Opening ceremony easier for athletes

Athletes should decide for themselves whether to attend next year's Olympic opening ceremony and the benefits are likely to far outweigh any disadvantages, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said on Tuesday.

UK Athletics head coach Charles Van Commenee has said Britain's track and field team must not take part in the ceremony for its home Games because of the risk to performance in events.

"They would not go shopping for eight hours a few days before they compete, so why would you be on your feet for that length of time?" he said this month.