DAVID BECKHAM CARRIES THE OLYMPIC FLAME

 Completing one of the most recognized tasks around the world, David Beckham carried the Olympic torch to the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, England yesterday afternoon (May 18).

The British soccer star took part in the torches’ presentation as it begins its relay today (May 19), which will take it on an 8,000-mile journey across England with a detour to visit the Irish capital of Dublin. It will culminate in the flame being brought to the Olympic Stadium for the opening of the Games on July 27.

"This is a big acceleration of the heartbeat," London Mayor Boris Johnson said as he summed up the moment. "This is the final furlong for us."

Although the 37-year-old heartthrob has never competed in the Olympic games, he is definitely interested adding, “Obviously, I'd love to. I've always made it clear that I love representing my country. I've done that quite a few times."

 

THE WORLD'S FASTEST MAN CRITICIZED FOR CHOOSING 'A WHITE PARTNER'

The reigning Olympic champion and record holder over 100 and 200 meters dash, dubbed as the world’s fastest man, sprinter Usain Bolt, 25, has come in for criticism from fellow black Jamaicans unhappy that he has chosen ‘a white partner,’ the Mail said.

Bolt, who has earned the reputation as a ‘ladies’ man,’ previously linked to British waitress Rebeckah Passley and Jamaican reality TV star Taneish ‘Lava’ Simpson, has now chosen for his latest girlfriend 28-year-old Slovakian-born fashion designer Lubica Slovak, and the relationship was described by friends as ‘very serious.’

The couple began dating ‘quietly’ in mid-November, making sure they were not seen together at functions and spent most evenings at Bolt’s home in a suburb of Kingston, but when a picture of them was published in the Jamaican Observer last month, online posting became filled with protests.

One said ‘Really now Usain! Some successful black men obviously suffer from a white woman complex. You too?’

The next said ‘Out of all the girls on this island you pick a snowbunny.’

Another complained ‘Another one of our men snatched.’

And another ‘These superstars will always disappoint if we depend on them to raise our racial identity.’

One reader of The Observer said ‘They make he mingle with white girls. She just divorce him and take aways his money.’

And another added ‘I hope when he’s ready to settle down he chooses a beautiful Jamaican black woman ... In the meantime have fun “responsibly”, cause some “pretty girls” just a wait if “lock u down” for the wrong reasons.’

But a friend defended the couple saying ‘Usain is a young man at the top of his game and did date a few women, but he has settled down now with Lubica. It works because they are both successful and focused. She focuses on her designs, he focuses on his sport. There is no stress in this relationship. She is a calm, very nice, industrious, busy woman. She has her own life so she isn’t demanding.’

ADELE SET TO PERFORM AT OLYMPICS AND GET HITCHED TO BOYFRIEND KONECKI, THIS YEAR

The amazingly talented Adele who has won six Grammies is looking forward to another tantalizing gift – an engagement ring from boyfriend this year.

According to the Daily Star, 37-year old Simon Konecki is all set to pop the question to the ‘Someone Like You’ singer Adele, who will be celebrating her 24th birthday then.

The tabloid claims that in addition to tying the knot the couple has even discussed the possibility of starting a family together. It was only a few months after they met each other that the couple announced in January publicly that they were dating.

A close pal of Konecki disclosed to Daily Star that Simon is so crazy about her that “he’s also talked about popping the question as soon as her birthday in May. It falls over the bank holiday weekend so he may plan a trip away and do it then.”

Moreover according to the pal Simon knows she’s ‘the one’ and all his pals agree that they have never seen him so happy “He’s like a different person,” the pal added. As for Adele, at the Grammy Awards earlier this month ‘The Rolling In The Deep’ hit maker had gone so far as to call Simon her "soul mate" and openly telling people she was "living the dream."

However, in the coming months, the engagement ring is not the only thing upper most on Adele’s mind. The soul singer is due to take to the stage at The Brit Awards tomorrow night - 21st Feb, 2012 as well as perform at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics in August.

Meanwhile an Olympic source raved “She’s the biggest star in the world right now. She would undoubtedly add something special to the event. It would be really great to see her perform at the Games,” he added.

LONDON 2012: OLYMPICS FOOTBALL TICKETS GO ON SALE

Some 1.5m football tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games are going on sale from 1100 GMT on 29 November.

Remaining tickets for the Paralympics will also be up for grabs on a first-come first-served basis at 1300 on 2 December, organisers Locog say.

Track cycling and wheelchair rugby have sold out, but tickets are available for athletics, wheelchair basketball, swimming and equestrian events.

Tickets range from £10 to £45, while those for children and seniors cost £5.

Some 800,000 Paralympics tickets were allocated to 100,000 people through September's initial public application phase.

Tickets are available on each day of the Paralympics, which run from 29 August to 9 September.

They can be bought online or over the phone on 0844 847 2012. Would-be spectators will have to use a Visa card for any purchase.

'Amazing athletes'

The Olympic football tickets are available to anyone who wants to apply on a first-come-first-served basis.

Olympics matches are taking place at Wembley, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Manchester United's Old Trafford, St James' Park in Newcastle and the City of Coventry stadium.

The GB Men's team, who are coached by England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, kick off at Old Trafford on 26 July 2012, before moving on to Wembley Stadium on 29 July and then the Millennium Stadium on 1 August.

Hope Powell is the coach for the Women's team, whose first game is at the Millennium Stadium on 25 July, with a further fixture in Cardiff on 28 July, before the side play at Wembley on 31 July.

The competition schedule starts with group matches and ends with a knockout phase.

The official draw for the Olympic football tournament will take place on 24 April 2012 at Wembley Stadium.
'Amazing athletes'

When international and sponsor sales are taken into account, more than 1m tickets have been sold to next year's Paralympics. Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee, said the unprecedented take-up underlined the growing appeal of Paralympic sport.
Continue reading the main story
London 2012 - Begin your journey here
London view

    London 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, features and programmes from the BBC

Paul Deighton, chief executive of London 2012 organiser Locog, said: "Those lucky enough to get hold of one of these remaining tickets will get the chance to witness amazing athletes and sport like never before."

After the December tranche, further tickets will be released in April.

Ticket allocation for the Olympics earlier this year angered thousands of members of the public who were left empty-handed as the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics and cycling sold out.

Many more people applied than got tickets, leading to disappointment and frustration at a system in which applicants were told money would leave their accounts before they were notified which events they had been allocated.

This led to days of limbo before applicants knew whether they had any tickets, and if so, which ones.

Locog says some 3.5m Olympics tickets have now been sold to 850,000 people, and the majority of events are now sold out.

And Locog estimates that up to 1m more tickets will be made available next year as the exact number of seats becomes clearer from contingency, returns and the fitting out of venues.