In this section
London 2012 Olympic Games
Host city
London
Opening ceremony
27 July 2012
Closing ceremony
12 August 2012
Local time
14:38 (UTC+0100)Currency
Pound sterling (£) (GBP)
Local weather
Sustainability News
Fact of the day
Frank Kugler won four Olympics medals in freestyle wrestling, weightlifting and tug of war at St Louis in 1904, making him the only competitor to win a medal in three different sports at the same Games. He claimed a silver medal in the heavyweight category in wrestling, bronze in the two hand lift and all-around dumbbell events in weightlifting and another bronze in the tug of war competition as a member of Southwest Turnverein of Saint Louis No. 2 team. He is recognised as an American by the International Olympic Committee although he was a German national at the time of the Games.
Read more facts
Featured Job
NBA, Director, New Business - Africa, Johannesburg (South Africa)
This position will lead the sponsorship new business acquisition process for the NBA for Africa. The focus will be on new partner development - prospecting, pitching, negotiating and securing new corporate partners.
Every country to be represented at London 2012 after Kuwait suspension lifted
Monday, 16 July 2012
July
16 - Kuwait will be allowed to compete under its own flag at London 2012 after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted its two-year ban on the Gulf state. It means that all 204 National Olympic Committees who are eligible will compete at London.
The IOC suspended Kuwait in 2010, saying there was evidence of political interference in the country's sports movement.
It said in May that Kuwaiti competitors could only participate under the Olympic flag with the title "Independent Olympic Athlete".
But after meetings between Kuwaiti officials and the IOC, the suspension has been lifted, it was announced here.
Kuwait's Minister of Communications and Acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Salem Al-Otheina, had met with Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, during which he delivered a letter from Kuwait's Emir Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
In it, the Emir had pledged autonomy for the country's Olympic committee and promised new legislation for institutions governing sports.
"I can confirm Kuwait's National Olympic Committee (NOC) will be fully represented in London with flags and anthems," IOC Director of Communication Mark Adams said.
The decision is a boost for Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti-born President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
Kuwait is sending 11 athletes to London, including two women - shooter Mariam Erzouqi and swimmer Faye Sultan.
It is only the second time that Kuwaiti women will compete at an Olympic Games since it made its debut at Mexico City in 1968.
The first woman to compete for Kuwait at the Olympics was Danah al-Nasrallah who took part in the 100 metres in 2004.
Their lone Olympic medal was a bronze for double trap shooting, won by Fehaid Al Deehani at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Contact the writer of this story at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Related stories
January 2010: Kuwait suspended by IOC
July 2009: Kuwait will not be suspended from London 2012, IOC confirm
July 2009: Kuwait committed to complying to Olympic Charter
July 2009: Kuwait avoid London suspension after agree IOC changes
The Ohuruogus and the Relphs are the latest representatives of generations of sporting siblings who have flourished together within international sport, Mike Rowbottom reports
Poll
Which city do you think should host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games?
