London 2012 Guide to…Wrestling

 

 

OLYMPIC Wrestling goes all the way back to 706BC in the Ancient Games.

It was seen as the ultimate test of strength, stamina and skill between two men.

Women then came on in the act, competing for the first time in 2004.

• Objectives

The aim in wrestling is to overpower your opponent and pin them to the ground – not literally.

The more stylish the flips and throws are, the more points are awarded.

The contest is over three rounds, so if a pin is not secured, it is decided on points.

• Two disciplines

Greco-Roman is when only the upper body and arms are able to be used, while in freestyle, the whole body is permitted.

• Favourites

Russia, Sweden and Finland tend to dominate the Greco-Roman format, with the USA, Russia and Japan the ones to watch in freestyle.

• Weightlifting in London

Weightlifting takes place in the ExCeL, with 344 athletes taking part in 18 different categories.

And finally…

Look out for: bone crunching moves.

Not to be confused with: your everyday fight.

Useless but informative fact: the longest Olympic wrestling match took 11 hours in Stockholm in 1912.

Wrestling in two words: brutal extravagance.

Wrestling takes place between Sunday 5 and Sunday 12 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Weightlifting

 

 

WEIGHTLIFTING featured at the first modern Games in 1896, but only became a constant from 1920 onwards.

The heaviest weight ever lifted was 263.5kg by Iranian Hossein Rezazadeh in 2004 – that’s the equivalent of two baby elephants!

• How it works

Two moves must be completed.

The ‘snatch’ requires the bar to be lifted from the floor to above the head in one quick movement.

And the ‘clean and jerk’ is when athletes must bring the bar up to their shoulders, then extend it above the head in a separate movement.

• Weightlifting in London

260 athletes will be competing in 15 different events – eight for men and seven for women.

The Eastern European countries and China will once again be the nations in and among the medals.

And finally…

Look out for: ecstatic weightlifters. The sport can get you very emotional, so when something is achieved, you’ll see it alright.

Not to be confused with: people trying to get fit.

Useless but informative fact: strongest weightlifters can lift more than three times their body weight.

Weightlifting in two words: Explosive strength.

The weightlifting events take place at the ExCeL, from Saturday 28 July to Tuesday 7 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Water Polo

 

WATER POLO was originally seen as an aquatic form of rugby.

However, it is actually more akin to handball, but a lot more difficult!

• How it works

Water Polo is a seven-a-side game, and a game is divided into four periods, each lasting eight minutes.

A team has 30 seconds when in possession to score, otherwise the ball is given to the opposition.

Touching the bottom of the pool, or its side is forbidden.

• Water Polo in London

Water Polo is taking place in a specifically constructed arena in the Olympic Park.

Teams are divided in to two groups, before progressing to the knock-out games.

And finally…

Look out for: cheating – or ‘ways of gaining an advantage’. Not everyone can see what goes on under the water.

Not to be confused with: Polo. No similarities at all apart from the name!

Useless but informative fact: the longest running water polo is competition is played between Oxford and Cambridge universities, starting way back in 1891.

Water Polo in two words: splash ‘n’ grab.

Water Polo takes place at the Water Polo Arena from Sunday 29 July to Sunday 12 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Volleyball

 

 

VOLLEYBALL was invented by a group of students in the USA in 1895 who found basketball too physically demanding.

They came up with what is now volleyball, which has more than 220 national federations.

USA (again), Russia and Brazil are traditional strong sides in volleyball.

• Volleyball in London

There will be 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s competing at Earl’s Court.

The 12 are split in to two groups of six, and the teams play each other, before the top four qualify for the knock-out stages.

• The all-important  rules

A point is won if the ball touches the ground in the opponent’s court or it is hit out by the opposition.

Only three touches are allowed by a team before the ball must be returned to the other side.

And finally…

Look out for: a flying ball. With lots of players on the court and the ball travelling at fast speeds, the ball can land up literally anyway.

Not to be confused with: Handball. Lots of players throwing a ball around, so understandable.

Useless but informative fact: The tallest volleyball player ever is Aleksey Kazakov, standing at 7″2.

Volleyball in two words: fast, frenetic.

Volleyball takes place at Earl’s Court between Saturday 28 July and Sunday 12 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Triathlon

 

THE Triathlon combines three stamina-based sports – swimming, cycling and running.

Competitors begin with a 1500m open-water swim, cycle for 40km and finish off with a 10km run.

Not forgetting the change-overs too, adjusting from swimming gear to cycling gear for example, it all takes time!

• Triathlon in London

Hyde Park is playing host to the Triathlon with 110 men and women competing for gold medals.

Half a million people lined the streets at the Triathlon’s debut appearance in Sydney in 2000, and similar crowds are expected this summer in the English capital.

And finally…

Look out for: athletes collapsing at the end. This event takes a massive toll on the body.

Not to be confused with: athletes who cannot get in to one single event. They are by no way inferior!

Useless but informative fact: F1 driver Jenson Button regular competes in triathlons.

Triathlon in two words: mental challenge.

The Triathlon takes place across Hyde Park on Saturday 4 and Tuesday 7 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Tennis

 

 

TENNIS will be taking place at Wimbledon, just weeks after the Grand Slam there.

Players sometimes tend to pull out from the tournament to focus on the US Open, but there still promises to be some of the world’s top players, and this year Roger Federer is competing, arguably the greatest player ever.

• Tennis in London

There will be five events at Wimbledon, with 172 players starting off.

The USA have a strong record in Olympic Tennis, with 17 gold medals, although Britain lie second only one behind on 16.

And finally…

Look out for: Roger Federer. The world’s greatest. Make the most of him while you can.

Not to be confused with: Wimbledon Grand Slam. Same location but different event.

Useless but informative fact: the last time the Olympic tennis event was held at Wimbledon was in 1908.

Tennis in two words: come-on Tim!

Tennis starts on 28th July and lasts until Sunday, 5th August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Taekwondo

TAEKWONDO emerged in the South Korean military in the 1950s.

The word is roughly translated as ‘the art of foot and fist’.

The sport is seen as the most popular martial art in the world.

• More than a fight

There more ways to attack, compared with boxing or wrestling, making it more attractive for spectators. Kicks and punches are used, including scissor kicks and quick spinning.

• Taekwondo in London

128 athletes will be competing in eight events, of various weight categories.

And finally…

Look out for: Sarah Stevenson. The Brit won a bronze in Beijing and will be hoping for another medal in  her home games.

Not to be confused with: boxing.

Useless but informative fact: kicking is used because the Koreans felt the hands were needed for combat, so too important to use.

Taekwondo in two words: aggression needed.

Taekwondo will be at the ExCeL between Wednesday 8 and Saturday 11 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Table Tennis

 

OVER 20% of the world’s population play table tennis, making it one of the world’s most played sports.

The game was initially played in Britain in the early 1900s, but it is now China who are really masters of the game.

• Table Tennis in London

172 players will be competing in four events, with the Chinese odds-on favourite to be among the medals.

The have won an incredible 20 gold medals, with the nearest challengers South Korea who only have three.

• It’s quick

Table Tennis is played at a lightning pace, and you really have to see up close to see the different techniques used by players to get the better of their opponents.

And finally…

Look out for: long rallies. They are actually quite rare but when they do occur, they are certainly to be admired.

Not to be confused with: Tennis.

Useless but informative fact: In exchanges, the ball can travel at 100mph.

Table Tennis in two words: Ping Pong.

Table Tennis takes place at the ExCeL between Saturday 28th July and Wednesday 8th August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Synchronised Swimming

 

SYNCHRONISED Swimming was introduced at the London Games in 1948 but was only given competitive status in 1984 at the Games in LA.

It is a women-only event, and 104 athletes will be competing in London this summer.

• How it works

Pairs or teams of eight perform a short routine accompanied to music  in front of a panel of 10 judges.

The judges are divided up, with one half awarding marks for artistry, while the other assesses technical merit.

• Synchronised Swimming in London

Synchronised Swimming events will be held at the Aquatics Centre, with duets and teams performing two routines – technical and freestyle.

 

And finally…

Look out for: the Russians. They have claimed every gold medal in the past three games.

Not to be confused with: water aerobics.

Useless but informative fact: Synchronised swimmers can were nose clips, but not goggles.

Synchronised Swimming in two words: endurance, flexibility.

Synchronised Swimming takes place at the Aquatics Centre between Sunday 5 August and Friday 10 August.

 

London 2012 Guide to…Swimming

 

SWIMMING is one of the Olympic’s most popular sports and also one with the largest number of events, ensuring there are many medals up for grabs.

The four recognised strokes – freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke are all tested over varying lengths.

It is, therefore, possible to win a number of medals, as Michael Phelps – The Baltimore Bullet – demonstrated in Beijing by claiming eight golds. He is certainly the one to watch.

• Medals galore

The USA can proudly boast 214 swimming gold medals, by far and away the most of any nation. Their total is 489, so the 500 should be easily reached in London.

• Swimming in London

950 Athletes will be competing in 34 events at the Aquatics Centre for the pool events, and Hyde Park for the Marathon Swimming.

And finally…

Look out for: Rebecca Adlington – will look to build on her two golds from Beijing and will have a great chance with no doubt very vocal home support.

Not to be confused with: a load of athletes splashing around in the water.

Useless but informative fact: until 1956, the butterfly stroke was allowed in the breaststroke races.

Swimming in two words: strength, timing.

Swimming begins on 28th July and finishes on Saturday 4th August, with the Marathon Swimming taking place over Thursday 9th and Friday 10th August.