Countdown to London Olympics

China Daily website provides a brief summary of the latest news related to London Olympics.

June 26

Olympics to test London's subway

During the morning rush hour at the main ticket hall of London's Euston railway station, two teenage girls struggled to carry their luggage to the subway station underground.

It was their first time to London, and they couldn't find the elevator. Two passers-by stopped and offered to carry their luggage down the stairs. [Full story]

China unveils uniforms for Olympic team

Chinese athletes Huang Qiu, Chen Yibing, Sun Yang and Liu Zige show off the official uniforms for the Chinese national team for London Olympic Games at an unveiling ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday. [Full story]

IOC says can keep London betting clean

Organizers are confident that they can prevent gangs behind illegal gambling from fixing events at the Olympics in London next month, a senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) figure said on Monday. [Full story]

June 25

Zhang Lin left out of Olympic squad

Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin will not take part in the upcoming London Olympic Games, vice-president of the China Swimming Association Shang Xiutang confirmed here on Sunday. [Full story]

Olympic Manifesto Square opens in Beijing

The Olympic Manifesto Square,as a part of a program – "Let the Olympic Manifesto Spread from Beijing to the World," was opened at the Beijing Olympic Green on June 23. [Full story]

Olympic shadow looms large over Wimbledon

For all its tradition and prestige, there is an unmistakable sense swirling round Wimbledon that this year's tournament is a dress rehearsal for a bigger sporting occasion. Just weeks after the tournament finishes, the sport's best players will shed their whites and return to Southwest London wearing international colours for the Olympics.[Full story]

June 21

Chinese factory makes London Olympics mascots

A factory in Dafeng city, East China's Jiangsu province has made and sent 350,000 mascots to the UK for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. [Full story]

UK police warn over online ticket scams

British police are investigating around 30 unauthorized websites illegally selling tickets for the London Olympics and warned fans they risked being "ripped off" if they use them. [Full story]

Beckham torch lights up auction site

An Olympic torch carried by David Beckham has attracted bids of over 1,500 pounds ($2,400) after London organizers began an online auction of Games memorabilia. [Full story]

June 20

British food awaits Olympics visitors

A menu of oddly named and sometimes oddly tasting traditional British dishes awaits adventurous diners visiting London for the Olympic Games this summer. [Full story]

Hungary still the gold standard in water polo

When the Hungarian water polo team filed in for practice at the national aquatics center last week, pool mechanics sneaked nearer to take a peek. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the country's most popular athletes before they go for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Four members of the squad, plus coach Denes Kemeny, are preparing for their fourth Olympics. They have won the men's team gold medal in the last three Games and not lost a match in an Olympic pool since Sydney. [Full story]

June 19

London 2012 clinic offers athletes top healthcare

Athletes at the London Olympics will be offered free healthcare ranging from state of the art eye care and dentistry to sports physiotherapy, osteopathy and surgery at a 23 million pounds ($36.04 million) "polyclinic". [Full story]

Kiteboarding wrong choice for Olympics: experts

Kiteboarding is "10 times more dangerous" that windsurfing and the decision to include the sport in the 2016 Olympics is a big mistake, a leading kitesurfing expert has told Reuters. [Full story]

June 18

London announces street route for torch relay

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on Thursday announced the street route for the penultimate day of the Olympic torch relay in London. [Full story]

Lee working flat out to make London Games

Badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei is working 12 hours a day on his rehabilitation in the hope he can recover from an ankle injury in time to compete at the London Olympics next month. [Full story]

June 15

China warns athletes against doping

Chinese sports authorities warned their coaches and athletes to stay away from any attempts of doping in their preparation for the London Olympic Games. [Full story]

London torch relay to visit Buckingham Palace

The Olympic torch relay will visit the London residences of both the Queen and Prime Minister on the day before the opening ceremony next month, organizers said on Thursday. [Full story]

June 14

Home advantage will boost Team GB: study

Home advantage will help Britain to improve on its bumper 2008 medal haul when London hosts the Games next month, a study by economists from business services group PwC said on Thursday. [Full story]

Federer seeking golden seal in London

With almost impeccable Swiss timing, Roger Federer has a last chance to fill the remaining spot in his bulging trophy cabinet on the court that witnessed the blooming of a tennis genius. [Full story]

June 12

UK panel to examine health legacy of London 2012

A committee in Britain's upper chamber the House of Lords is to conduct an inquiry into how the London 2012 Olympics will help scientists and the public better understand the potential health benefits of exercise. [Full story]

Banned Saudi riders cleared for London

Two Saudi Arabian show jumpers were cleared to compete at the London Olympics after having eight-month bans reduced to two by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday. [Full story]

June 11

Ronaldinho cut from Brazil Olympic squad

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has excluded Ronaldinho from a 35-man squad for the London Olympics. The two-time FIFA world player of the year had been included in Menezes' initial list of 52 announced in March but was subsequently overlooked for Brazil's series of friendlies in Germany and the United States. [Full story]

Olympic torch reaches Shetland Islands in Scotland

The London 2012 Olympic torch reaches Shetland Islands in Scotland, June 10, 2012. [Full story]

June 8

Ways of getting into the Olympic spirit

Plant golden marigolds, bake a giant pudding or plan a sports quiz? London 2012 organizers listed 50 ways of getting into the Olympic spirit on Thursday as the countdown clock reached 50 days to go. [Full story]

No place for friendship on track, says Robles

Cuba's world-record holder Dayron Robles wants no contact with Chinese friend Liu Xiang in London, where he aims to become the third man to win the high hurdles at successive Olympic Games. [Full story]

Liu's technique makes him master of hurdling

Like a fine craftsman, China's Liu Xiang has become the world's master hurdler because of his skill, not natural speed, former world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah says. [Full story]

June 7

Chinese atheles vow anti-doping for London Olympics

China's Olympic athletes and coaches make a vow to reject using banned substances during the London 2012 Games in ceremony at the National Sports Training Center on Tuesday. [Full story]

China's tennis to endure tough test at London Games

The four Grand Slams of tennis dominate the sport's annual calendar however, every fourth year the increasingly important Olympic Games tournament rolls around. [Full story]

Chinese teacher runs torch relay in Belfast

China's Xiong Yu, a teacher at Queen's University Belfast, ran the Olympic torch relay on Wednesday welcomed by hundreds of local Chinese. [Full story]

June 6

Liu back at his best in bid for redemption

In 12.87 seconds on an Oregon track, China's Liu Xiang banished five years of injury-filled misery and annointed himself favorite to reclaim the Olympic gold he relinquished so painfully in Beijing four years ago. [Full story]

June 5

Olympic torch spotlights Northern Ireland coast

Olympic torchbearers carried the symbolic flame of the London Games to some of Northern Ireland's most beautiful coastal attractions Monday, and then headed to two communities associated with moments of terror. [Full story]

June 4

Flower power will be in hands of men in London

Only men will carry the trays of flowers and medals at the London Olympic podium ceremonies while women will have the role of escorting athletes and official presenters. "This is the first time in Games history where the flower and medal bearers will be male," organizers LOCOG said in a statement on Friday. [Full story]

Li Na relishing last Olympic chance

Having missed out on an Olympic medal on home soil four years ago, Li Na is looking forward to one more try, although she knows the atmosphere will be different from Beijing. [Full story]

Olympic torch starts 5-day Northern Ireland tour

The Olympic torch began its five-day tour of Northern Ireland with plenty of excitement and no signs of trouble Sunday as the territory's Protestants and Catholics vowed to show the world how united the community has become after four decades of conflict. [Full story]

June 1

London 2012 Chairman praises enthusiasm of athletes

The London 2012 Chairman Thursday said the levels of efforts and enthusiasm among elite athletes to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games were among the highest he had seen. [Full story]

Olympic torch relay continues across Wales

The flame was carried through Wales on day 11 of the Torch Relay, as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games. [Full story]