Tanni Grey-Thompson: Paralympic World Cup can help London 2012 be catalyst for greater success

The lure of 2012, and the development and legacy potential that it could bring to change the face of disability sport, still felt a long way off and it should be recognised that the World Cup as an event has delivered many positive things in the interim.

Because of the media profile and the sponsors, it continues to attract athletes like Oscar Pistorius who benefit from strong British support. And let’s face it, the media and public love him.

It has also given a number of up-and-coming athletes the chance to compete against the world’s best. Young athlete Jonny Peacock competed at the PWC as he built his career and he has been fast tracked to GB representation.

It was also the event that I chose to retire at.

In terms of audiences the event has worked hard to generate a wider base of spectators who were willing to do more than switch over on their TV remote control, but who would come out and watch the event in real life. This has become even more important as we move towards 2012 and want people to turn out and watch Paralympic events.

But after seven years, the question has to be: does the Paralympic World Cup still have any relevance to the athletes? The timing of the event has always been an acknowledged challenge for the organisers. Trying to get the best athletes in a variety of sports, who all have different competition calendars has not been easy.

Generally most athletes and sports have tried to work around it for the greater good of the movement. Athletics, whose event programme is busy at this time of the year, has found it hard though.

This year is the first time that there won’t be any wheelchair racing at the event due to a clash on the calendar. There are two major track meets and a marathon in Switzerland this week (all on lightning fast tracks) and virtually all of the world’s best have chosen to go there.

For those with 2012 at the back of their minds, they have little choice as the qualifying marks they need to achieve are tough and they can’t afford to not reach them. Although I am a little disappointed, you can't argue with athletes choosing other events.

It is also a shame that we aren’t going to see a head- to-head just yet with Pistorius and Jerome Singleton, after blistering races at the World Championships earlier this year.

But as with all sprinters, there will probably be a fair amount of avoiding each other as much as they can this year. What would be exciting is if the event could attract the likes of Jason Smith (the visually impaired Irish runner) who like Pistorius has aspirations, and not a little chance, of qualifying for the Olympics next year.

One thing that was talked about in earlier years was the possibility of the Paralympic World Cup becoming part of a world wide series.

This has not happened yet, and to be honest, in this format seems unlikely, as coordinating the calendar across a number of countries would be impossible. Far better to work on a series of integrated events on the mainstream calendar, which will do more to develop the sports around the world.

What has been great to see is the rotation of sports introducing boccia and sitting volleyball for the first time. Boccia, despite previous strong Paralympic successes, has struggled to get the media attention that it deserves. Inclusion should help provide that, giving the athletes access to wider spectators.

Sitting volleyball, as a sport, has been developed from virtually scratch in the last couple of years and this has been brought about because of 2012. While, historically, standing volleyball (for amputees) has been successful, having a games on home soil has forced this development.

It has been strongly supported by the mainstream governing body who want to build a reputable team and it also seems to have caught the imagination of the public.

One or two years ago I thought that the PWC might struggle to sustain itself through to the Paralympics. If it continues to look at putting on the best sporting competition though, then 2012 might be a catalyst for greater success.

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Sebastien Coe thrilled as 20million ticket requests are submitted for London 2012 Games

Sebastian Coe said he was 'thrilled' with the response from the British public after more than 20million ticket requests were received for the London 2012 Olympics.

Organisers announced the figures with 1.8million people having submitted applications for tickets and many sports already selling out their allocation including track cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, triathlon, modern pentathlon, and equestrian (cross country).

The opening and closing ceremonies are also sell-outs and will have a ballot to decide ticket allocations as will most of the sessions in swimming and tennis, and the high-profile athletics sessions.

London 2012 chairman Coe said: 'We are thrilled with the response right across the board, in all sports and all sessions.

'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.'

More than half of the 650 sessions are oversubscribed and tickets for these will be allocated via ballots. Some 6.6million tickets have been on sale to the public from March 15 until the window closed at 1am this morning.

London 2012 say they will now check applications before running computerised ballots for those sessions which are oversubscribed.

Money will be taken from people's accounts from May 10 but they will not receive formal confirmation of which events they have been successful in buying tickets for until June.

There will be another chance to buy remaining tickets in June and July.

London 2012 added that more than 95% of the applications came from the UK.

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London 2012 Olympics: Games organisers claim ticket sales have 'hit the roof'

"Every day is different, but also in the last week we have been getting three or four times the applications above and beyond what was coming in for the previous five weeks - and the sky's the limit based on the pattern that I am seeing at the moment."

There are 650 sessions across 26 sports and 17 days to choose from and people will be limited to a maximum of 20 events each.

The most popular events, including the men's 100 metres final, have a limit of four tickets per person.

Before sales began on March 15, more than 2.5 million people had signed up to the official website wanting to go to the Games.

This wave of sales, in which sports fans will find out whether or not they have secured tickets by June 24, is "the best chance probably by a long long way to get the tickets that you actually want," Deighton said.

"Anyone who wants to get to the Games should absolutely get their applications done - there is no doubt about that.

"There will be a number of tickets left over. It was always the plan.

"If you are clear about what kind of tickets you desire, apply for them now. You will only regret it if you do not get around to it, and it will be much more difficult if you leave it."

Prices range from £20 to £2,012.

They include paying up to £2,012 for the opening ceremony, up to £725 for the showpiece 100m athletics final and between £50 and £325 for the track cycling finals.

A seat at the opening ceremony is on many people's wishlist, buying patterns so far suggest. Many fans are also making multiple bids for seats at different events.

"Taking the £20.12p tickets for the opening ceremony, I think we can confidently predict that there will be more orders than availability," according to Deighton.

Orders have been "pretty well-spread" across the sports, he said, adding: "I think that a lot of people are ordering quite a number of tickets. Families seem to be ordering so they can go together."

A random automated ballot will kick in for over-subscribed events.

The process of matching the demand and the different-priced tickets with the sessions available will then start.

Applications will be processed between May 2011 and June 2011.

Notifications, by email or letter, for those who have been successful, will be sent in June 2011.

London 2012 needs to get 25 per cent of its revenue from ticket sales. It is a vital part of raising £2 billion from the private sector to stage the Games.

Applications for Paralympic Games tickets open on September 9 2011.

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London 2012: Nicole Cooke: I miss home but I don't see what I do as a sacrifice

Few British athletes at London 2012 will have spent their entire careers outside the UK but for Welsh road cyclist Nicole Cooke, who in 2008 became the first Olympic and World Champion in the same year, it has been a necessity.

Straight after finishing school, aged 18, her career took her to Italy and a change of team in 2007 has dictated a move to her current home in Switzerland.

‘I’ve never felt like it’s a sacrifice,' said Cooke. 'It’s a lifestyle. I’m really excited by everything that comes with being a professional cyclist, it’s a fantastic opportunity – I want to make the most of it.

‘It may not be the most normal, but it’s one I’m happy to lead. I organise things around my cycling and my family and friends support me in that.

‘I miss my family and friends back in the UK and of course the familiarity one has with their local area, particularly the community spirit of South Wales.

‘However, I enjoy finding out about new cultures and tasting new cuisines including the local specialities. I’ve always learnt the languages for where I’ve been based and made sure I studied Italian before I left the UK.'

Despite having won Olympic Gold in Beijing, Cooke, who recently turned 28, believes a win in London would be even more special.

‘The gold medal in 2008 was a dream come true,' she said. 'I had thought it was possible, but doing it was incredible. When I finally won, it was like an explosion of emotions as more than 10 years of hard work and determination came out.

‘For me though, London 2012 is another once in a lifetime opportunity that I really want to go for. I don’t think anything can top an Olympics in your own country.

‘It’s a chance to compete in front of home crowds. I only have one race in the UK a year, so it’s a chance for the British public to find out what international road racing in all about.'

Cooke believes that those thinking about getting tickets for the road cycling at London 2012 would have a great day out.

‘You can bring deckchairs, a picnic and a radio to listen to the race coverage. You can also bring anything that’ll make a great atmosphere like bells, whistles or drums. It doesn’t matter where you are on the course, you will enjoy it.’

One of Cooke’s finest achievements was winning a bronze medal in the 2006 Commonwealth games. She was the sole Welsh road cycling representative and was outnumbered by stronger nations. 

Her Welsh pride is clear and is further reflected when she tells Sportsmail of her Olympic inspirations.

'Growing up in Swansea, Colin Jackson was a big idol as were Welsh cyclists Sally Hodge and Louise Jones. Hodge won the World Championship on track and Jones won commonwealth gold.

‘They were real people who lived locally who I could go and chat to. They grew up in the same sort of area that I did before going onto success and I thought there’s no reason I can’t do that.'

Cooke regards herself as a huge sports fan and thinks London 2012 will ensure many wonderful memories.

‘I wouldn’t turn down a ticket to anything at London 2012. There are so many events that will be amazing – I couldn’t choose one single event above all others. I really enjoy learning of the drama and story behind every athlete.'

Whilst not a regular visitor to London due to her international cycling career, Cooke has been aware of the increase in cycling around the capital. London Mayor Boris Johnson introduced cycling stations to encourage more people to get on two wheels.

‘I’ve heard all about them. I think anything that gets people out and about cycling is fantastic. It’s something I’d love to see a lot more of. I really hope that more people will cycle around London’.

For now, Cooke remains training in Switzerland, but the gears will not be staying in neutral as she prepares to win back-to-back Olympic Gold medals.   

To apply for London 2012 tickets visit tickets.london2012.com any time between now and 26 April.

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London 2012 Olympics: Locog faces new fight as Premier Inn withdraws cheap hotel rooms in row over reselling

Other hotels, particularly Thistle Group, Hilton Worldwide and some Mayfair hotels are seriously considering withdrawing their rooms too — putting at risk the accommodation for some Olympic officials and guests.

Management of the hotels are furious that they had committed to providing the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games a large percentage of rooms under a fixed-price preferential scheme, based on the previous three years’ rates, only to discover Locog had passed on some of those rooms to their third-party ticket providers, Thomas Cook and US-based CoSport.

The two companies paid an undisclosed sum to Locog to gain access to the Olympic tickets and preferential-rate rooms and become official resellers.

Weeks of negotiations between Locog and the British Hospitality Association failed to resolve the row.

The prices being charged by Thomas Cook and CoSport have up to 300 per cent markups. One Park Lane hotel that usually charges £224 a night is being marketed by Thomas Cook for two nights with some

Olympic tickets for £5,300. Locog says the high prices reflect the “certainty” of being able to buy the tickets, as opposed to entering the public ballot.

But the hotels are refusing to sign agreements with the two ticket providers and scores of hotels have told Locog to formally withdraw their hotel rooms from the scheme or from providing them to any third parties.

Premier Inn said in a statement: “We do not intend to allow anyone to exploit our customers during the Olympics or any other major event, and we have asked Locog to honour our agreement and withdraw the rooms given to the third party.”

The co-operation of the hotels was central to the London 2012 bid and helped convince International Olympic Committee members that ‘price gouging’, one of the problems facing host cities, had been addressed.

Thomas Cook was the successful tender for a ”short breaks” ticket packages from Locog more than 15 months ago, which enabled it access to 300,000 tickets and 4,500 hotel rooms at the preferential rates. Locog has been unable to clarify if the rooms allocated to CoSport and included in premium packages costing more than £11,000 are provided under the preferential scheme.

But Premier Inn said it was upset the rooms were passed to a third party. “These rooms were to be allocated to groups connected to the event, not the general public, and we have been disappointed to learn that some of the rooms allocated to Locog have been passed on to a third party who have significantly marked them up for onward sale,” it said.

Hilton Worldwide said that the situation was “unacceptable”. Locog did not return calls on Thursday.

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London 2012 Olympics: 20 questions with Drew Sullivan

DS: Yeah I think so. I think it’s going in the right direction. We’ve got the European Championships this August, which is the last big tournament before the Olympics. We’re in an extremely tough group which I think really favours us in the long-run with the Games coming up. And that’s basically our big picture.

TS: When’s the last time you skipped training?

DS: I think about a month ago. I just didn’t feel like going in.

TS: Have you ever lied to get out of training?

DS: Yes – a month ago. I phoned up and said ‘oh, I don’t feel well....I’ll be in tomorrow’.

TS: Is sporting success down to luck, talent or hard work?

DS: A bit of all of them. I know a lot of talented people who don’t have jobs at the minute just because of the way the basketball market is at the minute. So that’s where the luck comes in. But I think it’s a lot of luck, a lot hard work and a lot of timing. It’s about just being in the right place and going to the right team and having a coach and team-mates that make you better and give you the opportunity.

TS: Is winning silver, losing gold?

DS: It is but I think from our standpoint – being in the Olympics for the first time – winning silver would be winning silver. I would be upset to make it to the final and lose but I think that playing in the final is actually less pressurised than playing in the bronze medal game. You could lose and not get anything. At least if you play in the final you could get silver.

TS: How do you celebrate after a tournament?

DS: I don’t really do a whole lot. I go home, maybe have a beer and sit down and watch TV. After we won a trophy this year I went back and hung out with my family. I’m sure that at the end of the season if we won the play-offs we’d go on a night out as a team but normally it’s just ‘on to the next one’.

TS: What is your idea of happiness?

DS: My idea of happiness is that my family and I are together and enjoying each other’s company. I’d like to grow old with my family around me.

TS: What is your idea of misery?

DS: Getting old by myself with nobody around.

TS: Are you jealous of anyone?

DS: No, I’m not jealous of anyone. I have my life – I’m extremely happy with it. I’m in a situation that’s been somewhat created by myself and my family – and we’re happy.

TS: Is there one thing you regret?

DS: No, not really because I feel like everything that’s gone on in my life has shaped the person that I am. If I take out even the smallest detail out of my life it could have such a detrimental effect on how my life turned out. And I like how my life has turned out.

TS: What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

DS: I would say two kids but you don’t buy them, you just rent them don’t you? Probably my Sony TV. I’m trying to upgrade to 3D but I’m getting dirty looks about it.

TS: When did you last clean your toilet?

DS: Last night actually.

TS: How much is a pint of milk?

DS: A pound I think. Something in that region. [Nope – it’s 45p]

TS: McDonalds or Burger King?

DS: McDonalds. I like the fries there.

TS: iPad or newspaper?

DS: I go online on my iPhone to read the tabloids. Does that count?

TS: You see someone kick a dog, what do you do?

DS: I’d probably get really agitated as I’ve got two dogs myself. I love my dogs so I’d kick off pretty bad.

TS: Do you believe in UFOs?

DS: I don’t know, I’ve never seen one personally. It’d be a shame if we were the only intelligent life forms in the universe but I’ve never seen an UFO so I can’t comment.

TS: What would you like written on your gravestone?

DS: I didn’t want to have to think about that for a while..... Good dad, good husband. That’d be enough for me.

To apply for London 2012 tickets visit www.tickets.london2012.com any time between now and 26 April.

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London Marathon 2011 winners: Mary Keitany and Emmanuel Mutai glory for Kenya

Emmanuel Mutai made it a Kenyan double after winning the Virgin London Marathon in a new course record.

Earlier, his compatriot Mary Keitany smashed her personal best to claim a commanding victory in the women's race.

Mutai's time of 2:04.38, beats the previous best of 2:05.10 set by Samuel Wanjiru in 2009 and also the fifth-fastest time ever.

The 26-year-old, second here last year, broke away at around the 21-mile mark with three-time winner Martin Lel and Patrick Makau making it a clean sweep for Kenya - Lel just edging out his countryman in a sprint finish.

Britain's David Weir claimed an unprecedented fifth Virgin London Marathon wheelchair title with a perfectly-timed sprint finish.

Weir waited until he was within sight of the finish on The Mall before powering past Switzerland's Heinz Frei to become the most successful wheelchair athlete in the event's history.

The victory completes a memorable week after he discovered on Tuesday his partner Emily is expecting a baby boy in August.

Keitany broke away after 15 miles and never looked like being caught as she clocked an unofficial time of two hours 19 minutes and 17 seconds, almost 10 minutes quicker than her debut in New York last year.

The 29-year-old began the year by setting a new world record of 1:05.50 for the half-marathon, becoming the first woman to run under 66 minutes.

And she proved equally adept at double the distance to relegate defending champion Liliya Shobukhova of Russia into second, with Kenya's Edna Kiplagat in third.

Jo Pavey enjoyed an excellent marathon debut, finishing 19th in 2:28.23, comfortably inside the qualifying times for both this year's World Championships in Daegu and next year's London Olympics.

The 37-year-old may opt not to compete in Daegu, but now seems certain to concentrate fully on the marathon rather than returning to the track.

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London 2012: Boxing performance director Rob McCraken has licence revoked

Great Britain's hopes of boxing glory at the London 2012 Olympics have been hit by the news that head coach and performance director Rob McCracken has had his licence revoked by the amateur code's governing body AIBA with immediate effect.

AIBA officials wrote to McCracken this week informing him that he will no longer be able to take part in AIBA-sanctioned events - including the Olympics - due to his links with the professional sport.

McCracken, who also coaches WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, has headed Great Britain's amateur programme since 2009 but AIBA claim they have only recently been made aware of the link.

Under Rule 12.3.1 of their constitution, McCracken will be barred until such time as he denounces his professional links and re-applies to be registered as an AIBA coach - a process which will take at least six months.

This means whichever path McCracken opts to take - and it is unlikely he will be willing to split with Froch, who fights Glen Johnson in Atlantic City in June - he will miss this year's World Championships, which double as the first Olympic qualifier, in Baku in September.

McCracken was not available for comment but a British Amateur Boxing Association official said: 'We are very shocked by this new rule that could have a serious impact on our medal chances at the London 2012 Olympics.'

AIBA claim the rule is nothing new and that had the then Amateur Boxing Association of England chief executive Paul King indicated McCracken's professional links when he applied for the licence on McCracken's behalf in 2009, it would have been rejected.

Despite McCracken's high-profile job with Froch, an AIBA spokesman insisted: "It is the case that we did not know that he was coaching a professional boxer until it was brought to our attention at the end of last year.

'We have 195 member federations and it is very difficult for us to have close control over all of them. It's a full-time job keeping lots of people in line with the rules and lots of people need to bring things to our attention.'

The relationship between AIBA and the Amateur Boxing Association of England has cooled in recent months following King's aborted attempt to replace AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu.

There was also disappointment that plans for a London franchise in the AIBA's World Series of Boxing were scrapped in 2009. The WSB suffered a blow when one of its principle backers, sports marketing giant IMG, withdrew this week.

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London to stage 2011 Badminton World Championships

Fresh doubts, as revealed by The Daily Telegraph, were raised by the Badminton World Federation in December over the long journey times from the Olympic park, despite athletes being offered hotel rooms and training venues close to the venue for the duration of the tournament.

Badminton England understandably wants to use the World Championships as a test event ahead of the Olympics but has been unable to persuade the BWF to make a decision so that further planning can be put into action. The International Olympic Committee will have the final say on the matter next month.

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The London Marathon is proving expensive

It's for a good cause: sponsoring friends competing in the London Marathon can be a costly affair

Amid all this argy-bargy about how to fix the economy and put a few coppers back in our collective pockets, may I make a plea for whichever party prevails to sort out the latest stealth tax? I refer, of course, to the huge amounts I’m having to shell out to friends and acquaintances participating in this year’s London Marathon. Virtually my entire address book seems to be running it this year, and each fresh appeal for sponsorship involves a particularly deserving cause. What’s more, my friends’ entreaties leave me in no doubt as to what’s expected, and it doesn’t leave any change out of 50 quid.

The culprit, I suspect, is Eddie Izzard. Anyone who watched the recent documentary in which Britain’s most celebrated cross-dresser completed 43 marathons in 45 days (or was it the other way round?) can be in no doubt that running for charity, once the province of the seasoned athlete, is now an acceptable pastime for middle-class dilettantes. And damned expensive it’s proving, too.

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The first to catch me unawares was an old mate who emailed out of the blue last month. Zoe is an actress of uncertain years with two children, a fondness for Tunnock’s Teacakes and a long-standing condition she alludes to as “a poorly groin”. The only time I’d seen her break into anything resembling a run was when she thought she was going to miss out on the promotional Twixes being distributed outside our local Tube station.

Yet this email announced her participation in this year’s marathon, and went on to express the hope that “I’d dig deep for an old mate”. Her round-robin may have been larkiness itself, couched in the “Oh my goodness, I’m sure I’ll need an iron lung at the end of it” faux-gaucheness of the occasional jogger: but this was no haphazard appeal. On the contrary, her correspondence was highly sophisticated, complete with estimated finishing times and mission statements from her chosen beneficiaries.

That was only the start. The following week, I saw Colin at a party. I should have seen the warning signs – the mineral water in place of the pint, the glowing complexion, the self-righteous smirk. Within seconds, he’d happened to mention that he too was running in this year’s marathon, and five minutes later I was another 30 quid down.

Like Zoe, Colin had gone digital. No longer the dog-eared sponsorship form, produced sheepishly from a back pocket. A simple scrawled promise to offer up 50p per completed mile was no longer enough. Now I had to use my BlackBerry to log on to some specialist website called JustGiving.com while he stood over me with a beatific smile.

With a week still to go, I’ve now been tapped up by so many friends and colleagues that I’m thinking of applying for an emergency loan from the IMF to get me through. And with such vast sums being transferred, even before the starting gun has been fired, the question I want answering is, what happens if they don’t complete the course? Do I get my money back? And how will I ever know?

Of course, I could always go down to the finishing line next Sunday with a stopwatch and a camera, just to check for myself. But, sadly, that won’t be possible. Not that I’ve got anything else on; it’s just that I can no longer afford the Tube fare.

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London 2012: Essex explore plan to bring Twenty20 to Olympic Stadium

Essex want to use the Olympic stadium as a 'festival ground' for Twenty20 matches

Essex confirmed on Thursday that they were considering a joint bid with West Ham and Newham Council to turn the stadium in Stratford into a multi-sport venue capable of staging football, cricket and athletics.

The club would continue to play County Championship matches at their Chelmsford headquarters but would use the stadium as a 'festival ground' for Twenty20 matches.

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David East, the Essex chief executive, said: "We are very much looking forward to exploring this with Newham and West Ham.

"Our home ground will remain at the Ford County Ground in Chelmsford but it would be fantastic to be able to play some of our expanded Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Olympic Stadium. We have a very active development programme in the east end of London and this would give us an ideal opportunity to extend our community work even further with a centre of excellence in the borough."

If a joint bid is considered feasible, it would have to be submitted to the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which has invited proposals for the stadium's use after the Games.

Karren Brady, the West Ham vice-chairman, said: "It's about realising the full potential of the Olympic Park. If achievable, it is the ideal answer for those who, rightly, demand a sustainable legacy from the 2012 Games and not a white elephant."

Meanwhile, National Lottery operator Camelot has launched a competition to find the 'Brain of the Games' to celebrate passing the £500 million mark in its money-raising campaign for London 2012. Olympic and Paralympic buffs will be able to test their knowledge in a free online quiz in which progressively more difficult questions must be answered against the clock. Those who complete the quiz in the fastest times will go forward to a national final.

Camelot says it is well on course to meet its target of raising £750 million from Olympic scratch cards and interactive games. The quiz is available online at www.national-lottery.co.uk/gamesbrain

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Blow for London Marathon as three-time winner Martin Lel is forced to pull out again

Three-time champion Martin Lel has been forced to withdraw from this month's Virgin London Marathon for the second successive year.

The Kenyan star, who pulled out on the eve of last year's race with a hip problem, has again seen his ambitions to achieve a record fourth win wrecked by an injury to his right leg.

Virgin London Marathon race director Dave Bedford said: 'It is very disappointing to lose Martin for the second year in a row.

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