London Latest - Next Wave of Test Events; Beckham Eyes Team GB for 2012 Olympics

Next Wave of Test Events

London 2012 organizers announce the cost of tickets for the first competitive events to be held in the aquatics center and velodrome as they gear up for the next phase of venue warm-ups for the Olympics.

Tickets for track cycling, gymnastics and diving test events go on sale Nov. 17 with the opportunity to see international competition and Olympic qualifiers from just $8.

The London Prepares series continues with a cluster of 15 international sporting events in London 2012 venues, five of which are ticketed to the general public. The next phase of testing kicks off with the London Handball Cup on Nov. 23.

Ticketed test events include the International Table Tennis Federation’s Pro Tour Grand Finals at ExCeL later this month.

For the International Gymnastics Olympic Qualifier in January at the North Greenwich Arena, or the O2, tickets put on sale by LOCOG are from $8 to $32.

In February, the best international riders head to the Olympic Park for the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classic. Tickets range from $16 to $64.

Another ticketed test event in February is the FINA Diving World Cup at the aquatics center on the Olympic Park, with prices from $8 to $48.

Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster.

After that, there is one more ticketed event before this cluster of tune-ups for the 2012 Games.The British Swimming Championships take place at the aquatics center in March.

From April onwards, an additional 11 test events will be held, including the first for the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium – the British University & Colleges Sport Championships featuring 1,500 athletes in May.

Beckham Eyes Team GB Place at Olympics

Former England captain David Beckham has reiterated his desire to play for Team Great Britain at next year's Olympics.

In an interview with the BBC, the 36-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder emphasized that he had no plans to hang up his boots amid interest from leading European clubs in signing him when his contract expires with the Major League Soccer club later this month.

Asked about starring as an overage player for Great Britain in the football tournament at the 2012 Games, he said it would be a dream to take part in the Olympics. "If it happens I would be honored," he said.

Despite his age, Beckham insisted he was fit, still loved playing and could be an important contribution to the Team GB squad.

"People have been saying [I am too old] for the last 10 or 15 years and I've still continued to play for my country," he said.

Developer Sought for Olympic Park Neighborhood

The Olympic Park Legacy Company has opened the bidding process to develop the first family neighborhood on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the new name for the hub of the Games in legacy mode.

The Chobham Manor development will be located between the athletes’ village, which will be converted into 2,800 flats after the Games, and the VeloPark. The OPLC said the neighborhood will include around 800 homes.

OPLC chief executive Andrew Altman said the legacy company was seeking a developer who would create a family neighborhood with traditional terraced houses and homes with gardens.

"We are more advanced than any previous host city in our plans to deliver a legacy of new homes, jobs and leisure opportunities," he said.

ChobhamManor is one of five neighborhoods to be developed on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with up to 8,000 new homes being built over the next 20 years.

Developers have until Dec. 2 to register their interest in developing the neighborhood.

London 2017 Unveils Russian Ambassadors, Legacy Program

Three of Russia’s star athletes were unveiled Wednesday as ambassadors for London’s bid to host the 2017 World Athletic Championships.

Heptathlon world champion Tatyana Chernova, 800m world champion Mariya Savinova and high jumper Aleksey Dmitrik, who won silver at Daegu 2011, are the latest athletes to back the bid. They join other athlete ambassadors including Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Fabiana Murer, JesseWilliams, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis.

Chernova will also work alongside former British heptathlete Denise Lewis on the London 2017 Athlete Commission, which will provide input to the final bid presentation to the IAAF on Nov. 11.

"Winning a gold medal at this year’s world championships was unbelievable and with fans like those in London, who appreciate a great performance from athletes from all over the world, the world championships could be so special in 2017," Chernova said.

On Tuesday, the London 2017 bid unveiled its international legacy program that will be launched should the city be successful in its campaign.

LEAP 2017 is a global athletics development program aimed at engaging two million children in athletics across 17 developing countries over four years.

It's based on the success of London 2012’s International Inspiration project, which is on target to engage more than 12 million children and young people in sport in 20 countries.

London 2017 bid president Sebastian Coe said his team was determined to ensure the 2017 IAAF World Championships serve as a catalyst for the continued development of athletics.

"At a time when fewer young people are participating in sport, LEAP 2017 will connect more young people around the world with the opportunity to experience, play and practice sport in their communities which in turn will help grow our sport," he said.

LEAP 2017will be financed by UK Sport, UK Athletics and fundraising activities.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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