2012 Olympic Headquarters

Libyan sports chief abducted

2012-07-17T15:48:00.002-07:00

Gunmen abducted the president of the Libyan Olympic Committee in the nation's capital, grabbing him from his car and bundling him into a waiting vehicle, his brother said Monday.

Salah al-Alam said his brother, committee chief Ahmed Nabil al-Taher al-Alam, was kidnapped on Sunday near the organization's offices in central Tripoli. He said there has been no contact with him or the captors since.

Security officials said they are investigating al-Alam's disappearance. They did not provide any further details.

Salah Al-Alam said he learned of the abduction from his brother's friend, who was with the LOC chief when the kidnapping took place. The gunmen stopped al-Alam's car, shoved him into another car and sped off, leaving the friend unharmed on the street.

The abduction comes amid a wave of score settling between rivals of Libya's eight-month civil war that ended with the capture and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in October. Dozens of former rebel groups now operate independently, often ignoring the nation's weak central authorities.

Since Gadhafi's fall, militias frequently have taken matters into their own hands and rounded up officials with ties to the ousted regime.

Al-Alam, who served as the head of the Libyan Football Association under Gadhafi, is known to have been friends with Gadhafi's son, Mohammed, who was al-Alam's predecessor as the Libyan Olympic Committee president.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge expressed "grave" concern about the kidnapping, and said his office have "offered any possible help if we can do something."

"Hopefully this will evolve in a good way," he told reporters in a conference call from Lausanne, Switzerland.

Five Libyans have qualified to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics to be held in London.

London taxi drivers stage protest

2012-07-17T15:47:00.004-07:00

Hundreds of London taxi drivers have blocked a major intersection in the heart of the city to protest their exclusion from the road lanes dedicated to Olympic traffic.

Drivers in black London cabs blared their horns as they jammed Parliament Square on Tuesday, sending lines of traffic snaking back along surrounding streets.

The cabbies are miffed that they are not allowed into the "Games Lanes" reserved for Olympic athletes, officials and VIPs. The first lane already opened near Heathrow Airport and the rest start two days before the games, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12.

Jonathan Myers of the United Cabbies union says it's "unacceptable" that cabs were not allowed, adding that "this is a working city and we need to get around and do our job."

F1 circuit puts in post-Olympics bid

2012-07-17T15:47:00.001-07:00

The London Legacy Development Corporation announced Tuesday that a possible F1 circuit was one of the bids. The others are from newly promoted Premier League soccer club West Ham, fellow east London club Leyton Orient and the UCFB College of Football Business.

A Formula One circuit in and around Olympic Stadium is one of four plans being considered for the future of the London Games' centerpiece.

LLDC says the four bids "will now be assessed to ensure they are compliant, before being evaluated ahead of negotiations."

The Olympic Stadium is already set to be the new home of British track and field and will host the 2017 world championships.

Organizers: 'Security is our priority'

2012-07-17T15:40:00.000-07:00

Apart from a wrong turn by a bus driver, a snarky tweet by a U.S. athlete, a few waterlogged venues and a lack of security guards, organizers are insisting everything is fine at the London Olympics less than two weeks before its opening ceremony.

Still, they had to scramble Tuesday to put the best face on an unfolding security debacle -- as well as concerns about everything from transport to the rain -- afflicting the games that start July 27.

Members of the British military patrol Olympic Park in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

`'Let's put this in proportion," games chairman Sebastian Coe told reporters. "This has not, nor will it, impact on the safety and security of these games, that of course is our No. 1 priority."

Yet his efforts were undercut in Parliament, where the chief executive of the G4S security group acknowledged that his company's failure to recruit enough Olympic staff had embarrassed the entire nation. Some 3,500 British troops -- including some just back from Afghanistan -- had to be called in on short notice to fill the gap. Thousands more military personnel had already been assigned to the games.

And outside Parliament, hundreds of London cabbies ignited new traffic jams as they protested their exclusion from special road lanes set up across London for Olympic athletes and VIPs.

Because of the security guards fiasco, G4S says it expects to lose between 35 million to 50 million pounds ($54 million to $78 million) on its Olympic contract, which is equal to about 12 percent of its annual profit.

G4S chief executive Nick Buckles gave a groveling mea culpa as he was being quizzed by angry British lawmakers in testimony that was broadcast live on television.

"It's a humiliating shambles for the country, isn't it?" asked Labour lawmaker David Winnick.

"I cannot disagree with you," Buckles said.

Still, Buckles was hard pressed to explain why his company had failed to inform officials until only two weeks before the start of the 2012 Olympic Games that its recruitment efforts had failed.

Some American security and law enforcement officials had privately expressed concerns as early as last year that there might not be enough security personnel for the London games.

"Now, it seems like some of those fears are being realized," a U.S. law enforcement official said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The FBI is sending about two dozen FBI agents to London to work on Olympic security, according to two U.S. government officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.

Transport worries sprung up after two buses carrying Olympic teams from Heathrow -- one for Americans, another with Australians -- took a wrong turn and spent hours Monday trying to reach the athletes village.

"First day. First arrivals. It's going to happen," Jayne Pearce, head of press operations for the London organizing committee.

From the very start, London organizers have feared repeating the transit woes of the 1996 Atlanta Games, where bus drivers brought in from outside the city didn't know their way around. That allegedly happened Monday in London, even though Heathrow sailed through its heaviest passenger day ever with short immigration lines and plenty of help for Olympic travelers.

Coe urged optimism, despite a Twitter storm that erupted when American hurdler Kerron Clement took to the social networking site to express his frustration with what he said was a four-hour bus ride from Heathrow.

Coe said Clement's bus journey actually took 2½ hours and most athletes experienced no problems in reaching the village.

"Apart from a misturning and a couple of tweets we're in pretty good shape," Coe quipped. "The majority of athletes got in in good shape and on time. When they were met by our village mayor and chief executive, they were busily tweeting, saying how much they were enjoying village life. Ninety-eight percent of these journeys went without a hitch."

Coe also downplayed the complaints about traffic problems caused by the opening of a special Olympic traffic lane on the M4 highway from Heathrow into the city. He said despite one accident west of London, "the vast majority of people got through and it seems to be working quite well."

The "Games Lanes" reserved for Olympic officials, athletes and VIPs remain a contentious issue. Hundreds of London cab drivers blockaded the square outside Parliament on Tuesday, blaring horns and snarling traffic to protest their exclusion from the lanes.

The cabbies claim it will be all but impossible to ferry passengers around the city once most of the special lanes take effect July 25.

Yet the weather may prove an even more intractable problem.

Coe said "we've got mops and buckets" to deal with the incessant rain that has soaked London for most of the summer. The ground at two key venues is waterlogged -- the rowing at Eton Dorney west of London and the equestrian at Greenwich Park, south of the Thames river.

"It is a problem," Coe said. "It is causing us extra challenges now."

Coe said organizers are resurfacing areas at the two venues, laying down temporary tracking for vehicles and spectators and putting up special tent shelters to keep the work force dry.

Although forecasters say the weather could clear in time for the start of the games, Coe noted that organizers have contingency plans in case it doesn't.

Extra competition days were built into the schedule "as a last resort" for rowing and equestrian. There is an alternate course available for sailing events at Weymouth, in southeast England, and Wimbledon has a retractable roof over Centre Court for tennis.

Olympic Park, however, still resembles a construction site, with workers laying cables, installing seats and landscaping grounds Tuesday.

Not to worry, Coe said.

"Our venues will be open on time," he promised. "There is still stuff to be done, but it's about dressing up. We'll be ready."

Meantime, Britain's Olympics minister, Hugh Robertson, said the deployment of soldiers at Olympic Park would give people "enormous reassurance."

Robertson, a former army major, said athletes are "incredibly reassured to see the armed forces on the gate."

President Obama picks Dream Team

2012-07-17T15:38:00.002-07:00

Add President Barack Obama to the list of people who disagree with Kobe Bryant's boast that this year's USA Olympic basketball team could beat the Dream Team of 1992.

"This is a generational thing," Obama said during a halftime interview with ESPN2 as it broadcast an exhibition game Monday night with Brazil at Washington's Verizon Center. "I was around in '92, I was a Bulls fan, so I've got to go with the original Dream Team."

“
This is a generational thing. I was around in '92, I was a Bulls fan, so I've got to go with the original Dream Team.
”-- President Barack Obama

Bryant said recently that this team -- deep and athletic with the likes of Bryant, LeBron Jamesand Kevin Durant -- would even beat the 1992 lineup. Its members included Hall of Fame players Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen and Chris Mullin.

"I suspect that Michael and 'Sir Charles' and others would point out they were probably never down at any point in any of their games," Obama said. "But this is a great team, unbelievable talent."

The president added: "You know, Kobe's a competitor, so you expect him to do a little trash talking whenever the opportunity arises."

Obama attended Monday night's exhibition game against Brazil.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden took their seats to chants of "U-S-A" at a U.S. men's Olympic basketball exhibition game against Brazil as the loudspeakers blared Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," images that any president running for re-election would relish.

"Obviously the talent that we've got at this point is unbelievable," Obama said during a halftime interview on ESPN2. "So there's no reason that we shouldn't bring home the gold. We just have to stay focused."

Obama is an avid basketball fan and the tune-up games before the start of the London Olympics allowed him to wrap himself in the Olympic spirit four months before Election Day. His Republican rival, Mitt Romney, is expected to use the Olympics to highlight his leadership role during the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Romney, who helped turn around the Salt Lake City Games after they became caught up in a bribery scandal, plans to be in London for the opening ceremonies next week. First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremonies.

Monday night gave Obama a chance to soak in his favorite sport.

After a quick ride to the Verizon Center from the White House, Obama greeted members of the U.S. women's basketball team on a practice court after their win over Brazil in the first game.

"We could not be prouder," Obama said after hugging Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi and other members of the women's team. The women's team presented Obama with a red No. 1 USA jersey and a signed basketball.

Obama, dressed in a blue jacket and jeans, then walked out before a roaring crowd, shook hands with fans and sat down next to former aide Reggie Love, who played basketball for Duke University.

Obama and the first lady even appeared on "Kiss Cam," the in-house video that spotlights kissing couples during a game break. The Obamas wouldn't oblige during the first half, despite roars and some boos from the crowd. But in the fourth quarter, "Kiss Cam" peered back on the first couple and the president was ready: He put his arm around his wife and planted a big kiss on the first lady as the crowd roared.

Some members of the men's team are Obama supporters. A handful of Olympic team members, including Carmelo Anthony, Durant and Chris Paul, had agreed to participate in a basketball game fundraiser for Obama's campaign last December but the event was canceled because of the resolution of the NBA lockout. The fundraising game has not been rescheduled.

Obama's campaign held a fundraiser last February at the Orlando-area home of Vince Carter of the Dallas Mavericks. Attendees included Paul, who plays point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, NBA commissioner David Stern and former NBA stars Magic Johnson andAlonzo Mourning.

Basketball has been a longtime passion of Obama's. He played high school basketball in Hawaii and likes to play pickup basketball with friends. He helps coach his daughter Sasha's youth team and keeps close tabs on his hometown Chicago Bulls.

During Veterans Day last year, he was courtside for a game between Michigan State and North Carolina on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson off the coast of San Diego. In March, Obama invited British Prime Minister David Cameron to an opening round game of the NCAA tournament in Ohio.

Half a million soccer tickets unsold

2012-07-17T15:36:00.002-07:00

Olympic organizers are reducing capacity at several stadiums hosting football matches after failing to sell all the tickets.

London organizers said Tuesday that 250,000 football tickets are currently still on sale, with 50,000 tickets left for other sports.

An additional 200,000 football tickets and 200,000 for other events will go on sale soon after being returned by national Olympic committees. A further 150,000 free tickets could be released for schoolchildren.

More than 1 million football tickets had been left unsold recently, but organizers cut the number by reducing capacity by 500,000 at the venues.

"We've sold more football tickets than we've sold for anything else," London organizing head Sebastian Coe said. "It was always going to be that football tickets were the challenge but I think we'll do pretty well."

Football matches will be played across the U.K. at six venues -- St. James' Park in Newcastle, Old Trafford in Manchester, Hampden Park in Glasgow, the City of Coventry Stadium in Coventry, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Wembley Stadium in London.

The men's and women's finals will be played at Wembley.

The upper tier of seats at the Millennium Stadium will be closed for all games, reducing the capacity from nearly 75,000 to 40,000.

Coe said between 37,000 and 38,000 tickets have been sold for the Britain vs. New Zealand women's game in Cardiff on July 25, two days before the opening ceremony.

Oscar Pistorius finishes 2nd in 400

2012-07-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

"My time wasn't among the best. But I'm good physically and mentally," Pistorius said. "I've used a lot of energy in these past few days, both in training and with the media because of my participation in the Olympics. The race went well, I felt fine, I just lost a bit of acceleration halfway through."

South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius finished second in a 400-meter race in Italy on Tuesday, his final tuneup for the London Olympics.

Pistorius clocked 46.56 seconds -- well off the personal best of 45.07 he ran at the same meet last year. Calvin Smith of the United States won in 45.52.

Pistorius will become the first amputee track athlete to compete at the Olympics after being selected by South Africa to run in London. He's set to compete in the individual 400 and the 4x400 relay, although the team hasn't decided which leg he will run.

"I'd prefer to run the third leg, that would be the best," Pistorius said. "But the first one could be fine. The relay is really my race. I've always done team sports."

Pistorius won last year's race in Lignano to qualify for the world championships. This time, he finished ahead of four other runners, including Jamaicans Ricardo Cunningham and Javere Bell.

"I could have done the same time as last year, but I didn't want to run the risk of getting injured," Pistorius said. "It wasn't important to test my speed today. It was like training, in the next two weeks I will try to do my best before London. I'm sure I can beat my personal best. The Olympics pushes me so much, that will make me run better."

Also, American Lolo Jones won the women's 100 hurdles in 12.85. Ireland's Derval O'Rourke was second in 13.05.

Yohan Blake wins 100m in 9.85

2012-07-17T15:34:00.003-07:00

Blake lowered the Lucerne record of 9.86 set by fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter two years ago.

Yohan Blake warmed up for the London Olympics by finishing in 9.85 seconds to win the 100 meters Tuesday in his first competitive race since beating Usain Bolt twice at the Jamaican Olympic trials.

Blake was far from the fastest out of the blocks but powered through the field with legal wind assistance of 1.6 meters per second. Jamaica teammate Michael Frater was second in 10.00.

"Definitely I am on the right path for the Olympics," the 21-year-old world champion said. "This is where I am supposed to be. I want to remain unbeaten and that's what I am doing."

Blake chose the low-key Spitzen Leichtathletik meet to make what is expected to be his only appearance between the trials and the London Games.

He is scheduled to open his Olympic program when the 100 heats start Aug. 4.

"I got the meet record, which is wonderful," Blake said. "I didn't come here to run a quick time but it's still a fast time. Not many guys run 9.85."

Only three-time Olympic champion Bolt (9.76) and 2004 Olympic winner Justin Gatlin (9.80) have run faster this season.

There was still obvious room for improvement out of the blocks.

"My first part was poor but, as you can see, the last part is always 'The Beast' part," said Blake, referring to the nickname given him by his training partner, Bolt.

Blake posted a personal best and the top time in the world this year (9.75) to beat Bolt in Kingston last month. He also ran a world-leading 19.80 to beat Bolt and win the 200.

After his brief trip to Switzerland, Blake will return to the Jamaican team training camp in Birmingham, England.

David Beckham unsure of 2012 role

2012-07-13T10:42:00.001-07:00

Beckham says, "Lighting the torch in the stadium is something that should be done by an Olympian, an Olympian that has done incredible things for our country and has won gold medals."

David Beckham doesn't believe he is the right person to light the flame in the opening ceremony of his hometown London Olympics.

Beckham helped London's successful bid to win the Games and was disappointed to miss out on Britain's soccer team, but he said at Los Angeles Galaxy training that he will have a role to play during the Olympics.

"It is yet to be decided but I will be part of it in some ways," he said.

U.S. routs Dominican in exhibition

2012-07-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

New role, same old result for Kevin Durant.

And even with another loss from its roster, the U.S. Olympic basketball team just keeps on rolling along.

Durant picked up where he left off in international competition, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Americans to a 113-59 victory over the Dominican Republic on Thursday night in an exhibition game.

The MVP of the world basketball championship two years ago, Durant came off the bench to shoot 9 of 11 from the field, making 5 of 6 3-pointers in 22 minutes. He said coach Mike Krzyzewski told him shortly before the game thatCarmelo Anthony would start alongside LeBron James at forward, and he adjusted just fine.

"It felt good to me," Durant said. "It was cool to come off the bench for the first time. Wherever they need that spark, I'm going to try to come out and give them that spark. So I was looking forward to having different roles playing with USA, so it was kind of fun for me, actually."

And it worked perfectly for the Americans, who continue to shake off their lack of size by throwing together lineups that negate any height disadvantage. Durant came in the first time for center Tyson Chandler.

"The way we're playing is exactly the way we should play, I think, with this group of athletes and with the depth that we have," Krzyzewski said, adding that Durant would remain a reserve for at least the next game. "We have good depth, especially on the perimeter."

Andre Iguodala added 18 points and Anthony had 13 for the Americans, who were without All-Star forward Blake Griffin. The Los Angeles Clippers announced Thursday night that he would need surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and would miss the Olympics.

It's another loss up front for the Americans, already without Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. But James, Anthony and Durant can all play power forward or perhaps even center in the international game.

"They're big," said Dominican Republic coach John Calipari, who won the national championship with Kentucky in April. "They're bigger than you think."

Alternate Anthony Davis took Griffin's place and was in uniform against his college coach. But Calipari was the on the wrong end of the talent mismatch in this one, calling a few timeouts but probably knowing there was no strategy to stop the onslaught of U.S. fast breaks.

Davis, the national player of the year as a freshman and No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, didn't make the 12-man roster after being unable to scrimmage before it was selected while recovering from a sprained ankle. But USA Basketball leadership believes his rebounding and shot blocking could be a good addition to an undersized team in case of an injury, and he scored nine points in 10 fourth-quarter minutes.

Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks shot 1 of 12 and had seven points and the Dominicans' other NBA player, Francisco Garcia, missed all three attempts from the field and didn't score.

James and Kobe Bryant both had limited duty, playing less than 20 minutes and combining for 11 points.

Durant hit all five shots in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers. He returned early in the second and knocked down another 3 before he finally missed, helping the Americans build a 50-27 halftime lead behind his 21 points. He started the second half.

Griffin is another loss for a U.S. team that already saw Howard, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wadeand Bosh withdraw because of injuries. Chris Paul has been limited during training camp after spraining his right thumb on the first day.

Despite those losses, the Americans still consider themselves the best team in the world -- and apparently, ever. Bryant created a stir when he said he thought this young, athletic U.S. team probably would have pulled out a game against the Dream Team, which didn't sit well with his Hall of Fame elders.

"I absolutely laughed," Michael Jordan said before playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Charlotte, N.C. "For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done."

Bryant wasn't bothered.

"I'm not really tripping," Bryant said. "The fact is they've got (Patrick) Ewing and (David) Robinson, those big guys. I mean it's tough. But if you're asking me if we can beat them one game, hell yeah we can beat them one game. You didn't ask me if we could beat them in a seven-game series. One game, we could get them, no question about it."

The Americans believe they can be better than the team that won the gold medal four years ago because of Durant, the NBA's three-time scoring champion who seems even more dangerous in international competition. The 3-point line, just over 22 feet away, is an easy shot for him, and at 6-foot-9 he can play any frontcourt position -- he entered the game the first time for center Tyson Chandler.

Durant set U.S. tournament records two years ago in Istanbul with 38 points in a game and an average of 22.8 for the championship, leading a young U.S. team to its first gold medal in the event since 1994. He has transitioned easily to this veteran squad that returns five players from the gold medalists in Beijing.

The Dominicans nearly joined the Americans in London, losing to Nigeria in the third-place game of the Olympic qualifying tournament last Sunday. Had they won, they would have claimed the 12th and final place in the field.

Now they know what they favorites would have looked like.

With Duke's Krzyzewski on the U.S. bench and facing Calipari for the first time in seven years, the coaching matchup was worthy of an NCAA Final Four. The scoreboard was more representative of a No. 1 vs. No. 16 game.

The Americans barely let the Dominicans get into any sort of offense, limiting them to 32 percent shooting.

About the only thing to question about the U.S. were their uniforms, featuring white tops with the pattern of an American flag faded into the back, and shorts that were white in the front and blue in back, making them look like the home team facing one direction and the visitors from behind.

The Americans head across the country Friday to continue their training in Durant's hometown of Washington. They will play an exhibition game against Brazil on Monday before finishing their Olympic preparations in Europe.

The Dominicans lost former Louisville guard Edgar Sosa to a leg injury in the first quarter. Calipari believed he had a broken foot.

Asafa Powell dealing with groin injury

2012-07-13T10:28:00.001-07:00

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell has withdrawn from the London Grand Prix to make sure he is fit for the London Olympics.

Powell was due to take on American rival Tyson Gay over 100 meters on Friday, but he has a groin strain.

Powell says he has been "carrying some soreness in my groin since the Olympic trials and have been unable to train at 100 percent."

In a statement from London GP organizers, he added: "I need to ensure I'm ready for the Games and cannot take any risks. I will be ready in August."

The Olympics start on July 27.

Powell also missed last year's London Diamond League meeting because of a groin injury, which led him to skip the world championships in August.

U.S. men's volleyball into final

2012-07-07T12:06:00.002-07:00

The defending Olympic gold medalists won 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 to reach Sunday's final against the winner of the second semifinal between Bulgaria and Poland later Saturday.

The United States men's volleyball team swept Cuba 3-0 Saturday to advance to the final of the FIVB World League.

Tony Parker cleared for Olympics

2012-07-07T12:05:00.001-07:00

Spurs guard Tony Parker can play for European runner-up France in the Olympic Games after San Antonio's doctors agreed he has recovered from an eye injury.

Parker scratched his left cornea during a nightclub melee in New York last month.

"The two ophthalmologists (from the Spurs) confirmed the opinion of the French doctor who operated on Tony Parker, and the two Swiss specialists who also examined the player last Thursday, and indicated that he can resume playing," the French Basketball Federation said on Friday, adding that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also gave his blessing.

Parker is joining the French squad in Orleans and he could play in a tuneup against England on Saturday.

France's first game at the Olympics is against the United States on July 29.

"It is great news and a relief for the whole France team," coach Vincent Collet said. "I spoke with Tony on the phone and he sounded very happy -- and also relieved -- about this development. It was a difficult and alarming situation for everyone."

Parker was included on the team's 12-man Olympic roster as he waited to see whether his injury would heal in time.

He was hurt by shards of flying glass in a nightclub fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage.

Parker scored 26 points for France when it lost last year's European final 98-85 to Spain.

France will be missing Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, who is still recovering from a left ankle injury he hurt during the NBA playoffs.

USA players miss Derrick Rose

2012-07-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

When Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose tore his ACL in the first playoff game of the postseason on April 28 against the Philadelphia 76ers, it didn't just end his hopes at a championship this season -- it ended his dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal for Team USA as well.

Rose, the starting point guard for the USA team that won the 2010 World Championships in Turkey, was expected to play a major role for Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski as the Americans prepared for the London Olympics. Now, Rose will be forced to watch the Olympics on television as he continues to rehab from his knee injury. His would-be Olympic teammates feel terrible about his situation.

Rose

"I feel so bad for him, man," Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant said after Team USA's first practice Friday afternoon. "An unfortunate injury; I wish it never happened to him. I wish he could be here with us, but it's given us more motivation to try and win it for him. We know that he belongs here, along with a few other guys as well ... hopefully, we get it done for him."

That was the sentiment shared throughout the gym. While Rose, who arrived in the Los Angeles area on Monday to continue his rehab, tries to work his way back, player after player empathized with the former MVP's plight.

"Yes, I do," Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said. "But now I can just wish him health and hopefully he's taking his time and not rushing his recovery. He's a fantastic player as we all know, so I just hope he's taking his time and I know he wishes he could be here as we all do (for him), but he's really got to take his time. He's got a long career ahead of himself so hopefully, he won't rush his road back."

Krzyzewski, who said he has left several messages for Rose, wishes the Chicago product could be on the floor with his team.

"Derrick was our starting guard in the World Championships and aside from being one of the top players in the NBA, he's one of the really good guys," the Hall of Fame coach said. "Just that big, strong, athletic guard that you need, especially in international competition. So, hopefully, his recovery is going well."

Durant knows that Rose's presence will be missed, both on and off the floor.

"Just another athletic guard that can mix it up from the one and the two, that can guard full court, that can penetrate and dish," Durant said. "But we got to worry about the guys that we have here. It's tough not having D-Rose here, just having him around, (he's) a great teammate. Playing with him (on) the 2010 team, he sacrificed a lot, he's a team player, ultimate team guy, so humble, a joy to be around. It's unfortunate that he's not here, but we got a lot of guys here that's going to fill the void."

“
I definitely feel for him. He was working hard to be a part of this squad, so for him to not be here today, especially with the injury that he has, it saddens a lot of guys here because we know that D-Rose would have been a valuable piece to this team.
”-- Kevin Love on Derrick Rose

Durant, along with Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook and Minnesota Timberwolves forwardKevin Love, were just a few of the guys Rose worked out with in the summer over the past few years. They know it's been tough for Rose to sit and watch.

"I definitely feel for him," Love said. "He was working hard to be a part of this squad, so for him to not be here today, especially with the injury that he has, it saddens a lot of guys here because we know that D-Rose would have been a valuable piece to this team."

Love knows that Rose's void will be tough to fill, but like the rest of his teammates, he remained confident that Team USA could still win gold in London.

"Everything he brings to the table," Love said, when asked what they'd miss without Rose on the roster. "He's an MVP-caliber player year in and year out. He's a heady point guard, he's really explosive, defensively he's great, so he's a guy that can really fill it up and he just kind of fits the mold for Team USA."

While Bryant never has torn an ACL in his knee, a fact he noted by knocking a clenched fist on his head for luck, he feels for the type of rehab Rose is going through, having dealt with plenty of injuries of his own.

"Sure," Bryant said. "I think it was the World Games that were coming up that I had to miss because I had my knee scoped and you miss all the energy that the guys are having, the fun that they're having, the competitiveness in practice and in games and you miss that and you wish you could be a part of it. Hopefully the next time the Olympics rolls around, he'll have his opportunity."

To that point, Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo said that Rose will have a chance to continue to be a part of the national team as long he wants to.

"Derrick has been a terrific USA basketball guy," Colangelo said. "And depending on his interest, we certainly want to keep him involved as long as he wants to be."

Like the rest of his staff, Colangelo couldn't believe that Rose went down.

"I felt terrible at the time," Colangelo recalled. "Derrick is such a great kid and such a competitor. When you're in world competition and you're representing your country, you want a lot of guys around you in a foxhole that you really can count on. Derrick Rose is one of those guys.

"It was such an unusual injury, it wasn't a collision, it wasn't anything other than, it gave way. Hopefully he can come back and come back better than ever."

Serge Ibaka: Spain's hoops equal U.S.

2012-07-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

Serge Ibaka believes Spain's Olympic basketball team has the talent to match the U.S. squad.

He's confident the 2008 silver medalists can compete with the 2012 gold medal favorites and world champions during the Games.

"They are just like us, they also have players with a lot of talent," the Oklahoma City power forward said Saturday in his first full day of training with the Spanish team. "They are a different team to 2008, but their players are still very good."

“
They are just like us, they also have players with a lot of talent. They are a different team to 2008, but their players are still very good.
”-- Serge Ibaka, comparing Spain's
hoops team to the U.S.

The 22-year-old Ibaka will make his Olympic debut with Spain, which he helped guide to the European Championship title last summer soon after being nationalized. Ibaka, who is of Congolese origin, turned up at camp early to prepare for the London Olympics.

"There's no time to rest, we have to find our rhythm for the competition already for these friendly games we have, see how we feel," said Ibaka, who helped lead Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals in June before losing to the Miami Heat in five games. LeBron James, of the Heat, and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant lead the American lineup, which includes Ibaka's Oklahoma City teammates Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrookand James Harden.

Spain has the bulk of its 2008 team -- including Pau Gasol, brother Marc and Rudy Fernandez -- returning, aside from injured point guard Ricky Rubio.

Spain has several exhibitions before opening against China on July 29 in London, including one against the U.S. in Barcelona on July 24. If the pair lives up to their billing as competition favorites, they won't meet again until the Aug. 12 final after being drawn in different groups.

"We should only worry about our own preparations because it's a long road to the final," Ibaka said. "The most important thing is to give our all to get there."

LeBron confident in Team USA

2012-07-07T12:02:00.001-07:00

LeBron James knows that some skeptics are doubting Team USA's chances in the London Olympics, but the reigning NBA MVP is still confident his team can win a gold medal.

When asked specifically about what the team didn't have without injured stars Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade, James took it upon himself to display the confidence that helped him secure his first NBA championship last month.

“
There's nothing that we don't have on this roster.
”-- LeBron James on Team USA

"There's nothing that we don't have on this roster," James said after Team USA's first practice Friday afternoon.

James acknowledged that he felt sorry for players such as Rose and Howard who couldn't be on the team because of injuries, but that didn't change his mindset.

"Anybody, anybody who gets hurt, honestly," he said. "Not only D-Rose, but Dwight, Chris Bosh, LaMarcus Aldridge is supposed to be here as well. The list goes on. I wish all of them just get back healthy."

Given the status of some of USA's injured stars and the fact that Chris Paul (thumb) andAnthony Davis (ankle) are not at 100 percent, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said it will be difficult for him to build his team the way he would have liked.

"There is a challenge there," Krzyzewski said. "First of all, you got to get through these two days and select (the team) because still your mind is on, 'OK, who are the 12 going to be' -- while you're putting in a system, so there's not the normal continuity. But they did a good job, we actually got good stuff in today and we've got to pace them. We've got to pace them and use this period to start becoming more familiar with one another, put a system in, hopefully play a good game against the Dominican Republic and then use DC for another aspect of putting a team together."

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant acknowledged that other guys are going to have to "fill the void," but like James, he believes Team USA has more than enough to win with.

"We all know what's at stake and we all know what we're playing for," Durant said. "We're playing for our country, of course, and we want to get that gold. So guys are going to come out and be team first guys and we know everybody's game inside and out, we've played against them so many times during the regular season.

"So we know these games inside and out and it's just a matter of us getting the system down, defensive and offensive end, and everybody's going to play together."

The Americans understand they can't take any opponent lightly, especially because of all the setbacks that have been placed in their way recently.

"Anybody can be beat," Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love said. "You guys see powerhouses in the NCAAs. It's basketball; anybody can win on any given day so you have to bring it. We can't just assume that we're going to win.

"We have to play like we're the underdogs (and) play with a lot of heart and we have to play as hard as we can to win that gold."

Blake Griffin a lock for USA

2012-07-07T11:58:00.005-07:00

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has been elevated to a lock to make Team USA's Olympic squad, according to sources close to the process, leaving USA Basketball coaches and officials with essentially five players for two remaining roster spots.

A rash of injuries and pullouts leading up to this week's opening of training camp prompted Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo to say there are nine automatics for the 12-man roster that will be announced Saturday night live on NBA TV: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook andDeron Williams.

Blake Griffin is a lock to make the United States' Olympic team, sources said Friday.

Sources told ESPN.com that Griffin quiely has been added to that group as well, leaving five players --Anthony Davis, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, James Hardenand Andre Iguodala -- in contention for the last two roster berths, to be revealed following Saturday's practice session.

One source said Friday that Iguodala and Harden went into camp as the favorites for the last two spots.

Team USA's need for size in the wake of losing Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh to injury, along with Lamar Odom's late pullout, appeared to give Davis real hope of making the final roster, despite the fact the No. 1 overall pick in last month's draft is the only player being considered with no NBA experience.

Yet, it appears the odds are stacked against Davis sneaking in ahead of a veteran when he's not ready to play right away. An ankle injury Davis suffered recently in a workout with his new team in New Orleans has kept college basketball's consensus player of the year off the floor for the past two days and prompted Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski to tell reporters in Las Vegas on Friday the Hornets' prized rookie is "not near 100 percent."

When it comes to Griffin, though, one source told ESPN.com his inclusion is "99 percent" assured despite concerns about how the bruising power forward will cope in the international game with his inconsistent face-up game and Team USA's overall need for shooting.

Griffin said Friday he took two weeks off after the season and is healthy now after dealing with a variety of ailments at the end of the season. This is Griffin's first experience with USA Basketball since he was 17.

"That's my focus right now," Griffin said Friday during Team USA's first media session in Vegas. "Actually having a chance to compete for this is great. It's been really fun."

Rafa Nadal to rest for Olympics

2012-07-05T08:00:00.002-07:00

"Doctors have been examining my knee and say I suffer from tendinitis on the patellar ligament and that I must rest for 15 days, which prevents me from playing against Novak Djokovic as planned and announced."

Citing tendintis in his knee, world No. 2 ranked Rafael Nadal on Wednesday pulled out of a charity tennis match against Novak Djokovic at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium to rest for the Olympic Games.

Czech Lukas Rosol upset Nadal in the second round of Wimbledon last week. Nadal had planned to play an exhibition match against top-ranked Djokovic at Real's home stadium on July 14.

"I wish to apologize to all, especially the supporters who had already purchased tickets for this good cause," said Nadal, who won gold at the Beijing Olympics, in a statement on the Real Madrid website.

Nadal made it clear that he is focused on the Olympics.

"I saw the doctors on Monday and began the recovery process to be fit to represent Spain in the London Olympics. We will try to look for a new date for the event.

"I will now combine my recovery with short holidays before returning to training in 15 days. Once again, thanks to all."

The event, organized by the Real Madrid and Rafa Nadal Foundations, had hoped to set a record attendance for a tennis match.

Nadal and Djokovic are expected to carry Spain and Serbia's flags at the Olympic opening ceremony in London on July 27.

Dara Torres misses out on Olympics

2012-07-05T07:58:00.004-07:00

Dara Torres lingered in the water after the other swimmers had climbed out of the pool.

Her long career was finally over.

She wanted to soak up the moment as long as possible.

The 45-year-old Torres came up short in her bid to make it to the Olympics for a sixth time. She finished fourth in the final of the 50-meter freestyle Monday night, her only event at the U.S. swimming trials.

"This is really over," Torres said. "That's it, I'm going to enjoy some time with my daughter, have a nice summer and cheer on the U.S. team."

Dara Torres, 45, holds her 6-year-old daughter after failing to qualify for what would have been her sixth trip to the Olympics.

After winning three silver medals at the Beijing Olympics, Torres underwent radical knee surgery and put all her hopes into a chaotic dash from one end of the pool to the other. But Jessica Hardy won in 24.50 seconds, while Kara Lynn Joyce took the other Olympic spot in 24.73.

"Obviously I was hoping to make the team," Torres said. "That was my goal and missing it by less than a tenth of a second is tough, but I don't think there's anything I could have changed."

Torres was denied a trip to London by nine-hundredths of a second, touching behind third-place Christine Magnuson (24.78). Torres smiled when she saw her time (24.82) and hugged both Hardy and Joyce. When Torres finally got out, she began motioning for her daughter, 6-year-old Tessa, to join her.

Torres walked into the stands, still dripping wet, and scooped up Tessa, who was wearing a green shirt that said "Go Mom."

"She's bummed she's not going to London now," Torres said. "I told her I'd still take her."

In the last event of the eight-day trials, Andrew Gemmell won the grueling 1,500 freestyle in 14 minutes, 52.19 seconds. Connor Jaeger was right with him all the way, taking the second spot for London in 14:52.51.

Gemmell tried to make the team in open water, but finished third in those trials. He switched to the pool and earned a trip to London.

"I just wanted to treat it like open water, and I knew I had to swim my own race," he said. "I knew people would be going out faster than me, and I would have to race coming home."

Torres said she had the same nervous anticipation before her last race as she did at her first U.S. trials in 1984, when she earned a spot in the Los Angeles Games. She had no illusions about being a serious medal contender in London, but she wanted to end her career with one more trip to the Olympics.

"Being 45, getting fourth in Olympic trials against girls almost half my age, it's OK," Torres said. "I'm used to winning, but that wasn't the goal here. The goal was to try to make it. I didn't quite do it, but I'm really happy with how I did. I was able to hang in there."

“
This is really over. That's it, I'm going to enjoy some time with my daughter, have a nice summer and cheer on the U.S. team.
”-- Dara Torres

Hardy said it was an honor to compete against Torres, who retired twice but came back to win five medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, then three more silvers in Beijing. This time, she's retiring for good.

"I love racing Dara," the 25-year-old Hardy said. "I wish she could have made it this year, but swimming with her the past couple years has been really an awesome treat for sure."

Hardy failed to qualify for the Olympics in her best event, the 100 breaststroke, but she bounced back to win the 100 and 50 freestyle, capping her comeback from a failed doping test that kept her off the team four years ago. An arbitration panel ruled that Hardy was the victim of a tainted supplement.

"Doing so well, winning two races here, I couldn't have predicted this in a million years," Hardy said. "I'm so happy and so grateful that this meet went as it did."

Joyce didn't even get out of the preliminaries of the 100 free, but she came back in the 50 free to make her third Olympic team.

"I didn't start out the meet very well," Joyce said. "I did my best to visualize and prepare my body. It was my one chance to lay it all the line for this 50. I can't believe I did it."

Torres was among the big names missing the team.

Katie Hoff, who won three medals in Beijing, failed to qualify. So did four-time Olympian Amanda Beard, Ed Moses, Garrett Weber-Gale and 40-year-old Janet Evans, who came back from a 15-year retirement. Another disappointment was 11-time medalist Natalie Coughlin, who didn't make any of her individual events and will have to settle for a relay spot.

Torres retires with 12 medals, tied with Jenny Thompson as the most decorated U.S. female swimmer.

Before she stepped on the blocks, Torres remembered her late coach, Michael Lohberg, who died in 2011 from a rare blood disorder that was diagnosed just before she swam in Beijing.

"I was very emotional before my swim," Torres said. "When I was putting my suit on with my trainer, Anne Tierney, we started crying because I started thinking about Michael. In July of 2010, he had said to me, 'Let's go for this.' I really wanted to finish the story that I started with him. I didn't make it but I know he would have been proud."

Lamar Odom out for Olympics

2012-07-05T07:57:00.003-07:00

USA Basketball says Lamar Odom won't try to earn an Olympic roster spot, leaving the Americans with 15 players for 12 spots.

Odom informed USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski that he was unable to play this summer. He had previously been expected to take part in training camp this week despite a difficult season in which he and the Dallas Mavericks parted ways early.

With the Americans lacking size up front, Odom's departure could strengthen new Los Angeles Clippers teammate Blake Griffin's hopes of making the team, or perhaps open the door forMemphis Grizzlies' Rudy Gay.

The remaining players that are expected to report to camp Thursday in Las Vegas are:LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Deron Williams, Chris Paul,Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Andre Iguodala, James Harden, Eric Gordonand rookie Anthony Davis.

Davis, however, sprained his ankle Saturday and his status is not yet known. Despite the injury, Davis' father, Anthony Davis Sr., told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday night that his son will be in Las Vegas on Thursday ready to play for Team USA.

Olympics in Daniel Sturridge's plans

2012-07-05T07:55:00.001-07:00

Viral meningitis is regarded as a mild strain of the disease.

Daniel Sturridge should be fit for Britain's Olympic soccer team even though he is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis.

The Chelsea forward fell ill over the weekend but says "I am starting to feel a lot better and I am optimistic about being able to make the Olympics."

Sturridge is among three forwards on Britain's 18-man squad, roster. Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has spoken to Sturridge and says "it's a question of daily monitoring his health."

Great Britain's team manager Stuart Pearce would be able to call in any of the 35 players named at the previous squad submission point, though two names on the immediate standby squad are Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha and Huddersfield Town's prolific striker Jordan Rhodes.

Britain's first match at the Olympics is against Senegal on July 26.

Injured Joakim Noah off French team

2012-07-05T07:53:00.002-07:00

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will not play for France at the London Olympics because of the left ankle injury he sustained during the NBA playoffs. Noah told L'Equipe he was "absolutely not ready. Not ready to run, not ready to jump."

The 12 players who will represent France are to be announced Thursday.

Noah severely sprained his left ankle in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Philadelphia 76ers in early May. He has been rehabbing outside of Los Angeles with his personal trainer Alex Perris, but the pair did not feel comfortable with the idea of playing on an ankle that is still not 100 percent.

"Now that the Olympics are out of the picture, it gives his ankle more time to heal naturally," Perris said in a text message to ESPNChicago.com. "We will be training in New York City and Los Angeles, focusing on speed, explosion and power."

After his end of the season exit interview with Bulls executives, Noah admitted that he wanted to strengthen his ankles in the offseason and that he had "too many ankle injuries throughout the years.

"I'm just frustrated because I really feel like I really worked hard on trying to keep my body right. I feel like the ankle injury was unfortunate. I think just going full speed onto somebody's ankle and landing on somebody's foot, that could have happened to anybody. It's frustrating, but nobody died. You learn from it and move on."

However, Noah was confident his teammates will fare well in London.

"The team is not just me," Noah said. "I know there are other guys who can do a good job.

It's still unclear whether San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker will play after having his cornea scratched during a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage.

France's Olympics opener is against the United States on July 29.

Noah becomes the second Bull to pull out of the Olympics because of injury. Derrick Rosehad to pull out of the Games because of a torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered in the first game of the playoffs. Luol Deng, who has a torn ligament in his left wrist, has been insistent that he will play for Great Britain in the Olympics and continue to put off surgery.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau recently told "Waddle and Silvy" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago that he expected Deng to be ready for training camp and that there is a plan in place for Deng to continue to play without having the procedure.

Injured Usain Bolt out of Monaco

2012-07-05T07:51:00.002-07:00

Usain Bolt withdrew from his final race before the Olympics on Thursday with what his coach called a "slight" injury problem following the Jamaican trials.

Bolt was scheduled to run the 200 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meet on July 20, but pulled out to have treatment ahead of the London Games.

Bolt said the withdrawal would not keep him from coming to London to defend his titles.

The Olympic champion and world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters had his right hamstring stretched out on the track after finishing second to Yohan Blake in the 200 at the Jamaican Olympic trials over the weekend. He also was beaten by Blake in the 100 meters in Kingston.

Bolt's coach, Glen Mills, said in a statement the withdrawal was because of "a slight problem" Bolt had at the trials. He didn't elaborate.

"After careful assessment I have had to withdraw him (Bolt) from the Samsung Diamond League Meeting in Monaco on July 20 to give him sufficient time for treatment and time to train and prepare for the Olympic Games in London," Mills said.

Bolt's surprising losses to Blake suggested the superstar sprinter may not be in the dominant form he was at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when he powered to gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay, all in world-record times.

"I am happy to have earned my spot on the Jamaican Olympic team despite the challenge," Bolt said in the same statement. "I will be in London to defend my titles in the 100, 200 and 4x100 meters. I want to congratulate my fellow Racers Track Club Members along with the other athletes who made the team. I thank everyone for their support."

Luol Deng heads up Britain's team

2012-07-05T07:50:00.002-07:00

Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng is the only NBA player on a British Olympic basketball squad missing Charlotte Bobcats duo Ben Gordon and Byron Mullens.

Deng has recovered sufficiently from a left wrist injury to be included in the 12-man squad announced Thursday.

Deng says the team "plan to make Britain proud" and adds that he can't "wait to step on the court with my teammates at the games."

Gordon and Mullens were already out of contention for Britain's first Olympic basketball team since 1948. The London-born guard Gordon didn't commit to playing at the games and Mullens is injured.

Another London-born player, forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu of the Turkish club Besiktas, also has been included in the squad.

Walter Dix doesn't run in 200 meters

2012-07-03T12:43:00.001-07:00

Some of the biggest names in American sprinting were on the sideline and not in the starting blocks for the opening round of the 200 meters.

As expected, Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay didn't run in the event Friday at Olympic track trials.

But the absence of Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix was a bit of a surprise. Dix was hampered by a sore left hamstring that slowed him in the 100, but he thought he might be ready for the 200.

Now, Dix's only option for making it to the London Games will be as a member of the 400 relay team, should he be selected. Dix was expecting big things, too, especially after capturing bronze in both the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Gatlin said after winning the 100 he would focus on one event, just to save wear and tear on his body.

Same with Gay, who finished second in the 100 despite a surgically repaired hip that limited him to just one meet in the last year before taking the stage at trials.

"We're missing Tyson, Walter and Justin -- that's U.S. best right there," said the 34-year-old Doc Patton, who easily advanced. "The door is open for anyone in the field right now."

Possibly sprinters such as Calesio Newman or Isiah Young -- unfamiliar names now, but maybe bigger names should they make team. Newman and Young both won their heat.

They may be the sprinters up next for world-record holder Usain Bolt and his training partner Yohan Blake, who are currently trying to earn spots to the Olympics at Jamaican trials.

Shawn Crawford is in the running, too, to take on Bolt & Co. Crawford won the 200-meter title at the 2004 Olympics and was bumped up to silver in Beijing.

In that race, Crawford originally finished fourth, only to move up two spots when Netherlands Antilles sprinter Churandy Martina and American Wallace Spearmon were disqualified for running outside their lanes.

Feeling Martina had won the medal fair and square, even though the rules said differently, Crawford gave it back to Martina.

Spearmon turned in the best time Friday, finishing in 20.17 seconds. That's even with pulling up early to conserve energy and take it easy on his left Achilles tendon, which has been giving him some trouble.

"It's the first round. You're not supposed to run that hard," Spearmon said. "It was a good run."