It's Back! Olympic Alphabet - F is for ...

The Flame.

The stadiums and medals and logos and mascots may change - but the olympic flame will always be a recognised symbol of sporting achievment. The Olympic flame is lit in acient olympia - travels worldwide as a symbol of the games and burns throughout the duration of the games.

This year the Youth Olympic flame was lit for the very first time. 'Lighting the way' for a new generation.



........F is also for Friends and Family

In 2006 Sarah Hughes attended the figure skating competition at the Torino Olympics as the reigning olympic champion. But she wasn't there to aim for a second gold medal- she was there to cheer on her younger sister Emily in her own olympic competition. Pretty good person to have on your side!
Friends and Family are the unsung heroes- usually hidden in the depth of the crowd. Most olympic athletes would agree they wouldn't be olympic athletes without their supporters at home.

Olympic Alphabet - E is for ...

..... Events
The Olympics is different from all other competitions because so many varied sports take place in one city at one time. London 2012 will feature 26 sports (each broken down into different disciplines and events). At each olympics there is the potential for the addition of new events - in London this will include Women's Boxing and Vancouver debuted the fast and furious sport of Ski Cross.

8 athletes have shown they can master very different events by competing in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

• Connie Carpenter Phinney (speed skating, 1972; cycling, 1984)
• Willie Davenport (athletics, 1968 and 1976; bobsleigh, 1980)
• Eddie Eagan(boxing, 1920; bobsleigh, 1932; medaled in both)
• Dave Gilman (canoe and kayak, 1976, 1984, and 1988; luge 1984)
• Arthur Longsjo (speed skating and cycling, 1956)
• Connie Paraskevin-Young (speed skating, 1984 and 1980; cycling, 1996, 1992, and 1988)
• Arnold Uhrlass (speed skating, 1960; cycling, 1964)
• Chris Witty (cycling, 2000; speed skating, 2006)

E is also for ........Eddie the Eagle

One of the most famous 'lovable losers' of the olympics - personifying the expression "It's not the winning, it's the taking part". Michael 'Eddie the Eagle' Edwards was the first man to represent GB in ski-jumping at the 1988 winter games in Calgary. He finished in last place in both the regular and large hill events but endeared himself to fans the world over.

Olympic Alphabet - D is for ...

....Dreams
Ok it's a cliche idea 'The Olympic Dream' - but there's something to be said for being on top of the World.

A young Ivana Hong with hero- Olympic Champ Carly Patterson

Ivana and team-mate Rebecca Bross with their bling from the World championships in London, 2009. They'll be hoping to match or better this in London 2012.

Quote from Rebecca when asked does she think about being the 3rd olympic all around champ from her gym in a row?
" No, I don't think about it much........but I dream about it"

....D is also for Double Gold Medallists (...or triple....or more!!)

Every medal is amazing - but these are the performances we remember most- the athletes who become national heroes and household names.

Triple gold medallist Chris Hoy and Double gold medallist Rebecca Alington

Then there are those who take it to the extremes - Michael Phelps (8 golds in 8 races in beijing- not to mention his medals from Athens) and Sir Stephen Redgrave (5 gold medals from 5 cosecutive games - 1984 to 2000!)

Olympic Alphabet - C is for ...

... Ceremonies

Ok, so I said 3 days ago that however you dress them up the Olympics are about the sports. But the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the olympics are some of the hottest tickets in town and can say a lot about the host nation and it's people- as well as being a great opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the Games

Here are some of my memories of the ceremonies from the last 3 Olympic Games.

Vancouver
High points- The Snowboarder opening the games by junping through the olympic rings, Choosing Joannnie Rochette as Canadian flagbearer for the closing ceremony, Getting the athletes in at the start so they actually got to enjoy the show for once!
Low point - the 4th leg of the torch not working- but in true canadian style they aknowledged the mistake and made 'fixing it' part of the closing ceremony.

Beijing
High Points- the spectacle, probably the largest, most grand opening ceremony we'll ever see with a cast of over 15,000 - Only china can afford that amount of money and manpower!
Low Point- Choosing one girl to sing a chinese patriotic song at the ceremony then deciding to replace her with a 'cuter' girl who mimed the song to a recording of her voice.

Torino
High Point - The Italian anthem - Always a fave of mine. Luciano Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma in his last public performance.
Low Point - I believe pavarotti was also miming - but to his own voice this time (the organizers were worried about the effect that the cold would have on the 70 year old tenor.)

.... C is also for Coaches

It takes more than 1 to reach an olympic medal. Countries put aside millions of pounds/dollars etc every olympic cycle to nurture talented kids into champion athletes. We may not aggree with them all the time- we may think some of them are downright laughable- but great athletes need great coaches!

Add another high point to Vancouver's opening ceremony- Coaches marching in alongside their athletes for the very first time.

Hawkeye- An intimidating lineup of Olympic skating coaches in Vancouver!

Olympic Alphabet - B is for....

... Bringing your Best (When it counts)

Most athletes or olympic hopefuls visualise their perfect olympics- putting out your very best performance. Standing on the podium with a gold medal and the National Anthem playing. But whether or not you end up with a medal- most olympians remember whether or not their olympics performance was the best it could be.

Those who did-

• Yu-Na Kim- smashed personal and olympic records with her performance in Vancouver to win by a landslide. Under all the pressure she delivered- hence the well earned reaction from her (and her coach, Brian)
• Nastia Liukin - Won the all around competition not just on the difficulty of all her skills - but by the fact that she performed each of her routines about as well as she ever had.
• Michael Phelps - 8 golds, 8 world records- can't get much better than that!
• And many many more!

Those who couldn't

• Carolina Kostner - buckled under the pressure at her home games in Turin and missed the chance to redeem herself four years later in Vancouver- will the third time be the charm?
• Cheng Fei- gave her all for the team, her brilliant floor routine securing China's team gold in gymnastics in Beijing- but when it came to doing it for herself in the individual finals- she fell short.
  
• Alicia Sacramone- may never forgive herself for her 2 falls in the Team final in Beijing- but she's started a successful comeback in search of olympic redemption!

.... B is also for Beth

The flag-carrier for GB gymnastics and inspiration to so many young gymnasts. Beth Tweddle showed that this wasn't just a sport for tweenagers and that it is possible to develop into a champion gymnast over time.

This year Beth became an MBE - Member of the order of the British Empire- a royal honour not usually bestowed on athletes until they return home, olympic medal in hand. However the award is given for 'services to sport' - something Beth has given in bundles!

Beth did not have her best performances in Beijing- narrowly missing the bars, floor and team finals. Hopefully London 2012 will be her time. With the rapid improvements of team GB gymnasts- its looking good!

By the way- if you have any better suggestions for the Olympic Alphabet- feel free to comment and propose them!

Olympic Alphabet - A is for...

..... Adventure

Being an olympic athlete isn't about your one day in the spotlights with the cameras rolling and the pressure on. It's about the thousands of days in the gym or at the track or at the rink, working in persuit of a dream. It's all part of the journey - enjoy the ride.

(young gymnasts, including one future olympic champion)

..... A is also for Amy

Team GB's one and only reigning winter olympic medallist. Be proud!