Oscar Pistorius Wants Paralympics to Leave Legacy of Integration

Channel 4: Pistorius Wants Paralympics to Leave Legacy of Integration

Superstar sprinter Oscar Pistorius wants the London Paralympics to leave a legacy of regular integration for Paralympic sport in able-bodied events.

(PRWEB) August 28, 2012

Superstar sprinter Oscar Pistorius wants the London Paralympics to leave a legacy of regular integration for Paralympic sport in able-bodied events.

The 25-year-old South African is making history this summer as the first amputee track athlete to compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics but sees no reason why his feat should be a one-off.

"Showcasing an event or two, that's the best thing that should come of this Paralympic Games," said Pistorius, who reached the 400m semi-finals and the 4x400m relay final at the London Olympics.

"It would be a kind of legacy showing people, and giving them the opportunity to view Paralympic sport and then giving them follow-up competitions the next year and in years to come on the world stage."

To get in tune for the London Games, Paralympians Marcel Hug, of Switzerland and Australia's Kurt Fearnley took part in an exhibition 1500m wheelchair race at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.

Pistorius, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist, has called for showcase events like this one to be extended across athletics and other sports.

"It would be wonderful if some of the Diamond League or [athletics' governing body] IAAF races incorporate to have races for athletes with disability," he said.

"The spectators love it. You see the 1500m wheelchair races and people that are not normally exposed toParalympic sports are all of a sudden watching the events and that's the foot in the door to showcasing what it's really about.

"The same could be done for swimming and cycling. Our top Paralympic cyclists contending with the world's best is not only something that should be reserved for every four years at a world stage like this.

"It's something that bodies like the IAAF and [swimming governing body] Fina need to have a look at in the future. It would be a lovely thing to see."

Despite his landmark appearance at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, Pistorius believes holding both events simultaneously remains an impossibility.

"It's a question that has come up many, many times," Pistorius mused. "As far as a logistics point of view, it would be extremely difficult.

"To host all the athletes and have a lot more venues is something that I don't think would ever be possible.

"And some of the Paralympic athletes say they're happy having the Olympics as a warm-up!

"I'm as proud to be a Paralympian as I am an Olympian. I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of. I don't think [Olympic and Paralympic integration] will ever happen and I don't think it'll ever need to."

Pistorius, who runs on prosthetic carbon fibre limbs, had to fight a long battle with the IAAF to compete against able-bodied athletes, with the courts ruling in his favour in 2008.

His appearance at the London Olympics saw his dream come true but the 25-year-old says the opportunity for other Paralympic athletes to cross over into able-bodied events has always been there.

"The doors have always been open," Pistorius added. "A lot of the guys I run against - [Britain's] Jonnie Peacockand [American] Jerome Singleton - run at their regional races and many of their training partners are able-bodied athletes.

"I've just been hard-working and talented enough to compete on an international level and it's not that now that I've done it I've opened the door, the door has always been open pretty much long before I was around."

Pistorius is preparing for a busy Paralympics Games where he is attempting to defend this titles in the T44 100m, 200m and 400m as well as taking part in the 4x100m relay.

"I'm feeling pretty good, I was really well-conditioned from the [Olympic] 400m three weeks' ago," warned the four-time Paralympic gold medallist.

"The 200m and 400m I'm pretty comfortable on but the 100m is going to be the tough event.

"The 100m has always been a very closely-contested race and there have always been strong competitors. The likes of Johnnie Peacock, [Americans] Jerome Singleton and Blake Leeper and Arnu Fourie, my room-mate - that's going to be a bit awkward the night before the final.

"There are six guys that can all have a good foothold, that's why it will be a strong event.

"I've been more than impressed with Peacock. He's a huge threat. My personal experience, though, is that experience counts a lot.

"If I could just get in the top three in that I'll be very happy.

"My focus is on trying to defend my titles but I have to be realistic and say that the 200m and 400m I'm better suited to." 

• For all your latest news ahead of the 2012 Paralympics, follow @C4Paralympics on Twitter and like the C4Paralympics Facebook page

Oscar Pistorius Predicts Closely-fought Sprint Showdown

Pistorius Predicts Closely-fought Sprint Showdown

Oscar Pistorius has admitted he does not fancy his chances of winning one of the most highly-anticipated races of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

(PRWEB) August 28, 2012

Oscar Pistorius has admitted he does not fancy his chances of winning one of the most highly-anticipated races of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Blade Runner's showdown with British sprinterJonnie Peacock in the T44 100m final next Thursday night will be a highlight of the Games.

The South African is the defending champion, but has more recently focused on qualifying for the Olympic Games over 400m.

Only last week the 25-year-old raced for the first time over 100m in 16 months.

‘I think it's important to note I haven't run a 100m personal best in five years,’ said Pistorius, who will also race in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m Relay.

‘It's not really my event so, although I do feel threatened, I don't feel helpless. As Jonnie and those guys focus on the 100m, my focus is on the 400m, on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to sprinting.

‘If I can just get in the top three I think I'd be very happy.

‘My focus is on trying to defend my titles, but then I have to be realistic and say the 400m and the 200mare the events I am better suited at.’

Pistorius, who will carry the South African flag for the first time at tomorrow's opening ceremony, revealed he had lost 11 kilograms since Beijing 2008, but had spent the last three weeks in the gym to bulk up as much as possible for the shorter sprints.

Nineteen-year-old Peacock broke the 100m world record with a run of 10.85 seconds in June and Pistorius admitted his progress has taken him by surprise.

‘He improved by more than half a second,’ he added. ‘You never see that, especially in the 100m, it just doesn't happen. He is a huge threat.’

But there are also the likes of American Jerome Singleton, who beat Pistorius at the 2011 IPC World Championships to worry about, as well as a rival more closer to home - his room-mate Arnu Fourie.

The first round of the men’s T44 100m takes place on Wednesday 5 September.

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

London Olympics Final Medal Tally 2012

London Olympics Final Medal Tally 2012

Rank	Leaders	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1	USA	46	29	29
2	China	38	27	22
3	Great Britain & N. Ireland	29	17	19
4	Russia	24	25	33
5	South Korea	13	8	7
6	Germany	11	19	14
7	France	11	11	12
8	Italy	8	9	11
9	Hungary	8	4	5
10	Australia	7	16	12
11	Japan	7	14	17
12	Kazakhstan	7	1	5
13	Netherlands	6	6	8
14	Ukraine	6	5	9
15	Cuba	5	3	6
16	New Zealand	5	3	5
17	Iran	4	5	3
18	Jamaica	4	4	4
19	Czech Republic	4	3	3
20	North Korea	4	0	2
21	Spain	3	10	4

Final Day Sunday, ‎12 August ‎2012

To see the full medal tally

Williams Sisters Bring Back Olympic Gold

Williams Sisters Bring Back Olympic Gold to BallenIsles

Venus and Serena live in a custom estate in the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., development, which is Waterfront Properties and Club Communities’ real-estate partner.

JUPITER, Fla. (PRWEB) August 09, 2012

One day after Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova for the women’s singles gold medal, the younger sister teamed up with her older sister, Venus Williams, to take home the women’s doubles gold medal in the London Olympic Games. Waterfront Properties and Club Communities is proud of the tennis stars and sends out congratulations to the winning Olympians.

The pair from Palm Beach Gardens overcame a team from the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4, and secured their third gold in women’s doubles tennis. They scored previous doubles wins in 2008 in Beijing and in 2000 in Sydney.

The Williams sisters dominated Centre Court at Wimbledon after intense training at BallenIsles’ superb practice facilities. Two of the 22 courts making up the massive Sports Complex were built especially for them. The facilities are a short distance from their custom mansion in the Grand Key Estatesneighborhood – one of 33 that grace the 1,300-acre community with homes for sale in BallenIsles.

The training paid off big in 2012. Serena Williams, 30, became the second female tennis player to earn two gold medals in the Olympic Games. The other is her 32-year-old sister. In addition, she is one of two women to complete tennis’ Grand Slam – a gold medal and four majors’ titles. The other is Steffi Graf.

The sisters beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka to earn the gold medal. Venus Williams sealed the deal with a beautiful backhand volley. Throughout the five matches, they never lost a set.

The outstanding tennis program at BallenIsles, led by pro Trish Faulkner, is one of many amenities within the country-club community. BallenIsles also boasts three championship golf courses, a grand clubhouse, and a variety of active clubs and volunteer groups.

Waterfront Properties, a Jupiter-based real-estate firm, is BallenIsles preferred Realtor and offers onsite service. For information, call 561-626-7272.

Oscar Pistorius Makes the 400m Semi-finals

Channel 4: Blade Runner Makes the 400m Semi-finals on Olympic Debut

South Africa's four-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius realised a dream after he made it through to the semi-finals of the 400m on his Olympic debut.

(PRWEB) August 06, 2012

South Africa's four-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius realised a dream after he made it through to the semi-finals of the 400m on his Olympic debut.

The 25-year-old, who runs with prosthetic limbs, became the first male Paralympian to compete in the Olympics - and the first amputee to compete in athletics - and made it into the semis by coming second in his heat.

The double amputee was unable to book a place in the final as he struggled out of the blocks and finished eighth in his semi-final in a time of 46.54, after being out of contention by the time he reached the final straight.

Grenada's Kirani James won the heat in a time of 44.59 and immediately asked Pistorius for the name off his running vest as a memento.

"Oscar is something special in our event," said James. "It was a memorable moment for me to be out here with him."

Pistorius, who fought a long battle to be allowed to compete in the Olympics, had looked comfortable in recording a time of 45.44 seconds in his heat - his fastest of the season and just 0.37 off his personal best.

After Saturday's heat an emotional Pistorius said: "Thank you to everyone. I didn't know whether to cry or be happy.

"It was the most amazing experience. I have competed so many times in the UK this crowd feels like a second home to me."

Pistorius has also been selected in South Africa's 4x400m relay team at the Olympics, with the heats taking place on 9 August and the final the following day.

He will be competing in the T44 class at the 2012 Paralympics in the same Olympic Stadium. At the 2008 Paralympics he won gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

A 17-year-old Pistorius also won gold in the 200m and bronze in the 100m at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

Natalia Partyka of Poland, who was born without a right hand and forearm and will compete in the class 10 at the Paralympics, made it through to the third round of women's Olympic competition at London 2012 before being knocked out.

She competed at the Sydney Paralympics at the age of 11 and also qualified for both the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing four years ago.

South African's legendary Paralympic swimmer Natalie du Toit, a leg amputee who has won 10 gold medals and will compete in the S9 class at London 2012, also competed in the Olympics in 2008. 

• For all your latest news ahead of the 2012 Paralympics, follow @C4Paralympics on Twitter and like the C4Paralympics Facebook page

Oscar Pistorius Humbled by Support

London 2012: History-maker Pistorius Humbled by Support

Oscar Pistorius insisted he was not at the London Olympics to prove a point as he bowed out of the 400 metres.

(PRWEB) August 06, 2012

Oscar Pistorius insisted he was not at the London Olympics to prove a point as he bowed out of the 400 metres.

The 25-year-old, who made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete in an Olympics, finished last in his semi-final in 46.54 seconds.

The public support for the South African, known as Blade Runner, is almost unrivalled.

The roar which greeted him when he was introduced to the crowd was loud enough to rival that which welcomed British competitors in front of their Host Nation fans.

Pistorius, whose aim had always been the semi-finals, said: 'I am struggling to find a way to describe it. It is really humbling all the support I have had.

'It has been an unbelievable experience. I didn't come here to prove a point. I wanted to do the best I could possibly do and push myself as hard as I can.

'I won't know who to shout for [in the final] tomorrow. They are such gentlemen. This has been one of the best experiences of my life.

'Just being out in front of this crowd, 70,000 felt like 170,00, was an unbelievable experience.'

The four-time Paralympic champion, who had his lower legs amputated at 11 months old after being born without a fibula in either leg, swapped name bibs with Grenada's Kirani James after the race after the world champion approached him.

'When we crossed the line, for Kirani James to give me his number shows the kind of sportsmen we have in the Olympic Games,' added Pistorius, who will be back in the stadium for the 4 x 400m Relay.

'We have a lot of respect for each other. For him to ask for my bib number shows what a true gentleman he is.'

James added: 'Oscar is someone special, especially in our event. It's a memorable moment for me to be out here performing with him.

'He's an inspiration to all of us. He is very special to our sport. He's a down to earth guy and a great individual. I thought it was a nice gesture to exchange bibs. I am going to keep it.'

For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office.

Grainger and Watkins Take Gold

London 2012: Grainger and Watkins Take Gold

Katherine Grainger's quest for Olympic glory is complete after she won a gold medal with Anna Watkins in the women's Double Sculls.

(PRWEB) August 04, 2012

Katherine Grainger's quest for Olympic glory is complete after she won a gold medal with Anna Watkins in the women's Double Sculls.

The Great Britain crew dominated the field at Eton Dorney to add an Olympic crown to the two world titles they have won in two unbeaten years.

Grainger and Watkins led from the start and were roared on to a commanding victory, beating Australia by a length, with Poland taking a distant bronze.

Grainger punched the air as her boat crossed the line. She fell into an embrace with Watkins and acknowledged the 30,000-strong crowd after finally tasting victory at an Olympics.

Grainger had been Britain's first female Olympic Rowing medallist, at Sydney in 2000.

Four years ago she became the first British female athlete to win medals at three successive Olympic Games.

Those medals were all silver and Grainger was distraught at missing out on gold in Beijing, even considering retirement. But the lure of winning in London drove her on.

Grainger and Watkins, a bronze medallist from Beijing 2008, stormed to victory, as they have done for most of the last two years. After coming together in 2010, Grainger and Watkins have now won 23 consecutive races.

But none of them were as emotional as this with Grainger finally receiving the gold medal she craved.

She said, after embracing Steve Redgrave: 'Worth the wait. Steve promised me they'd be tears of joy this time, which they are.

'I feel this medal of all of them is the people's medal. I feel so many people have been behind me and supported me and wanted this for me as much as I have.'

Women Boxers Make Olympic History

London 2012: Women Boxers Set to Make Olympic History

Russia's Elena Savelyeva and Hye Song Kim of DPR Korea will become the first female boxers to compete at an Olympic Games when they meet in the ring at 1.30pm on Sunday.

(PRWEB) August 03, 2012

Russia's Elena Savelyeva and Hye Song Kim of DPR Korea will become the first female boxers to compete at an Olympic Games when they meet in the ring at 1.30pm on Sunday.

Thirty-six female boxers from 23 different nations, fighting across three weight divisions, are making history at London 2012.

For boxers like Great Britain's Nicola Adams, the 29-year-old three-time world silver medallist, it is a day she neither expected nor even dared hope for when she first pulled on a pair of gloves.

'My motivation was just my love for the sport,' said Adams, who has a first-round bye in the Fly Weight division and will begin her campaign on Monday.

'I grew up with my family watching boxing. My dad would always put the big fights on TV and it would be a family event, everybody would come round to watch the Boxing.

'I always hoped women's Boxing would be a part of the Olympics because it's every athlete's dream to go to a Games. So when the announcement was made I was over the moon.

'It's nice to have a bit of recognition for all the years I've been training. I used to look up to Muhammad Ali, and it's a great feeling to know that now kids who are just starting in the sport will have a female to look up to as well.'

Apps to Track the London 2012

Apps to Track the 2012 London Summer Olympics

HotelsCheap.org has conducted research to provide those looking for iPhone and Android apps to track the 2012 London Summer Olympics with cost-effective methods for doing so.

Jericho, NY (PRWEB) August 02, 2012

Looking for apps for the 2012 London Olympics can be difficult when there are so many possibilities forOlympic apps in the iTunes store and Android market. Apps that range from Olympic medal counters to trivia about athletes and past Olympic Games are available to purchase and it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, one company has recognized the need for some direction and has provided the world with an answer to follow the Olympic Games.

Smart phone Apps make following the Olympics that much easier, ensuring a fantastic, mobile experience for the 2012 London Olympics. The following is a list of 12 cheap or free apps to follow the London Olympic Games from the online travel companyHotelsCheap.org:

London 2012: Official Join In
This is the official app by the London Games Organizing Committee, provides reliable venue descriptions, event photos, event schedules, London city maps and even social media interactions. Cost: Free

London 2012: Official Results
The London Games Organizing Committee app will give real-time results, the latest news, and a full schedule of events for both the Olympics and the subsequent Paralympics. Cost: Free

2012 Olympic Medals
This is an app that tracks medal counts, event schedules and even a country tracker on the home screen (for Android users). This app is perfect for loyal fans of one or many countries participating in these Olympic Games. Cost: Free

2012 Team USA Road to London
Linked to the official Team USA website this app provide profile information for every US Olympian. It contains videos, a “Cheer” button to connect with your favorite Olympians on Twitter and Facebook, and the opportunity to donate to Team USA. Cost: Free

2012 Summer Games London Offline
This app supplies all the important details: schedules, history and game rules. It also provides maps with transportation information for those visiting the games, traveling by public transit, foot, bicycle or taxi. Cost: $0.99

London 2012 Official Game
This app is a game for the iphone or android, allowing users to create an Olympian and compete in up to 9 events. Users can customize the appearance of their athlete with 220 accessories, and will compete in authentic London 2012 Olympic venues virtually. Cost: Free

London Countdown
A timer counts down to the opening of the 2012 London Summer Olympics—without the need for internet or data connectivity. It has a schedule of events and a history of the Olympics complete with the results previous Olympic Games. Cost: Free

London Olympics 2012 Fan App
Fans can stay up to date with the most recent news and video from the Olympic Games. Cost: Free

2012 Olympics Medal Tracker
Never miss a medal. Users can filter this app in several ways, such as selecting a sport to see all events and dates of medal contests. The app tracks medal counts for all countries, and users can also track favorite athletes. Cost: $0.99

London 2012 Olympics
The app perfect for Trivia buffs. Re-acquaint yourself with thousands of questions and answers about the Olympics. Its repertoire has plenty of Olympics trivia, like history, event results, athletes and more. Cost: $2.99

NBC Olympics “Live Extra”
Screen all the 302 Olympic events live on your mobile device, with full replays using this app. Cost: Free (for cable, satellite or Telco subscriber with CNBC and MSNBC)

NBC Olympics
Live news, results, schedules and number of medals won all in one spot. It also has video and photo highlights and keeps account of your favorite athletes and sports. It can be linked to social media channels to discuss the latest events.

About HotelsCheap
Hotels Cheap is an online travel company who specializes in selling hotel rooms online. They have been in business for over 10 years, and are recognized around the internet as one of the few true discount hotel providers, constantly scouring the internet for the best hotel deals for their customers. HotelsCheap.org is also known as a travel industry research organization. They write journalist style travel articles, compile interesting infographics to help educate their customers, and the travel industry on recent trends in travel. To learn more, please visithttp://www.hotelscheap.org

Ian Thorpe Documentary Reveals Swimming Technique Tips

Ian Thorpe Documentary Reveals Swimming Technique Tips

Effortless Swimming Head Coach Brenton Ford says the Ian Thorpe swimming documentary gives handy pointers to swimmers wanting to improve their style and stroke.

Melbourne, Victoria (PRWEB) August 02, 2012

Ian Thorpe’s documentary 'Ian Thorpe: The Swimmer' has revealed some useful tips for swimmers of all levels.

The documentary, which aired on ABC1 last month, follows Ian Thorpe’s swimming comeback as he trained for the Olympic trials in Adelaide in March.

Ian Thorpe, who is Australia's most successful Olympian, began his comeback in October 2010 after a four-year break, with the London 2012 Olympics as his goal. Thorpe has previously won nine Olympic medals, five of them gold. His success has been attributed to his work ethic, mental strength, powerful kick and ability to accelerate.

His friends and filmmakers Gregor Jordan and Simone Kessell started interviewing and filming him as he prepared for the trials. The documentary is an intimate portrait of Ian Thorpe and his journey, but it is also gives some handy pointers to swimmers wanting to improve their style and stroke.

Thorpe has previously relied on his trademark six beat kick during his middle-distance races. However, his concentration on shorter distances during his comeback meant he had to change his swimming technique.

Effortless Swimming Head Coach Brenton Ford says it is a good opportunity to see how a successful swimmer works to improve his stroke to become more efficient.

“Thorpe had to change his stroke to suit 100 and 200 meter events. He had to move from a front quadrant style freestyle to a more rotatory style,” Brenton says. “This increases the stroke rate and changes the timing of the stroke. Rather than gliding long, the stroke is focused more on throwing yourself forward into the next stroke.”

Brenton says the technique Thorpe talks about in the documentary is something that every swimmer can aim to perfect.

“He spoke about 'easy speed', which is the feeling of swimming fast and feeling relaxed at the same time. That's the basis behind the Effortless Swimming Mastering Freestyle program that we created. To get faster, you need to stay relaxed as you swim,” Brenton explains.

Brenton has trained thousands of swimmers through Effortless Swimming, an innovative program to help swimmers rapidly improve their swimming style and technique, and squad training and says efficiency in swimming comes down to small changes to technique and trying different training methods.

Ian Thorpe has arrived in London to commentate for the BBC on the Olympic swimming events this week.

For more information about the Effortless Swimming program, visit http://www.effortlessswimming.com

Public Embracing London 2012 Games

Public Embracing London 2012 Games, Says Seb Coe

Five days into the London 2012 Olympic Games LOCOG Chair Seb Coe has expressed his delight at the public’s response to the Games so far and thanked the UK for making it possible.

(PRWEB) August 01, 2012

Five days into the London 2012 Olympic Games LOCOG Chair Seb Coe has expressed his delight at the public’s response to the Games so far and thanked the UK for making it possible.

Fifty three gold medals have been awarded so far across 11 sports, to athletes from 34 countries around the world. The spectacular London 2012 venues have already seen seven new world records and more than 30 Olympic records.

Almost 3 million people have attended the Games with supporters of many different nations waving their team’s flag and enjoying the jubilant atmosphere.

The Opening Ceremony on 27 July drew an audience of 27 million viewers to the BBC and since then the evening sessions have been attracting 8 million viewers each day.

The London 2012 website has around 11 million visitors each day and 10 million people have downloaded mobile apps. The Opening Ceremony 'Isles of Wonder' soundtrack is top of the download charts.

LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton added that more than 27,000 people have safely arrived in the UK – mainly athletes and media – with more than 12,000 people now resident in the Olympic Village.

Still to come is the start of the athletics and the track cycling – ‘Super Saturday’ is coming up with 21 gold medals to be won in one day (4 August). It will be an exciting weekend with crowds lining the streets of London for the Marathon and Triathlon, and people all over the UK getting together to enjoy the action.

OSN 3D London Olympics 2012 Coverage

OSN Adds a new dimension to its Olympics coverage with the launch of a dedicated 3D Sports Channel

- 200 hours of 3D action - 225 hours of comprehensive coverage each day - Live coverage across 19 OSN Sports channels - English and Arabic dual language commentary

Dubai, UAE, (PRWEB) August 01, 2012

OSN, the leading Pay TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, has entered the third dimension with the launch of a dedicated Olympics 3D channel, OSN Olympics 3D. The channel will broadcast over 200 hours of LIVE sporting action from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The launch of the brand new dedicated 3D Olympics channel is part of OSN’s aim to bring the games to life and provide viewers across the region with the best possible Olympic viewing experience. In addition, OSN subscribers will see every medal and every moment of the Olympics LIVE, in true 1080i high definition with dual Arabic and English language commentary options, OSN will broadcast more hours than ever before in the region.

As an official broadcaster of the 2012 Olympics, OSN’s new 3D channel will complement its unparalleled coverage which will be showcased across 19 OSN sports channels – 9 TV channels plus 10 dedicated OSN Play LIVE streaming channels providing sports fans with over 225 hours of the most comprehensive Olympics coverage every day.

OSN Play is the regions first online TV platform and is designed to ensure viewers don’t miss a second of the action even when they are away from their TV screen. The service is free of charge for OSN subscribers who can watch the games online on their computer or laptop, anytime, anywhere.

David Butorac, CEO of OSN said: “OSN is extremely proud to be an Official Broadcast Partner of the London 2012 Olympics bringing unprecedented coverage to every OSN home in the Middle East and North Africa. The best way to watch live sport is in high definition and we are delighted to present the games in true 1080i HD. Our dedicated OSN Olympics 3D channel will give sports fans a real-life experience and with the OSN Showbox HD and OSN Play, you can watch your Olympics, your way.”

OSN sports fans can plan their viewing easily using OSN’s user friendly Electronic TV Guide and the OSN website (http://www.osn.com). Viewers can also use the OSN Showbox HD to record their favourite events and watch what they want, when they want.

Andy Warkman, Head of Sport at OSN said: “It will be an amazing 16 days of sport with OSN. Subscribers can take the Olympics with them when on the move through our 10 live streaming OSN Play Olympics channels and our new 3D channel, a key differentiator, which will cover all of the major events including the highly anticipated opening and closing ceremonies and much more putting viewers right at the heart of all the action. OSN will undoubtedly be the best place to watch the 2012 Olympics.”

The complete OSN Olympics 2012 is available on the OSN website (http://www.osn.com) and facebook users can ‘like’ OSN’s official fan page (http://www.facebook.com/osn) to get access to a unique OSN Olympics application that allows users to personalise the schedule and keep track of their favourite sporting events.