliya Shobukhova home by over a minute.

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CONGRATULATIONS: Kenya's Mary Keitany (centre) is congratulated by fellow athletes Liliya Shobukhova of Russia and Edna Kiplagat, who completed the top three at the Virgin London Marathon

At Spyns we have been busy in London arranging tours, attractions, hotel suites, and keeping up to date on the latest sporting news. Our tours are going to have clients in Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, out to Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle the next day, being give a VIP private guided tour around London another day, watching the 100m Men’s Freestyle swimming final the following afternoon, eating at Gordon Ramsay’s famous restaurant Maze one evening and being escorted around Buckingham Palace the next. These are some of the activities that we have planned for our London Olympic Tours. If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com. 

Kenyan Keitany held a comfortable position from early in the race, breaking away from the pack at 25km after running in a pack of nine, including Shobukhova, at the halfway mark.

By mile 18, the new half marathon world record holder was leading her chasers by 27 seconds. She continued to extend her advantage, running fast and well throughout the final few miles.

Keitany only had one full marathon under her belt prior to London – that of New York in 2010, where she took third place in a time of two hours, 29 minutes and one second.

Her considerably faster finishing time of two hours 19 minutes and 17 seconds in the London Marathon makes her only the tenth woman to break 2:20, and the fourth fastest woman in marathon running history.

It was an unbelievable race from Keitany, who kept notching up through the gears and sped to an effortlessly fast finish.

Demure, shy, tiny at 5’3” and clutching a small paper Kenyan flag as if for reassurance, her appearance belies her stunning performance that saw her almost floating down the Mall to cross the finish line in a sensational time.

“I know it was only my second marathon – I am so happy to win,” she said.

“The hard training after New York paid off.

“At mile 16, I was confident it was possible. I was not so surprised at my time because I knew the course here was flat and the weather was good – I was confident I could run a better time than my personal best.

“The quality of the field helped me to run that fast because they were so good.”

Runner-up Shobukhova sounded disappointed with her second place finish, despite setting a new Russian national record of two hours, 20 minutes and 15 seconds

“When Mary first attacked, I believed that I would catch her up,” she said.

“The first time, I thought I would let her go because I can catch her, but Mary’s speed was so fast that it didn’t happen.

“Mary has a great speed for a half marathon so I am not surprised she can run so fast

“For me, it was very ambitious and unreal so in the second half of the race when I didn’t see Mary and I could see Edna next to me, I realised I was fighting for second place. 

Third-placed Edna Kiplagat, also a Kenyan, smashed her personal best with a finishing time of two hours, 20 minutes and 46 seconds.

“I tried to run as fast as I could but she was much faster,” she said. 

“So I tried to run a bit faster for the last 200 metres, that’s when Liliya came up with the speed too. 

“I found I was missing the speed but later on I tried to hang on and see if I could beat my personal best.

“I think it’s the best quality field for women that I have run in and the course was a nice one so I was in the right position to chase for my time.”

Kiplagat plans to head to Daegu later in the year, and draw on her London Marathon experience to improve even more.

However, Shobukhova was less willing to commit to racing at Daegu.

She said: “For the first time I can relax today after running, so I’ll decide tomorrow – not today.

Like Shobukhova, Keitany was also reserved about Daegu. But she was happier to talk about a return to London next year.

“Maybe when I go back to training I will see how it goes and then I will come back in London 2012 and try my best to win the gold at the Olympics.”

She may not be one for words, but she can clearly let her feet do the talking.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.

London Olympic Guided Tours - Team USA update

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Ryan Hall, pictured here crossing the finish line
at the 2010 Boston Marathon, will compete 
again in the 2011 Boston Marathon 
this weekend.

At Spyns we have been busy selling luxury 5, 7, and 10 day tours to the London 2012 Olympics. The majority of our clients are North American and a few are coming with us to see the Tour de France finish in Paris the Sunday before the Opening Ceremony starts on Friday, July 27^th, 2012. We have put together a full itinerary of events and attractions in and around London over the duration of the Olympics. If you would like more information on our tours please feel free to contact me at info@london-olympiad.com. Now on to your Team USA weekly update

The U.S. women’s hockey team will be looking to defend its back-to-back titles from 2008 and 2009 at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championships. The tournament is set for April 16-25 in Zurich and Winterhur, Switzerland.

Team USA begins play Sunday against Slovakia. Team USA’s preliminary round games continue on Monday against Russia and Wednesday against Sweden.

The U.S. roster includes 15 Olympians — including forward Jenny Potter and defenseman Angela Ruggiero — from the U.S. team that earned a silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Potter and Ruggiero are four-time Olympians and part of a total of 14 players who earned gold with Team USA at the 2009 World Championships.

Team USA also has 15 players back from the team that competed in November at the 2010 Women’s Four Nations Cup. Forwards Jen Schoullis and Kelley Steadman will be making their debuts with Team USA, and five other players will be competing in the World Championships for the first time: goaltender Brianne McLaughlin; defensemen Josephine Pucci and Anne Schleper and forwards Kendall Coyne and Brianna Decker.

“We're excited about this group,” said Katey Stone, coach for Team USA and also the women’s ice hockey coach at Harvard. “It has a little bit of everything — experience, youth and players with a lot of fire. I’m anxious to see what we’re capable of at the world championship.”

The U.S. has captured three gold medals (2005, 2008, 2009) and nine silvers in the 12 previous World Championships.

Also in ice hockey:

International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s U18 Championship, April 14-24, Crimmitschau, Germany

After opening the World Men’s U18 championship with a 2-1 victory against Switzerland on Thursday, the U.S. will face Slovakia on Friday and Russia on Sunday in the pool-play portion of the tournament. Reid Boucher scored the winning goal in the opening-round victory over Switzerland. “Tonight we found a way to win a very difficult game,’’ coach Ron Rolston said.
“Every game we play will be a battle, so getting three points tonight was a good start.’’

MARATHON RACING

London Marathon, April 17, England

Boston Marathon, April 18, Hopkinton to Boston.

Three 2008 U.S. Olympians — Ryan Hall (who finished second in the Houston USA Half Marathon Championships in January) and Blake Russell as well as Kara Goucher, who ran the 5K and 10K in Beijing — will be among the U.S. runners in the world’s best-known marathon, the Boston Marathon. Also entered is former Arizona State star Desiree Davila The course takes runners through difficult hills in the western suburbs of Boston and then finishes up downtown.

Hall set the Boston Marathon record for a U.S. runner last year with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 41 seconds, but placed fourth overall. Goucher, now 32 and hopeful of making it to the London 2012 Olympic Games, placed third among women in the 2009 Boston Marathon.

“I have run that race again about 1,000 times in my head. If I could go back in time, sure, I would have done some things differently, like when I took the lead I should have gone much harder,” Goucher told the Boston Herald.

Also in the Boston field will be Joan Benoit Samuelson — the winner of the inaugural Olympic women’s marathon at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. This year will mark the first time since 1993 that Benoit Samuelson has entered Boston. Her 23-year-old daughter, Abby, also is running.

One day before Boston is held, the London Marathon will take place on the other side of the Atlantic. Approximately 36,000 entries were received for that race, including U.S. marathoners Mo Trafeh, the 2011 USA Half Marathon champion; Jason Lemkuhle, who finished fifth in the Half Marathon Championships, and 2008 Olympian Magdelena Lewy-Boulet. Also entered is Stephan Shay, the brother of the late Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died at age 28 during the U.S. men’s marathon Olympic Trials in 2007.

TV: Boston Marathon, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET Monday, Universal Sports

GYMNASTICS

NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, April 14-16, Columbus, Ohio

NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, April 15-17, Cleveland.

Stanford University scored a season-high 366.100 points Thursday, grabbing the top preliminary score in the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships. Joining Stanford in Friday’s finals are defending national champion Michigan as well as California, Illinois, Oklahoma and Penn State.

Defending parallel bars national champion Ryan Lieberman scored a career-best 15.650 on the bars — the best score of the day on the parallel bars. His teammate, Alex Buscaglia, won the vault and horizontal bar. “I’m very happy with how the team did. The first few events, we had no misses whatsoever and were on a roll,” Stanford coach Tim McNeill told the Associated Press.

The women’s team field includes defending national champion UCLA. The winners from the preliminary sessions Friday will advance to the team finals Saturday followed by the individual finals Sunday.

SOCCER

U.S. Women’s National Team training camp, April 18-May 6, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Pia Sundhage, head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, named 29 players to compete in an 18-day training camp that will determine many of the 21 roster spots for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Among those 29 are some familiar Olympic names: Goalkeeper Hope Solo; defender Christie Rampone; midfielders Shannon Boxx, Lindsay Tarpley and Heather O’Reilly; and forward Abby Wambach. Twenty-five of the 29 players are from Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) teams.

Three college players are on the training camp roster: Sydney Leroux of UCLA, 2008 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year Kristie Mewis of Boston College and Christine Nairn of Penn State.

The U.S. will follow up its training camp with a pair of friendly matches against Japan: May 14 in Columbus and May 18 in Cary, N.C.

TENNIS

Fed Cup, Team USA vs. Germany, April 16-17, Stuttgart, Germany

Seventeen-time Fed Cup champions Team USA will meet Germany in a World Group playoff tie. The U.S. hasn’t been forced into the playoff tie since 2002; a 4-1 loss to Belgium in February forced the playoff appearance. The U.S. nominated players by captain Mary Jo Fernandez are Melanie Oudin, Christina McHale, Vania King (a replacement for Bethanie Mattek-Sands) and Liezel Huber.

The U.S. lost the last two Fed Cup finals to Italy. It must win this weekend if the U.S. is to play for the Fed Cup in 2012.

TV: 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Tennis Channel; noon Sunday, Tennis Channel.

BOXING

Team USA vs. Mexico, April 15 and 17, Harvey, Ill.

Eight U.S. national champions, including super heavyweight champ Lenroy Thompson and female lightweight champ Queen Underwood, will lead Team USA into a two-day international dual in suburban Chicago on Friday and Sunday. Competition will be held in all 13 Olympic weight divisions at Thornton Township High School and the Restoration Ministries’ Harvey Boxing Club.

Other U.S. boxers include light flyweight Louie Byrd, light welterweight Pedro Sosa, middleweight national champ Luis Arias, Police Athletic League national bantamweight champ Oshanique Foster, 2010 Youth Olympic Games participant Joshua Temple, female middleweight national champion Tiffanie Hearn and female flyweight Marlen Esparza. The Mexico squad includes six female boxers.

Charles Leverette of the U.S. Army, Clara Savannah and Mark Chears are the U.S. coaches.

DIVING

FINA Diving World Series, April 15-16, Sheffield, England

Purdue diver David Boudia, a 2008 Olympian who recently won two national titles at the NCAA Championships, will dive in his first FINA World Series event of the year this weekend in England. Boudia was the 2010 USA Diving Athlete of the Year. Also leading Team USA into the competition is Duke University’s Nick McCrory, who won the platform diving title at the NCAAs, and Abby Johnston of Duke, who won the 3-meter national title at the NCAA Women’s Championships. The seven-member U.S. team also includes three-time Olympian Troy Dumais.

MODERN PENTATHLON

World Cup Series, April 14-17, Sassari, Italy

Margaux Isaksen, a 2008 Olympian, won the combined shooting-and-running event, fenced a personal best and had a strong swimming event, totaling 4,092 points Thursday to finish first in her qualifying group a World Cup series event in Sassari, Italy. She easily qualified for Saturday’s final, topping 2008 Olympic champion Lena Schoneborn of Germany by four points. Fellow 2008 U.S. Olympians Sam Sacksen and Eli Bremer are among four U.S. men competing in the qualifying Friday; the men’s finals will be held Sunday. The event has a definite Olympic look on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, considering that nine of the world’s top 10 women and 18 of the top 20 men committed to the competition. Valuable points are at stake for the World Cup Final, which will be used to determine berths in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

CANOE/KAYAK

USA Canoe/Kayak National Team Trials, April 15-17, Charlotte, N.C.

In a first step toward qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games, 50 of the nation’s top paddlers will compete in the USA Canoe/Kayak National Team Trials, Friday through Sunday, at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C. Athletes will compete for spots on the national team and subsequent competitions in World Cup events, 2011 World Championships, 2012 Pan American Championships and the London 2012 Olympic Test Event. Among the paddlers: Olympians Scott Parsons and Brett Heyl in the men’s single kayak, Olympians Benn Fraker and Casey Eichfeld in men’s single canoe, and Pan American championships silver medalist Ashlee Nee in women’s single kayak.

CURLING

2011 World Senior Championships and World Mixed Doubles Championships, April 16-23, St. Paul, Minn.

U.S. mixed doubles champions Brady Clark and Cristin Clark of Seattle will go after gold in the World Mixed Doubles Championships, and two U.S. senior teams skipped by Geoff Goodland of Eau Claire, Wis., and Margie Smith of Shoreview, Minn., will do the same in the World Seniors. Both tournaments begin this weekend at the St. Paul (Minn.) Curling Club. Goodland’s squad begins round-robin play Sunday morning against Japan and Smith’s team will play Switzerland, also Sunday. The Clarks begin play in the World Mixed Doubles against Spain Sunday night.

CYCLING

ZLM Tour, April 16, Netherlands

Lawson Craddock (Trek-Livestrong), who was the top U.S. finisher in the U23 Tour of Flanders last week, will lead a team of seven U.S. cyclists into Saturday’s ZLM Tour in The Netherlands. Craddock finished 11th in the Tour of Flanders in Belgium, a race that covered 172.1 kilometers.

Also in cycling:

USA Cycling BMX National Championships, April 16, Chula Vista, Calif.

Liege Bastogne Liege, April 16, Belgium

FIGURE SKATING

U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships, April 12-16, Salt Lake City

National championship events in eight disciplines will be held Friday and Saturday in adult age groups at the Salt Lake City Sports Complex. In all, 400 skaters are competing in 90 open events plus the championship competitions. The field includes 2010 masters ladies champion Beth Delano of Philadelphia and masters men’s champion Burton Powley of Iowa, and 2010 U.S. Adult pairs silver medalists Kimberley Sailer and David Garber. The championship events begin Friday with the ice dancing competition. Skaters in the championship events qualified through three sectional competitions held in February.

FENCING

USA Fencing Division I and Wheelchair National Championships, April 15-18, Portland, Ore.

Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medalists Tim Morehouse (sabre), James Williams (sabre) and Emily Cross (foil) will be among a large field of fencers competing Friday through Sunday in the USA Fencing Division I Championships. The competition will play a part in determining berths for the U.S. team at the 2011 Senior World Championships and Pan American Games. Twenty-nine former Olympic or World team members will compete. Catherine Bouwkamp, Ryan Estep and Joseph Brinson, all members of the 2010 Wheelchair World Championship Team, will compete in the national wheelchair championships.

In a twist to the competition, two-time Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis will participate in a wheelchair fencing exhibition, facing Estep on Sunday at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Zagunis said she wanted to do the exhibition to bring more awareness to her effort for donations for the U.S. Paralympic Fencing Team. “I have never tried wheelchair fencing, but I have heard that it is very difficult,” Zagunis said. “I hope that people who watch the exhibition will be able to come away with a better understanding about wheelchair fencing, how these athletes compete and also that it can be very exciting to watch.”

SWIMMING

U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships, April 14-16, Columbus

Nearly 100 elite athletes will compete for national titles in solo, duet, team and combined synchronized swimming events at Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. On Saturday, the U.S. National Team will perform an exhibition performance.

Also in swimming:

FINA World Cup 10km Marathon Swimming, April 17, Santos, Brazil

VOLLEYBALL

SWATCH FIVB World Tour, April 17-20, Braslia, Brazil

Two-time Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are seeded No. 5 in the SWATCH FIVB World Tour, which will begin play April 17 with country quota matches. May-Treanor and Walsh have combined for 77 World Tour gold medals. Top-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers led the U.S. men. They won nine World Tour titles last year and were named the FIVB Team of the Year. The main draw for women’s teams begins April 19 and the men’s main draw a day later. The U.S. has 10 teams total in the Brazil tournament.

TEAM HANDBALL

USA Team Handball College Nationals, April 15-17, Colorado Springs, Colo.

West Point is seeking its fifth consecutive national championship in the event, which is being hosted by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Last year it was an all-West Point final: West Point Black defeated West Point Gold 30-25 in the championship game.

TABLE TENNIS

2011 College Table Tennis Championships, April 15-17, Rochester, Minn.

The national championships, organized by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association, will be held Friday through Sunday at the Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minn. Twenty-four men’s/coed teams are registered to play.

BADMINTON

Mid Atlantic Classic, April 15-17, Parsippany, N.J.

The tournament is sanctioned by USA Badminton and is a national-ranking event. Competition will be held in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

JUDO

Northglenn Judo Championship, April 15-16, Broomfield, Colo.

The 43rd annual tournament, sanctioned by USA Judo, includes an elite division for senior E-Level athletes. Competitors include 2010 World Team members Michael Eldred, Katie Sell and Kenny Hashimoto. The action will take place at Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colo.

Also in judo:

Illinois State Open Championships, April 16, Sugar Grove, Ill.

Iowa State University Spring Judo Championships, April 17, Ames, Iowa

WRESTLING

NWCA/USA Wrestling National Scholastic Duals, April 14-16, Crawfordsville, Ind.

The national championship event is being held at Knowlings Fieldhouse on the campus of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. The tournament includes high school wrestlers through grade 11.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.

Will David Beckham be at the London 2012 Olympics? - Player or Coach?

www.london-olympiad.com

Beckham hopes to be a Player at the London 2012 Olympics

There has been a lot of talk as to whether Beckham will be at the London 2012 Summer Games as a coach or as a player. There are rules that allow players over 25yo to compete in the Olympic Football team, but the general the competition is manly for young up and coming players. I’m sure Team USA will have something to say if he is allowed to compete as a player. Football is running throughout the Olympic Period if the finals being held on the 11th of August. The day before the Closing Ceremony on the 12th of August, 2012. If you would like to be there, sitting in a seat with us, email me at info@london-olympiad.com for more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 5, 7, and 10-Day tours.

LA Galaxy veteran David Beckham has expressed an interest in playing for Great Britain in next summer's London Olympics.

The 35-year-old, who has amassed 115 caps for England, has enjoyed a glittering career having spent four seasons with Real Madrid after a trophy-laden spell with Manchester United.

Beckham is currently plying his trade in USA's MLS, although he has one eye on playing his part in next year's highly-anticipated Olympics, even though he will be 37.

The seasoned-veteran is not counting his chickens with the tournament over a year way, however, he feels in good health and believes his form is good enough for selection.

Involvement
"I think it's something I'd like to be involved in as a player," said Beckham.
"But we'll have to wait and see what happens, as it's still a year away yet.
"I feel good in games and I feel as if I'm still performing well.

"I'll enjoy the rest of this season. You know we're only five games in."

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 www.spyns.com.

Demand for Olympics tickets soars - Olympic Tours

www.london-olympiad.com

High demand for Olympic tickets, Hotels and Tours

At Spyns we have been sell tours for the London Olympic Summer Games. The majority of people want to see the Opening Ceremony on the 27^th of July, while a lot of people want to be there to see the fastest man alive at the 100m Men’s Athletic Sprint final on the 5^th of August. Dates for the London Olympics that people also want to see are the 100m Men’s Freestyle final on the 1^st of August, and the Closing Ceremony on the 12^th of August. Tickets are in high demand and Hotel space is limited so we recommend you get in quick. Tickets sales around the world are likely to finish on April 26^th, 2011. For North American residents check out CoSport www.cosport.com for tickets. If you have trouble getting tickets there, we can help you out.

If you would like more information/detailed itineraries on our luxury 4, 5, 7, and 10-Day tours feel free to contact me at henry@london-olympiad.com. 

Demand for Olympics tickets soars

Demand for Olympics tickets could outstrip supply with one in five adults saying they plan to buy tickets for the London 2012 Games.

But while 70% believe the Olympic Games will boost the UK economy, only 39% believe this will outweigh the cost of hosting the spectacle.
Organisers are releasing 6.6 million tickets to spectators in Britain, with a deadline of April 26 for applications to join the ballot.
Outdoor advertising agency Kinetic Worldwide said the Games could be "massively over-subscribed", with 10 million Britons saying they plan to apply for tickets.
A further 2.2 million tickets will be available to overseas spectators and organisations sponsoring the Games.
In the capital, 36% of people say they plan to buy tickets, with just 23% saying tickets are too expensive. Organisers say one quarter of tickets will cost less than £25 and 90% will cost less than £100. The best seats at the opening ceremony will cost £2,012.
More than half of Londoners say they are now excited about the Olympics, up 10% since October to 51%. Across the UK 40% of those surveyed said they are excited.
More than half of those planning to go to the Olympics say they are not sports fans but consider it to be a "once in a lifetime" experience.
James Copley, of Kinetic UK, said: "Our research suggests the level of anticipation and interest in attending the Games is growing and London will see a surge in visitors at the top end of expectations."

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC (Canada). For more information about Spyns and our package tours to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, including London Olympics hotels, London 2012 tickets, and summer games VIP access, please visit our websites http://www.london-olympiad.com/ http://www.london2012-tours.com/ and http://www.london-tours-2012.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.888.825.4720      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. www.spyns.com.