2012 Summer Games Stories
-
Posthumous apology sought for Olympian Peter Norman
Federal Parliament will debate Labor MP Andrew Leigh's motion to apologise to Peter Norman, who was banned from the 1972 Olympics after his role in a Black Power protest at the Mexico City games.
-
Athletes Use Olympics, Web Followers To Up Deals
Renee Montagne talks to Emily Steel of the Financial Times about Olympic athletes turning gold — into gold. When securing big-money endorsements, it's not just the medals that count, it's the followers and friends, too.
-
The Olympics, Revisited
Having visited London during the recently concluded Olympics, Bill Littlefield is still trying to adjust to Eastern Time...and trying to process what he witnessed while we was away.
-
What Life Holds For Athletes After The Olympics
Many athletes aspire to compete in the Olympic Games. Few ever achieve it. For those who do, what happens when the games are over? Former Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar, who won three gold medals in the 1984 Olympics, talks about her life after her athletic career.
-
Kite surfing replaces windsurfing at Rio Olympics
Every Olympics has some new sports, and in four years time, kite surfing will feature -- at the expense of windsurfing, which the International Sailing Federation voted to dump earlier this year. Kite surfers are flying high, but windsurfers vow to fight the decision.
-
Rio's plans for the Olympics
The Olympic flag has officially landed in Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting South America's first Games in 2014. As is the case with any Olympic city, there are doubts over Rio's preparations - not to mention allegations of human rights abuse over evictions to make room for Olympic and World Cup projects. Construction;
-
Can East London Keep The Olympic Spirit Burning?
The Olympics are over, but guest host Jacki Lyden takes a look at the lasting impact of the Games on young people living in the neighborhoods around Olympic Park. She speaks with East London residents Amber Charles and Rumi Begum. Both young adults participated in the Olympic torch relay in recognition of their contributions to sports in the area.
-
The History of Politics in the Olympic Games
The ancient Greeks came up with the idea for the Olympics more than 2,700 years ago, but since then there have been some notable changes. Like uniforms. The Greeks once played their games naked — no foreign-made uniforms for them. This helped them avoid the kind of political hot water the U.S. Olympic Committee found itself in with its made-in-China team outfits. But don't be misled. The Olympics have always been about politics as much as games. In ancient times, the Olympics provided a...
-
The 205 National Anthems of The Olympics
There is something slightly different about London's Olympic medal ceremonies: the music.This year, the London Philharmonic recorded all 205 of the world's national anthems. Composer Philip Sheppard and sound engineer Jake Jackson were in charge of the effort. The Takeaway caught up with them recently, and they told us about some of the project's bigger challenges, as well as the complications involved in so many national anthems.
-
Olympics Recap, Paralympics, and Rio 2016
The closing ceremony for the Olympics was last night, but the Paralympics are still to come. They begin in London on August 29and continue until September 9. All the while, Rio De Janeiro is preparing to host the Olympics in 2016. Dan Damonis the host of BBC World Update. Vincent Dowd is the Arts Correspondent for our partner the BBC.
-
Sport with Francis Leach
Wrapping up the highlights of the London Olympics with Francis Leach
-
London Olympics closing ceremony
After 16 days, the London Olympic Games have closed.
-
Eyes turn to Rio for the 2016 Games
In 2016, the Olympics will be held in South America for the first time. The next host country Brazil has been selling itself in London during the games to ramp up the excitement but there are already questions over the city's transport and whether venues will be ready in time.
-
Lord Coe closes the London Olympics
The chairman of the London Organising Committee, Lord Sebastian Coe, closes the London Olympics.
-
The verdict on London's games
With the closing ceremony underway, London is being praised for delivering a safe, successful and efficient Olympics.
-
Saying Goodbye To The 2012 Olympic Games
Weekend Edition Sunday guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with NPR's Mike Pesca to get both the big and the not-so-big stories from the Olympics in its final weekend.
-
London's Zoo Gets Animals Into Olympic Spirit
The London zoo is presenting its own Olympic-style games. Adoring crowds cheered on the penguins in diving, otters in swimming and Zebras in long distance running. Instead of medals, they are competing for tasty morsels.
-
'Swim Your Own Race' Wins NPR's Poetry Games
Poet Mbali Vilakazi was inspired by a fellow South African, swimmer Natalie du Toit, who lost one of her legs at age 17 and is the first first woman amputee to qualify for the Olympic Games. "It's not about what happens to you, it's about how quickly you can get up," Vilakazi says.
-
U.S. Women's Soccer Captures 3rd Gold Medal
The U.S. women's soccer team beat Japan 2-1 in the London Olympics Thursday. The team now has its third consecutive Olympic gold medal. Last year, the U.S. lost to Japan in the World Cup.
-
Caster competes, but debate continues
South Africa's 21-year-old middle-distance runner, Caster Semenya, competed at Olympic Park in London overnight, in her first world-class outing since being forced to undergo a gender test three years ago.
-
Brittania rules the games
While Australia is now in the top 10 in the Olympic medal tally, it is a long way behind the host nation. Team GB is in third position, with its biggest medal haul since the 1908 London Olympics. Great Britain has four times more gold tahn Australia, with 24.
-
Missing Athletes Join Long List Of Olympic Defectors
Multiple Olympians have gone missing from the Olympic Village in London — including seven members of the Cameroon delegation, three from Sudan and one from Ethiopia. One of the athletes is known to have asked for asylum. But the whereabouts of the rest are a mystery. If they have defected, they will join a long tradition of Olympic athletes who have used the Games as an opportunity to escape from their country of origin. Melissa Block speaks with Olympic historian David Wallechinsky, about...
-
It's Not Gold, But Fastest US Texter Wins Big
It may not be an Olympic sport, but Wisconsin teen Austin Wierschke was just named the fastest texter in America. The texting champion was awarded $50,000. Wierschke speaks with host Michel Martin about how he keeps his thumbs in shape.
-
Olympic Preview: Decathlon Medals To Be Awarded
At the London Summer Olympics, it's one star-studded 200 meter race down, one to go. American Allyson Felix won the women's 200 Wednesday night, and was part of a U.S. track and field medal-winning binge. On Thursday, Jamiaca's Usain Bolt will run in the men's 200, and the decathlon champ will be decided.
-
How Other Networks Compete Against Olympic Games
NBC's coverage of the London Olympics is a ratings hit. This can present a problem for other networks looking to lure viewers — especially those dedicated to broadcasting sports. Steve Inskeep, talks to media reporter John Ourand of the Sports Business Daily about counter-programming the Olympics, and what sports networks like ESPN are showing instead.
-
Retailers Go For Gold By Evoking Olympic Games
More than 20 percent of online retailers have referred to the Olympics in their promotional materials in recent weeks. But unless they're official sponsors, they can't directly use trademarked Olympic symbols or even the word Olympics. So many have had to get creative, using language such as go for the gold, podium or world-class to catch the attention of fans.
-
Internet Surfers Have Fun With Gymnast's Scowl
U.S. gymnast McKayla Maroney was disappointed when she took silver in the Olympic vault competition. A photographer snapped her wearing the medal around her neck and a big scowl on her face. That photo has now been Photoshopped on to all sorts of other pictures on the Internet.
-
Golden sailors buoyed by Wangi wanderers
Australia's fifth gold medal at the London Olympics has come came from sailing duo Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen. It's not only another success story from the sailing team, but also a testament to the great sailing breeding ground that is Lake Macquarie, on the New South Wales central coast. The gold medallists were buoyed by a large contingent of Lake Macquarie residents who travelled to Weymouth, the site of the Olympic sailing course.
-
Aussie divers in medal contention: Chantelle Newbery
Early this morning the women's 10 metre diving competition finals got underway in London. Two Australians are in contention, Beijing silver medallist Melissa Wu and 16-year-old Brittany Broben. Later this week, Matthew Mitcham will also start his Olympic competition in the men's events.
-
Olympic Highlights: Beach Volleyball, Handball
Mike Pesca talks to Audie Cornish about the Olympic news of the day. They discuss the women's 200m race, women's beach volleyball and handball.
-
One Benefit Of Hosting The Olympics? More Medals
Great Britain has been raking in the medals at this summer's Olympics. Researcher Nigel Balmer of University College London says that's no coincidence. Balmer and his colleagues tracked Olympic medal counts going back to World War II and found that the host country routinely experiences a spike in the number of gold, silver and bronze medals its athletes take home. Audie Cornish talks to him about why that is.
-
What's Hair Got To Do With It?
Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas became the first African-American to win gold in the women's all-around event. But following her big moment, the twitter-verse lit up about her hair. Host Michel Martin asks how far has the country really come, when people's choices — about everything from hair to politics — are judged by superficial standards.
-
Male Athletes Fight for the Right to Synchronized Swim...
The London Games are being called the Olympics for equality, specifically when it comes to women. For the first time, each competing country has both a female and male athlete. But not every event in the Olympics is gender equal. While most of us are accustomed to seeing women play soccer andnone of us bat an eye at women running, men are still prohibited from competing in some sports — specifically synchronized swimming. An all-male synchronized swimming team in London has petitioned the...
-
Cameroon Athletes Disappear From Olympic Village
The head of Team Cameroon has confirmed that a swimmer, a soccer player and five boxers have disappeared from the Olympic village. Cameroon is a poor country, and some speculate its a quest for a better life instead of Olympic gold.
-
A uniform approach to clothing refugees
Australian Olympic uniforms could soon be seen in some unlikely locations. One of the logistical concerns at any Olympics is insuring that every team member has the proper clothes and kit. It also means that by the end of the Games, there are plenty of spare unused uniforms. In conjunction with the United Nations, they're subsequently shipped to various refugee camps around the world.
-
Team GB fans win gloating gold
While the gold drought has now been broken for the Australian Olympic team, the lack of success has made it hard for both athletes and spectators. Making it even worse for those in the crowd are British fans crowing over their biggest haul of gold medals in over 100 years.
-
Mid-Olympics Check-In
NPR sports reporter Mike Pesca checks-in from London to talk about this year's Olympic trends, upsets, and the controversial New York Times article on American runner Lolo Jones.
-
U.S. Women's Soccer Team To Play For Gold Medal
The U.S. women's soccer team beat Canada in dramatic fashion Monday at the London Summer Olympics. Next, they seek revenge against Japan after a heartbreaking loss at last year's World Cup. The finals are Thursday in London.
-
India's Olympic Effort Faulted
India's field hockey team is the least successful team at the London Olympic Games. But the team's record tracks with the overall state of the country's Olympic effort. India, the world's second-most populous nation, has only three Olympic medals so far.
-
Sailing to victory: John Bertrand
Australian sailor Tom Slingsby has won gold overnight and his sailing teammates Nathan Outteridge and Ian Jensen will join him tomorrow -- provided they can finish the final race in the 49er class. The Australian sailing team looks like being the success story of an Australian Olympic campaign desperately in need of one.
-
Swimming Australia announces review of London performance
While the Australian swimming team has won half of Australia's gold medals, winning only one was well below expectations for a usually very successful team. Swimming Australia has announced a review of the team's performance to be conducted by coach Bill Sweetenham and Olympic champion, Susie O'Neill.
-
Boxer Claressa Shields,17, Reaches Olympic Semifinal,...
U.S. Olympic boxer Claressa Shields, the teenager whose dream of being in the first crop of Olympic women boxers led her to tell her story to NPR back in February, will fight for a medal in London. A native of Flint, Mich., Shields, 17, won her first fight and reached Thursday's semifinal round.
-
Bolt Earns Gold on the Eve of Jamaica's 50th Anniversary
On Sunday the world watched as Jamaican-born sprinters Usain Bolt and Yohan Blakecompetedfor gold and the title of fastest man in the world, with Bolt winning after running an Olympic record time of 9.63 seconds. Today also marks the50thanniversaryofJamaica'sindependence. Celebrations are popping up throughout New York, and Kingston, Jamaica wasenvelopedby cheers following Bolt's victory. Jamaicans across the worldsounded offon both the anniversary and Bolt's performance. Kevin Hiltonis a...
-
Sex Abuse Haunts Former Olympic Swim Hopeful
Amid the excitement of the Olympic games, one former Olympic hopeful is speaking out on the darker side of youth sports. Kelley Currin says she was molested as a teen by Rick Curl, her former swim coach and founder of the prominent Curl-Burke Swim Club in the Washington, D.C. area.
-
Oscar Pistorius Makes Big Strides for Disabled Athletes
South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius made history when he qualified to participate in track and field in the Olympic Games despite having two artificial legs.He pushed the boundaries even further when he ran his way to the semi-finals in Heat 1 of the men’s 400-meter race on Saturday. While his time during the semi-finals on Sunday didn’t secure him a spot in the final, his performance has both inspired fellow athletes and fans, and drawn criticism from others. Paralympic long jump silver...
-
The Agenda: What the Olympic Games Mean for the Economy
Today's Agenda is all about the Olympics. Athletes representing the United Kingdom are enjoying a real gold rush at the 2012 Games. As the Olympics draws closer to the halfway point, talk shifts from the athletics to the lasting economic effect of the Olympics on its host city of London. Anne McElvoy is the public policy editor of the Economist in London. Shira Springer, writer for the Boston Globe, has been covering the games from London.
-
Olympics bad for business
The organisers of the 2012 Olympics promised the Games would be a marketing bonanza for traders in London's CBD, but the city centre has been less crowded than usual. Instead, tourists have been funnelling into a shopping centre beside the Olympic Park.
-
Primary principals reject calls for sports program...
The president of Australia's Olympic Committee says more support for sport in schools programs is needed if the country is to find the next Cathy Freeman or Ian Thorpe. But the Australian Primary Principals Association says it's not the role of primary schools to identify and nurture future Olympic talent, and the role of school should be much more generalist.
-
Poetry Pentathlon: when verse was an Olympic sport
Faster, Higher, Stronger? Meter, Epic, Longer! From 1912 until 1948 poetry was a sport at the modern Olympics following on from the traditions and ideals of the ancient Olympics.
-
Usain Bolt Still The World's Fastest Man
Jamaican Usain Bolt won his second straight Olympic gold in the men's 100 meters Sunday with a time of 9.63 seconds, an Olympic record. Bolt's training partner, Yohan Blake, a fellow Jamaican, finished second.
-
Runner With Artificial Legs Sprints Past Barrier
Sunday night at the Olympics, South African Oscar Pistorius runs again in a preliminary heat in the 400-meter sprint. His first heat Saturday made history because Pistorius has artificial legs. He's the first amputee to run an Olympic race. NPR's Howard Berkes looks at an unprecedented Olympic quest some are not ready to accept.
-
Gymnast Gabby Douglas A Breakthrough Olympic Star
Gabrielle Douglas has gone from being a little girl who talked her mom into letting her pursue gymnastics to a gold medal Olympian.
-
Gymnastics Fever
Meghan O'Rourke, Slate contributor and author of The Long Goodbye: A Memoir, discusseswhy gymnastics is so captivating and takes calls from anyone with gymnastics fever.
-
Would You Rather Win Silver Or Bronze? (Be Careful What...
If you had to choose between a silver medal and a bronze medal, most people would choose silver. But psychologists have found that Olympic silver-medal winners tend to be unhappier than those who win bronze.
-
Olympic track and field preview: Steve Moneghetti
With the Games reaching the midway point, it's time for track and field to take centre stage, in London.
-
Olympic funding
Elite sports funding is always a hot topic of debate around Olympics time.
-
Olympic sport: Warwick Hadfield
The latest news from the London Olympics with Warwick Hadfield.
-
Summer Movies: Olympic Medal-Winning Favorites
The Olympics make for great spectator sport. They also make for great movies: Miracle and Cool Runnings, to name just a couple. TOTN's favorite movie buff Murray Horwitz picks films about the Olympic Games that score a perfect ten, and those that land in the consolation bracket.
-
Olympic Badminton Players Disqualified for Trying to Lose
Eight badminton players from China, Korea, and Indonesia were disqualified from Olympic competition Tuesday evening after they were caught throwing matches. The disqualifications led many to question of what exactly we expect from Olympians, and whether or not we should hold our own athletes at home to the same ethical high ground. Grant Wahl is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated.
-
How To Do Everything: The Only Olympics Guide You Need
With how to advice from: Sir Patrick Stewart, US Olympian Matt Tegenkamp, New Zealand Olympian Quentin Rew, Nigerian Olympian Koko Archibong, Australian Olympian Russel Mark, Senator and Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Bradley, Canadian Curler Kristie Moore, and more.
-
Olympic investment
While we may be lamenting our performance so far in London, we've come a long way since Montreal in 1976. Back then Australia won just one silver and four bronze medals.
-
Olympic sport: Warwick Hadfield
The latest news from the London Olympics with Warwick Hadfield.
-
Throwing Games: Is It Strategy Or Cheating?
Four teams were ejected from Olympic badminton competition after allegedly throwing games in an effort to engineer easier paths to the medal stand. NPR's Howard Berkes and Tom Goldman discuss how it has thrown the tournament into chaos, and raised questions about sportsmanship and strategy.
-
Eight Badminton Players Disqualified
All American eyes may be on the gold-winning women's gymnastics team, but scandal is currently rocking the badminton event. Eight pairs of athletes have been disqualifiedfrom competition after allegedly playing to lose their matches.
-
Imagining an NYC Olympics
NYC barely lost out to London for the 2012 games. WNYC reporter Fred Mogul and the BBC's World Service Nuala McGovern discuss what the city missed, and imagine the games taking place in NYC.
-
Eight Badminton Players Disqualified From Olympics
The female badminton players have been booted from the London Olympics for purposely trying to lose. The players from Indonesia, South Korea and China had been charged with "throwing" group stage contests to secure an easier draw through the Olympic tournament.
-
London's Temporary Olympic Stadium, Built for Change
London's Olympic Games are in full swing, the hard-won result of years spent on the Games' planning and execution. After the spectacle produced at the Beijing Games in 2008, the team behind the London Games faced a challenge, as Danny Boyle, the film director behind London's Opening Ceremonies, explained to NBC News: "You can’t compare [these Olympics] in an obvious way to Beijing," he said. "You have to try and think differently about it — and being part of the spirit of it is to be...
-
The New Gymnastics Dream Team?
This week, the U.S. women won a team gold in gymnastics. It’s a feat that we’ve accomplished only one other time: in 1996, during the Atlanta Games. Our team that year was nicknamed the “Magnificent Seven” by the media, and it included injured Kerri Strug, who gave the Olympics one of its most memorable moments before or since, when she landed her vault on one leg. The "Magnificent Seven" also included America’s most decorated gymnast, Shannon Miller, and, of course, the two Dominiques,...
-
Ye Shiwen's Australian coach defends teen swimmer
The Australian coach Denis Cotterell who's worked with the Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen says he sickened and saddened by suggestions that her prowess in the Olympic pool may be the result of drug-taking. Denis Cotterell says history shows that talented, dedicated young swimmers can make big improvements, and that as a reigning world champion she was always going to be a strong gold medal contender.
-
We've Got Olympic Spirit, Yes We Do; How 'Bout You?
The London Games have conspicuously defied traditional notions by having cheerleaders, in a few different styles, at a few different venues. In basketball, dance teams perform between matches. In beach volleyball, highly choreographed teams delight attendees.
-
Latest Olympic sport with Warwick Hadfield
News from the Olympics and other sport with Warwick Hadfield.
-
Equestrian Events Charm Horse Lovers At Olympics
Equestrian sports are getting more attention than usual at this year's Olympic Games. NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner, a horse owner, rider and competitor, talks about what to watch for in the Olympic horse sports.
-
Olympic Athletes Protest Social Media Restrictions
Several U.S. athletes are protesting the strict rules that limit what they can post on social media sites during the Olympics.They're using twitter to speak up about it, using the hashtags #Rule40 and #WeDemandChange. The International Olympics Committee’s "Rule 40" prevents athletes from promoting brands other than the official Olympic sponsors during the days before and during the Games. The rules aim to protects the Games’ official sponsors, who paid big bucks for exclusive deals.But...
-
Olympic Volunteers Cash In On Ceremony Souvenirs
The Telegraph reports that props from the Olympics opening ceremony are appearing on eBay - everything from an "Industrial Revolution" costume, to pieces of confetti that erupted as Great Britain's team entered the stadium. Some of the performers are calling it "crass." But a seller pointed out it is in the spirit of the games - because it could "help me achieve my own ambitions."
-
American Men Swimming Upstream In Medal Race
The latest results and what's coming up at the Olympic swimming pool in London — including another shot at Olympic history for American Michael Phelps, and a missed medal for his teammate Ryan Lochte.
-
Franklin's Backstroke Wins Her First Olympic Gold
American swimmer Missy Franklin is back in the Olympic pool in London Tuesday for her third race in two days. The 17-year-old from Colorado is being cast as America's next great swimming star. She fit the bill Monday with her first gold medal, in the 100-meter backstroke.
-
Olympics TV Delay Criticized, But Ratings Are Up
There has been much grousing on social media about NBC tape-delaying marquee Olympic events until its prime-time broadcast. Twitter users say it's a "stone-age" model, but NBC says it needs to protect its $1.8 billion investment. So far, ratings are up.
-
For Gymnast Moceanu, Life Threw Her Off Balance
Dominique Moceanu is the youngest gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal; she was 14 during the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Host Michel Martin talks with Moceanu about her new memoir, "Off Balance." The book details the thrill of competition but also a dark side of elite gymnastics.
-
Traffic In London Not So Jammed
Traffic is moving well despite fears that the Olympic Games would clog the city. The M1 highway is busy but somewhere between normal and nice, and the AP reports no problems inside London. The commute to the houses of Parliament is five minutes shorter than normal, and bicyclists are loving roads cleared of cars for Olympic races.
-
Olympic Swimming Records Smashed, Hopes Dashed
American Dana Vollmer blew away the field, winning gold and setting a record in the 100-meter butterfly. Her teammates in the men's 4-by-100-meter freestyle relay fell short in the final stretch, winning silver. And the crowd went wild for English superstar Rebecca Adlington's finish in the 400-meter free — good for bronze.
-
London Olympics Requires Massive Logistical Organization
For the many millions in London this summer, today is perhaps the first real test for the Olympic organizers. How do you move millions around an already busy, old and crowded city on a Monday morning, getting millions to their place of work and ferrying players and spectators to their various venues? Dan Damon is the host of the BBC's World Update and joins us from St. Pancras station in London.
-
The only female Afghan Olympian
Twenty-two-year-old Tahmina Kohistani is the only female athlete representing Afghanistan in the Olympics, competing in the 100-metre sprint. She's only the third woman ever to represent her country at the Games, and her road to the Olympics has not been easy.
-
Poetry Games: Cast Your Vote!
We've invited poets from the far reaches of the globe to compose original works celebrating the Olympic Games. Now it's time for you to decide who takes the victor's crown. Vote now!
-
Swim team shock as Missile misfires
The Australian Olympic swimming team is in shock as it tries to explain how its star swimmers who were favourites to take out the men's 4x100 metre relay failed to win a medal at all. The Australian men's team was tipped to win gold, but instead finished fourth, behind France, the US and Russia. Their coach says they didn't choke, but that they may've been victims of their own hype.
-
The State We're In: Olympic Special
Featuring Brother Colm O'Connell, the mild missionary monk in Kenya who is one of the most successful track coaches of all time. We meet an Afghan female boxer with Olympic dreams. Our show's editor explains how he came to understand the meaning of victory and a runner from Western Sahara forced to compete by the Moroccan government recounts a moment of rebellion.
-
Flying the flag for female athletes
The London Olympic opening ceremony was memorable not least because this is the first Olympics to have female competitors from every participating country, even Saudia Arabia. And it was a proud moment for basketball player Lauren Jackson who carried the Australian flag in the opening ceremony. So how might female athletes be judged at these Olympics and how might it influence women’s participation in sport?
-
Olympic sport with Warwick Hadfield
Olympic news with Warwick Hadfield.
-
Olympic Medal Feats Outside Of The Pool
The Olympics are officially underway, and NPR's Mike Pesca is reporting from London. Guest host David Greene talks with Pesca about developments so far.
-
The Sporty Ones, part 1: The Swimmers
Olympic swimming champions reflect on the years they've spent being wet. From the youngest age, Shane Gould loved the water. Whereas Kieren Perkins didn't like getting his face wet. And Nicole Livingstone chose the backstroke because she could talk and swim at the same time.
-
Week In News: Romney's Olympic Woes
The debate over which country hosted the better Olympics opening ceremony — China or the U.K. — has begun, and one person who's finished making comments about London is presumptive GOP candidate Mitt Romney. His thoughts about the games in London were not well-received. Weekends on All Things Considered Guy Raz speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic for his perspective.
-
Ancient Olympics
With the London 2012 Olympic Games now underway, it is worth reflecting on where it all began: Ancient Greece in 775BC.
-
'Sporting Art' An Olympic Event Left By The Wayside
Audie Cornish talks with Olympic historian John MacAloon about the Olympic art competitions which ran from 1912 to 1952. Medals were awarded for sport-themed painting, sculpture, literature, architecture and music.
-
Robin Predes On Rowing His Way To Victory
U.S. Olympic rower Robin Prendes hopes to lead his boat to the medal stand in London. Host Michel Martin speaks with Prendes about how he got into rowing after immigrating to the U.S. from Cuba and what he's doing to prepare for the Olympics.
-
Olympic Fervor with Paddy O'Connell
John discusses preparations in London, the building excitement, reactions to Mitt Romney's "gaffe," Boris Johnson and more with Paddy O'Connell, host of BBC's Broadcasting House.
-
Carrying the Olympic Torch
South African sprinter Oscar Pistorious will make history when he becomes the first double amputee to take his marks alongside Olympic athletes in London. His high-tech prosthetic limbs have given him the nickname "Blade Runner." Another amputee has already played his part in the Olympic tradition. Stuart Hughes, a BBC producer, carried the Olympic torch through West London wearing his carbon fiber blade prosthesis.
-
Countdown to the Olympics Opening Ceremony
Later today, the 2012 London Olympics will officially begin with the torch-lighting ceremony. Its artistic director is Danny Boyle, the English filmmaker famous for Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire.
-
Olympic Gymnasts Take The (Hot Pink) Floor
The U.S. men's gymnastics team is in London, and gold isn't the only color on their minds: The competition floor is covered in hot pink. The gymnasts are struggling to adjust; they say the array of colors makes it hard to spot the high bars. As one gymnast put it, "Real men compete on pink floors!"
-
History of Going for the Gold
Gold medal victories of Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis, Kerry Strug, and Joan Benoit...these moments of triumph, sometimes against all odds are what make the Olympics stand apart from other sports competition. Here to tell some less familiar stories of Olympic glory and to unravel the ancient origins of the games is Stephen Amidon, author of a new book about the Olympics.
-
Ambassador Louis Susman on Olympic Diplomatic Challenges
The U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Louis Susman talks about the mood in London, if the Games are a worthwhile investment, and the arrival of the First Lady and Mitt Romney in the city.
-
Audio Essay: Opening the Olympics Over the Years
In the global television era, the Olympics opening ceremonies have evolved into a genre like no other: Part opera, part Disney, part Superbowl halftime show, part air show, and part fashion show. In this audio essay,John Hockenberryexplores the similarities and differences of past ceremonies.
-
Setting Rivalries Aside for National Unity
The 2012 Summer Olympics appears to be dominated by a narrative of rivalries. But what happens when two rivals are competing for the same team? Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, swimmers for the United States, exemplify this narrative: They are teammates but also rivals; they will work together but also compete.John Powersis a sportswriter for the Boston Globe.
-
Olympic swimmers bridging performance gap from ban on...
More than 100 swimming world records fell in one year before performance-enhancing supersuits were banned in 2010 but since then only two world records have been broken. Sports experts say swimmers are bridging the gap and they expect some fast times at the London Olympics
-
Britain prepares for Olympics
After seven years of planning and at an estimated cost of $14 billion. London's Olympic moment is just hours away from being officially opened. The details of the ceremony are still mostly secret. The day has begun with the ringing of bells across the country as Britons were encouraged to make some noise - even if it was simply a door bell - for three minutes.
-
Is the cost of the Olympics worth it?
With the growing cost of the Olympic Games increasing every four years, we debate the overall value of the event to host cities and pose the question whether there should be a permanent venue for the Olympics.
-
Australia's first female Olympic flag bearer in 20 years
Lauren Jackson hasn't even taken to the court yet, and she's already in the Olympic history books. The 6'5" basketballer will lead her Australian teammates out into the Olympic Stadium early tomorrow morning, for the glittering Opening Ceremony.
-
Olympic atmosphere could be cut with a cricket stump: HG...
With just hours until the London Olympics kick off, anticipation is building to fever pitch. Thousands of people have cheered the Olympic flame as it winds its way through the streets of the city and the Australian team is celebrating the announcement of Lauren Jackson as their flag bearer for the opening ceremony.
-
In Kayla Harrison, U.S. Has Chance For Judo Gold
Kayla Harrison, 22, is the best chance the United States has to win its first Olympic gold medal in the sport of judo. Like many of the world's best athletes, Harrison's road to London wasn't easy.
-
What To Watch For At The 2012 Olympic Games
A number of events got started even before the official opening, including men's and women's soccer. Already, the US women's team has claimed its first win. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman reports from London with a look at what to watch for at the 2012 Olympic Games.
-
Water Polo Goalie Hopes To 'Get It Done' In London
Water Polo teams will compete head-to-head starting this weekend at the London Olympics. As part of Tell Me More's series on the athletes you'll be watching, host Michel Martin speaks with Tumua Anae. She's a goal keeper for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team and shares how she's preparing for the Games.
-
July 26, 2012
The argument for mandatory voting for U.S. citizens | A Senator hopes that new evidence of unconstitutional surveillance will reignite the debate between freedom of speech and national security |Multimedia artist Kyle McDonald raises questions about personal privacy in public | Racist tweets and rumors hint that world peace might be too heavy a load for Olympians to carry | Women's Olympic uniforms: athleticism or sex appeal?
-
Defunct Olympic Sports
Have you ever wondered why there’s a trampoline competition in the Summer Olympics, but no mixed martial arts? Do you ever wish the International Olympic Committee would bring back croquet and speedboating? And why, oh why, did we ever have to get rid of tandem bicycling?
-
One more sleep before the London Games
It's the calm before the storm ahead of tomorrow's Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics.
-
Basketball legend Michele Timms says don't underestimate...
Australia's womens basketball team face off against Great Britian on Saturday at the London Olympics.
-
Greek athletes banned from London games
The Greek Olympic team lost two members overnight. One was dropped from the squad after posting racist comments on Twitter and the other was among nine athletes who received bans for doping violations. Some good Olympic news is desperately needed in Greece, where the latest figures show the economy has contracted by seven per cent.
-
Survey Shows Londoners Are A Crabby Bunch
Londoners may be crabbing about tourists and traffic of Olympic proportions. But they were already the most stressed out bunch in the country, according to a new government survey on "life satisfaction." Statistically, the most joyful Brit would be a married professional, healthy, 65 and residing in the Scottish isles.
-
Women's Olympic Uniforms: Athleticism versus Sex Appeal
When it comes to the Olympic games, it’s hard not to be captivated by the human body and what it can accomplish. But looking at uniform changes over the years, it's clear that some people think those bodies — if they belong to females — are best shown half-naked.After all, the average WNBA game is watched by less than 300,000 basketball fans, while the Lingerie Bowl is watched by millions. Thus, in recent years, we’ve seen the emergence of Olympic beach volleyball, along with requisite...
-
Opinion: What the Olympics really symbolise
With just over two days to go for the Opening Ceremony of the London Games how's this for an Olympic headline.
-
Nine-hour queues for prepaid Olympic tickets
Australians visiting London have been forced to queue in scorching temperatures for up to nine hours to collect prepaid Olympic tickets. Australia's chef de mission says the situation is unacceptable, but says he's had assurances that everyone will receive their tickets ahead of the Games.
-
Swimming champions jump to defence of Olympic veteran
Former Olympians have rushed to defend Leisel Jones, who is about to become the only Australian swimmer to ever compete in four Olympic Games. Although they say nothing about her weight, newspaper articles have offended some people by carrying unflattering photos of the swimming star.
-
BBC All Things Considered: The Olympics
What’s the value of the Olympics? Can the costs be justified? And has the importance of sport been taken too far? Roy Jenkins explores some of the moral, ethical & religius issues surrounding the Olympic Games.
-
Whose Olympics, whose London?
The opening ceremony gets underway on Friday UK-time. We look at who's winning and losing in the city of London, with and without the Olympics.
-
Audio Essay: Inverse Proportions of an Olympic Legacy
In this audio essay, John Hockenberry reflects on what an Olympic legacy really means — and if it's worth the cost. Throughout the history of the Games, the performance of the athletes have improved as the costs of the Games creep higher. The first modern Olympic games in 1896 cost the host country Greece less than a half a million dollars. In 1936, the Berlin games cost $30 million. In 1960, Rome spent $64 million for highways, the Olympic village, and the Estadico Olympico for their...
-
Call for a women to be Australian Olympic flag bearer
Australian beach volleyballer Natalie Cook has called for a female athlete to carry the Australian flag into the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.
-
UK Govt looses track of 150,000 illegal immigrants
There are heightened security worries in the lead up to the London Games after a committee of MPs revealed that the British Government had lost track of 150,000 illegal immigrants, including nearly 4,000 foreign criminals. Undercover journalists have also exposed a crime gang operating in Pakistan offering bogus passports and visas. They fear this could provide the opportunity for would-be terrorists to enter London posing as members of the Pakistani Olympic team.
-
Teething problems persist in lead-up to Games
The biggest event on the world's sporting calendar is scheduled to begin in London within days, but security and transport problems are still worrying organisers in the Olympic city. At the same time, Australia's Olympians have been modelling their uniforms, and London's colourful Mayor has cut his wild hair for the opening ceremony.
-
Common Knowledge: London, Broken Britain and the...
From afar Britain appears to be undergoing its biggest re-invention since the Cool Britannia era of the 1990s, with the London Olympics coming hot on the heels of last month's celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, which also drew global attention. Is this a conscious attempt to move on from so-called Broken Britain and the depressing public discourse of social decay, and how successful will it be?
-
Aussie swimming team hits London: Leigh Nugent
The Australian swimming team has just moved into the Olympic village in London. They've spent the last week training in Manchester and are set for a tough battle against traditional pool rivals the United States and a British team with home ground advantage.
-
Don't Count On A U.S. Medal In Badminton, Canoeing
Audie Cornish talks to David Wallechinsky about the United States' Olympic weak spots. What are the sports and events Americans rarely — if ever — win medals for? And what countries excel in those areas?
-
Olympic Hopeful Works To Improve Bone Marrow Registries
For many people of African descent, a lack of registry information and genetic diversity make bone marrow matches tough to find. Lawyer and Winter Olympic hopeful Seun Adebiyi made his battle with leukemia a quest for more donors and better registries in African countries.
-
Olympic Athletes Go For Gold, And Green
Over the next two weeks, thousands of athletes will compete in the London Olympics. And it's not just gold they're after, but also green. Sponsorships will earn swimmer Ryan Lochte almost $2 million, Forbes estimates. But even lesser-known athletes have the chance to make a buck.
-
Aussie team down one horsepower: Andrew Hoy
Shane Rose, the silver-medal-winning member of the Australian Equestrian team, has had to pull out of competition at the London games after his horse was injured. Andrew Hoy is another member of that team, and is the only Australian to compete in seven games. Hoy debuted in Los Angeles in 1984 and has won gold in three Olympics.
-
A Bid To End U.S. Medal Drought In Diving
The U.S. has taken a bit of a nosedive when it comes to winning Olympic medals in diving. Not a single American diver has stood on the medal stand in the past two games. 23-year old David Boudia hopes to change that. Sam Klemet WBAA
-
Spain's Olympic Basketball Team Takes Aim At U.S.
Soccer gets most of the attention from Spain's sports fans, but the country's Olympic basketball team is also one of the world's best. The U.S. team is a huge favorite, but Spain has perhaps the best chance of scoring an upset.
-
How Crowds Behave
They say two’s company, three’s a crowd. How about three million? That’s the number of pilgrims who’ll converge on Mecca this year for the hajj. It’s one of world’s great crowd management challenges. So what’s it like to be in this enormous mass of bodies? And what are the latest theories and models that are being applied to this and other large-scale public events such as the London Olympic Games?
-
Tug Of War, Bike Polo Among Retired Olympic Events
Tug of war, bicycle polo and pigeon shooting share the common trait of being one-time, but now discontinued Olympic events. Robert Siegel talks with David Goldblatt, co-author of How to Watch the Olympics, about the sports you will not see if you tune in to this summer's Olympic games.
-
Technology Could Give Athletes An Edge At Olympic Park
Engineers say technologies like spray-on clothing and 3D-printed shoes could help future Olympians break records. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Philippa Oldham discusses how technology impacts sporting performance and why engineers should work closely with regulators.
-
Olympic 'brand police' crackdown on corporate cheats
The London 2012 Olympics starts in a week from now and as the athletes compete to see who can be the fastest, highest and strongest, many corporations are trying to ensure they'll be the richest.
-
Athletes, Visitors Flood London's Heathrow Airport
Athletes and fans from around the world have begun to arrive in London for the Summer Olympic Games. On Monday, Heathrow saw a record number of arrivals. Meanwhile, a giant security firm failed to recruit the number of Olympic guards it promised. The London Olympics start July 27 and end Aug. 12.
-
For Olympic Committee, Marketing Is No Game
Corporations pay a lot of money to be official Olympic sponsors, so there are strict rules about who can and can't use the games to promote their products — rules the Olympic Committee isn't shy about enforcing. Just ask a group of knitters who recently got a cease and desist letter from the USOC.
-
Australian athletes enter the Olympic village
Athletes are starting to bed down in London's Olympic Village ahead of next week's opening ceremony. These games will be marked by the use of social media by athletes, giving us a window into the way sportsmen and women think, work and behave at the Games.
-
Prosthetics at the Olympics
Alena Grabowski, a researcher at the University of Colorado and the Department of Veterans Affairs, talks about the South African runner Oscar Pistorius (the Blade Runner), who will be competing in the Olympics using prosthetic legs—and what his participation means for the Olympics, sports and prosthetics.
-
Games and apps: Olympics apps
Only 10 days to go until the London Olympics but for those who can't wait, yes, there's an app for it.
-
London Olympics Get Off to Rocky Start
Today, the first wave of Olympians arrive in London. But for some athletes, the bus trip to London was anything but smooth.
-
What Will Be the State of Security at the London...
With only 11 days until the Olympic Games opens in London, thousands of athletes and officials are pouring into the British capital. But there are some serious concerns about security preparations for the Games.
-
Olympic Committee rejects calls for silence honouring...
The International Olympic Committee has rejected calls to hold a one minute silence at the opening ceremony of the London games in honour of the eleven Israelis killed at the Munich Olympics. On the 5th of September 1972, Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village, holding athletes and coaches hostage. Calls to honour those killed have been backed by a number of nations, including the Australian Parliament.
-
Olympic posters on show in Melbourne
Cities and countries have always used the Olympic games as an opportunity to market themselves, often using well-known artists to design Olympic posters. An exhibition featuring more than 100 Olympic posters has gone on display in Melbourne, as we near the opening of the 2012 London Olympics.
-
Saudi Arabia Sends Women to Olympics for First Time
For the first time, Saudi Arabia will be sending two female athletes into Olympic competition. It sounds like another progressive step for women, especially Saudi Arabian women, and their fight for equality. However, as the story unfolds, more disappointing factors are exposed.
-
Talkback: Play up and play the game
It's almost time for the Olympics. Does watching an athlete win gold inspire you to pull on a running shoe, swim a lap of the pool or throw a ball?
-
Olympic security
The British government has denied security for the Olympics has been compromised after confirming it will deploy additional military troops for the London games.
-
Olympic Dreams: Lauren Reynolds
This week, RN Drive spoke to Australian BMX cyclist Lauren Reynolds about her sport of choice, and her hopes and dreams for the London Olympics.
-
Indian boxer breaking down barriers
The London Olympics are breaking down the last of the gender barriers and for the first time, women boxers are going to be included in the competition. Six boxers will compete across three weight categories. Among them, India's Mary Kom, who's already a five-time world champion.
-
Women's Field Hockey Aims To End Olympic Drought
As one of the world's most popular sports, field hockey produces celebrities in Argentina, the Netherlands and Australia. But the sport is relatively obscure in the United States, where members of the women's national team receive a small monthly stipend and their notoriety comes from outside the country.
-
The Olympic Athletes You Should Be Watching
The Olympic trials are in full swing, which means the games are right around the corner. Today, we’re kicking off our coverage with some of the Olympic athletes to watch in 2012.
-
How The Olympic 'Dream Team' Came To Be
Twenty years ago, a dozen basketball players were dispatched to Barcelona to represent the United States in the Olympics. The team was something the world of sports had never seen before, and probably never will again. Guest host David Greene talks with Jack McCallum about his new book on the players, Dream Team.
-
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius to compete for South...
Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius is going to the London Olympics after being selected for South Africa's 1,600-meter relay team.
-
At Last, Superheavyweight Finds Her Olympic Niche
Athletic since she was a toddler, Holley Mangold has been dreaming of Olympic glory for nearly as long. It took the onetime football star years to find the sport that would take her to the Olympics. Now 22, 350-pound Mangold has qualified for the U.S. women's Olympic weightlifting team.
-
Olympic Dreams: Glenn Warfe
Glenn Warfe, who is representing Australia in the Badminton men's doubles, spoke to RN Drive about his preparation in the lead up to his second Olympic games.
-
'Roller Skiing' Summer Training For Winter Athletes
While athletes prep for the summer Olympics, winter Olympians are also in training. For cross-country skiers, that means roller-skiing, which many serious skiers love to hate. But some people have come to love roller skiing so much that they're hoping it will one day be a summer Olympic sport.
-
Sprinter Tarmoh Concedes Olympic Spot To Felix
All Things Considered host Melissa Block talks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the drama surrounding the women's 100 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials. On Monday, Jeneba Tarmoh withdrew from consideration for a spot in the 100 in London. Tarmoh has not said why she's withdrawing, but she'll head to the Olympics as an alternate on the women's 100 meter team.
-
1500 Meters US Champion On Humble Beginnings
Leonel Manzano is the new U.S. track and field champion in the men's 1500 meters. He took home the title on Sunday night, and booked his place on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. As part of Tell Me More's preview of the Summer Olympics, host Michel Martin speaks with Manzano about his humble beginnings in Mexico.
-
100 Meters Runoff To Decide 3rd Place Finisher
A runoff race on Monday between Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix will determine who will be the third member of the U.S. Women's track team to compete in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games in London later this month.
-
Breaking Records To A Velvet Underground Beat
Olympic athlete Christian Niccum says a song from the band's 1967 debut put him in a trance-like state — and helped him conquer the world's toughest luge track.
-
Hoop Dreams: Olympic Newbie Preps For Games
The U.S. women's basketball team is favored to win its fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Tina Charles, a former University of Connecticut Husky, will play in her first Olympics as the team's center.
-
In 'Gold,' Olympic Rivalry Is Personal, Professional
Chris Cleave's newest novel chronicles the friendship and rivalry between cyclists training for the 2012 Olympics. He speaks with NPR's Scott Simon about the fascination of athletic rivalries, how he got in shape for the book and what he hopes readers will take away.
-
Poetry showers in London ahead of Olympics
In London, it's been raining verse 100,000 poems, that's about half a tonne, have showered down over the London Eye at Southbank, as part of the Poetry Parnassus. The festival brings together poets from the 204 nations competing in the Olympic Games.
-
'Steeplechase Queen' Hopes To Score Big In London
Jenny Simpson, the 1500 meter women's world champion, is known to some as the American steeplechase queen. Simpson is doing a few last-minute training tweaks as she gets ready for her Olympic trials race on Thursday. She's hoping to represent the U.S. in London in an event that isn't typically dominated by American women.
-
At U.S. Olympic Trials, A Track And Field Tie
Some of the events at the at U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., this past weekend were too close to call. First and second place were clear in the Women's 100 meters, but third place was a dead tie. A run-off or a coin flip will determine who goes to London.
-
Big medal hopes for Australia's Paralympic team
We're just 65 days until the Paralympic games kick off after the London Olympics.
-
Top Olympic cyclist punished for drink-driving
A top Olympic medal hope has been sanctioned for drink-driving just weeks before the Games in London. Jack Bobridge has been fined after a minor collision in a car park in Spain. Bobridge is now at a team training camp until the Games begin. He hasn't explained the incident, but his manager says it's out of character.
-
John Coates, AOC president
This week Richard Aedy is joined by John Coates – the president of the Australian Olympic Committee and one of Australia’s most influential people in the sporting world.
-
Sync Or Swim: Olympic Duet Practices Togetherness
Only two members of the U.S. synchronized swimming team are going to London for this summer's Olympics. The pairing is fairly recent — they even used to be rivals — but some of their competitors have been swimming together since childhood.
-
Politics, human rights, and London 2012
The Olympic games are always an event in which sport and politics intersect, and London 2012 will be no different.
-
Swimmer Janet Evans seeks Olympics return
Seven world records, five Olympic medals, one legendary swimming career. But swimmer Janet Evans hopes it doesn't stop there. Sixteen years after she retired, the Orange County native is eyeing a comeback.
-
Olympic windsurfing
The London Games opening Ceremony is in six weeks time, and the 13 member Australian sailing team is already in London
-
Olympic swim team health scare
The Australian swim team has had to cancel its last major meet because of a whooping cough outbreak at the Australian Institute of Sport. The head swim coach says it won't affect performances in London but the Australian water polo women's team says it is a setback as two of their players have been diagnosed. At this stage no other athletes have presented with symptoms.
-
IOC investigates ticket corruption allegations
The International Olympic Committee has launched an investigation into allegations that Olympic officials and agents in dozens of countries agreed to sell some of their allocated tickets on the black market at vastly inflated prices. The agents were filmed by undercover reporters from a UK newspaper. The AOC says Australia is not involved in the scandal.
-
Tramp champ
The London Olympics are six weeks away, and Australia is expected to send around 400 athletes competing across 25 of the 26 sports.
-
Tough Bounce: 2 Brothers, 1 Olympic Trampoline Slot
Most prospective Olympians aren't getting tucked in at night by their biggest rival. Then again, most prospective Olympians aren't Steven and Jeffrey Gluckstein, siblings and best friends who are competing to be the lone male trampolinist to represent the U.S. at the London Olympics.
-
London's 'Green And Pleasant' Opening Ceremonies
The opening ceremonies of every Olympic games reflect the host country's past and present. With the unveiling of London's plans for its opening ceremony, Bill Littlefield examines the many moving parts--both human and animal--that will be involved.
-
Fencing's Father-Son Duo Hones An Olympic Dream
When they travel to London to compete in this summer's Olympics, many elite athletes will be joined by family members. But for Alexander Massialas and his father, Greg, it's different. Both of them will represent the United States — one as a coach, and the other as an athlete.
-
A Newbie Tries To Squeeze Into The U.S. Olympic Pool
With superstars like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte dominating, there's very little room left on the U.S. Olympic men's swimming team. But 20-year-old Dakota Hodgson is determined to try — even if his best event is the one Phelps has ruled for the past decade, the 200-meter butterfly.
-
Cyclist's Swift Ride From Wall Street To The Olympics
Four years ago, Evelyn Stevens was working as a Wall Street investment banker and just starting to race bicycles. But she rose through the cycling ranks quickly, and next month she will represent the United States at the Olympic Games in London.
-
Politics and Olympics in South Africa
South African athletes are off on their summer break in preparation for next season’s enormous challenges. These will culminate in the 2012 London Olympic Games where they hope to return south with a fresh crop of medals.
-
An Olympic Task: Finding Good Food At The Games
Restaurants and caterers will perform their own feats of strength and endurance when the Summer Olympics get started in London next month. They'll serve about 14 million meals, but critics are already panning the menu.
-
The Road To London Is Paved With Olympic Gaffes
The road to any big event, be it a family reunion, a graduation, or the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, is often pockmarked with screw-ups, flubs, and insensitive oversights. Robert Siegel and Audie Cornish catalog a few of the gaffes leading up to the London games, including torch flame-outs, missing hurdles, and the resurrection of the apartheid-era South African anthem.
-
Olympic dreams: Daniel Kelly
50 days to the Olympics!
-
Symphony Orcherstra to fake it at the Games
There is outrage in London today at news the London Symphony Orchestra will mime its performance at the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. The world renowned orchestra will pretend to perform while a recording made six weeks ago blasts out to the stadium. (The World Today, ABC, 6/4/2012)
-
Olympic torch takes on life of its own
The Olympic Torch has been on the road for more than a fortnight now, and it appears to have become a celebrity in its own right. It's already malfunctioned, attracted frenzied rumors, and has been criticized for making an appearance on eBay. (Correspondant's Report, ABC, 6/3/2012)
-
Ireland's Olympic Torch Bearer
Listeners call in with support for swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin as an Olympic torch-bearer for Ireland.
-
Swimmer Vies To Bring Olympic Joy Home To Greece
Swimmer Spyros Gianniotis was born in Liverpool, England, but he will represent Greece in the upcoming London Olympics. At 32, he is the 10-kilometer open-water world champion, and one of Greece's best hopes for a medal in London. He's on a team of Olympians whose training budget has been drastically reduced by austerity measures and the economic crisis.
-
Transgender Athlete Competes For Olympic Spot
Keelin Godsey, the first openly transgender contender for the U.S. Olympic team, was born female, identifies as a male and competes in the female division. And Godsey's quest for gold in the hammer throw is raising questions about where transgender athletes fit in sports.
-
Before Leaping To 10 Golds, Athlete Beat Polio
Ray Ewry is an all-but-forgotten Olympic great from the early 1900s with a remarkable story. Before winning his 10th gold medal in 10 tries, Ewry accomplished something truly remarkable: He learned to walk again.
-
Sprinter Speeds Toward London, And Olympic Gold
American athlete Allyson Felix is still weighing which events she'll focus on in London this summer. She already has two Olympic silver medals plus a relay gold. Now she wants an individual gold. To get it, she'll have to beat her arch-rival: Jamaica's Veronica Campbell Brown.
-
One of the athletes who raised the black power salute in...
The story of an iconic Olympic protest. During the 1968 Games in Mexico City, two black American sprinters sparked controversy after raising the black power salute. One of those athletes - John Carlos - told us how meetings with civil rights activists Malcolm X and Martin Luther King inspired him to take a stand.
-
Olympic Flame Flies To United Kingdom
The flame for the London Olympics, which was ignited by the rays of the sun in the 2,800-year-old Temple of Hera in Greece, arrives in the UK Saturday. It was carried from Olympia in a lantern that flew aboard a gold-painted plane. Vicki Barker has more on the flame's relay race to London. (Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR, 5/19/2012)
-
Gymnast's Journey: Toddler Tumbler To Golden Girl
Aly Raisman started gymnastics like millions of other children - in a toddler tumbling class. Now 17, the Massachusetts athlete is considered one of the best tumblers in the world. And she's on track to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team. (WBUR, 5/16/2012)
-
Dark Days In Greece Brightened By Olympic Flame
In Greece on Thursday, the Olympic flame for the London games was lit in the southern town of Olympia. It's the only event planned by the national athletics federation, which recently announced that it's virtually bankrupt. It's a long fall from 2004, when Greece was the world's darling for holding a spectacular Summer Games. (All Things Considered, NPR, 5/10/2012)
-
Olympic Runners Find Unique Was To Raise Funds
Big name medal winners in high-profile Olympic sports can count on support from sponsors. But not so for lesser known athletes. That's forced some of them to take an unorthodox approach to fundraising. (Morning Edition, NPR, 5/9/2012)
-
Soccer Star With Soap Opera Roots Aims At Olympics
Indiana University soccer star Orianica Velasquez is on a mission - to get to the London Olympics with Colombia's women's soccer team. And she wants to send a message about the country where she was born. (All Things Considered, NPR, 5/7/2012)
-
As Olympics Approach, A Look At The 100m Sprint
With the Summer Olympics in London almost around the corner, Robert Siegel talks with Tim Layden, senior writer at Sports Illustrated, about one of the marquee events - the 100 meter sprint. (All Things Considered, NPR, 5/3/2012)
Recommended Shows
No recommendations yet
PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Palo Alto, CA
- Summer Games
- English
-
Update show info
