London 2012 Olympics: Great Britain's medal chances boosted as Shara Proctor opts to represent hosts

World-class long jumper Shara Proctor decision has been welcomed by UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee, who has been a constant critic of the strength of women’s field athletes at his disposal as she will switch her allegiance from Anguilla to Britain.

International Association of Athletics Federations had approved her transfer of allegiance and the 22 year-old, who finished sixth at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin with a lifetime best of 6.71 metres, is eligible to represent Britain

She has held British citizenship since birth but grew up in St Croix, Anguilla.
“I’m happy to welcome Shara into the team,” said Van Commenee.

“She’s a high-calibre athlete who has proven to be able to make finals at global championships.

“We are not strong in women’s field events at the moment. The fact that Shara has decided to represent Britain from now on will make the team stronger.”

Proctor, who will be added to the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme and will receive the top tier of Lottery funding, also competes in the triple jump and has personal bests of 13.88m indoors and 13.74 outdoors.

Having recently completed a sports management degree at the University of Florida, she said she was looked forward to the chance to compete for the host nation in London in 2012.

“My lifelong dream has always been to compete at the highest level in track and field,” she said.

“I am therefore thrilled that I can potentially compete for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the London 2012 Olympics.

"It will certainly be an honour to represent the United Kingdom.”

2012 Olympics Stadium Highly Contaminated

£12.7 million so far has been applied to clean up the 2012 Olympics London Stadium highly contaminated by deadly chemicals

The land located in east London on the banks of river Lea, previously under the ownership of Banner Chemicals Group.after environmental assessments, to contain a plume of vinyl chloride -- a breakdown product of chlorinated solvents, one of the main chemicals handled by Banner -- in its groundwater.

"Vinyl chloride is one of the most toxic organic compounds found in groundwater, and it can cause damage to the liver and nervous system.", it has been revealed by Dr Jason Gerhard,a hydrogeologist based at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada.

According to the Environmental Agency, the process will continue long after the Games as the contamination on the site is so severe

Stuart Hayes, a hydrogeologist at the Environment Agency said ""We thought that this would be a dirty site but it turned out to be much worse than we expected, grossly contaminated"

“So far, only the topsoil has been cleaned. The next and much more difficult stage is to clean up the deeper pollution.”

The director of Banner Chemicals, Colin Boyle, said, "We take our responsibilities seriously. We seek to implement best practice industry standards and to comply with all of the regulations that relate to installations of the kind we operate.”

“You mention an incident involving some chemicals but I do not know what you are referring to and so you will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment," he added.

“The £12.7m cost of the clean-up, revealed in a Freedom of Information Act request to the Olympic Delivery Authority, should not be covered by taxpayers.” said by Darren Johnson, chairman of the London assembly environment committee

Michael Phelps eager for success at 2012 London Olympics

Michael Phelps has one thing on his mind-going out with a bang in London Olympics 2012 season. Micheal Phelps is also the Olympian gold medalist.

Phelps said "I want to end my career on a great note is something every athlete wants, I had confidence in myself that I could put together four more good years to really put a stamp on my career.A lot of athletes have tried to come back and tried to come back, a lot of athletes have tried to come back and tried to come back."

Phelps professional swimming has been disturbed due to various changes Phelps will have his work cut out for him.

Since the changes done on the rules and regulate on swimmers to set the new swimmers suits mandatory to wears which requires more fitness because Changes for males include suits only allowed to span from the waist to above the knee (before they could cover the whole leg). Since that exposes more skin,
Phelps has had a hard time adapting to the new gear.

But he admits recent sub-par performances can be attributed to other causes.

"I'll be the first to admit it. I was not training as much as I should."

Phelps, who won no less than eight gold medals in Beijing is constantly occupied with extracurricular swimming activities and obligations.

Aside from obligations, swimming coach Bob Bowman indicated that Phelps was as keen as ever to give one last winning performance in London. Bowman reported that the “fire” is still there for Phelps, and that it “never left.”