London Latest - Paralympic Swimmer's Appeal Upheld; LOCOG Tweaks Schedule

(ATR) U.S. world record holder Victoria Arlen will swim at London 2012 after her appeal against expulsion was upheld.

The International Paralympic Committee had ruled her ineligible on Monday after her impairment was deemed not severe enough to qualify as a Paralympic athlete.

After an appeal from Arlen, however, the IPC has decided to deliberate once again on her classification. She became a medal favorite after her performance at the U.S. trials, where she broke the world records in the 100m and 400m freestyle events.

She will be assessed during her events over the weekend, which could mean that even if she won a medal, it could be stripped from her in the next week when the IPC announce their decision.

"It's likely the classifiers will also want to see Victoria in competition," said IPC director of communications Craig Spence.

"She was classified on Monday and was deemed ineligible. That's when the United States Paralympic Committee [USPC] protested and our board of appeal upheld that protest.

"She is able to compete as an S6 swimmer until we finalize this process".

Arlenis without the use of her legs after a neurological virus left her in a vegetative state for two years beginning in 2006. She returned to competitive swimming last year.

Schedule Changes

LOCOG has made significant changes to the Paralympic competition schedule.

The changes affect spectators with tickets for athletics, boccia, wheelchair fencing, archery and equestrian events.

"The competition schedule has been modified following final confirmation of entries for a number of sports. This means it is necessary to make changes to the Paralympic competition schedule," LOCOG said Thursday in a statement.

Spectators are being urged to check the updated schedule on the designated website.

Most of the changes affect the timing of events, except in the case of athletics where whole events have been switched to different days. LOCOG added that emails will be sent to ticketholders if there are "significant changes".

Media Watch

British media are continuing to give significant coverage to the Paralympic Games so far with many newspapers praising the beginning of a hoped medal haul for the host nation.

The ‘I’ paper leads with the headline "Stunning Storey leads GB medal rush" as the cyclist won Paralympic GB’s first gold medal on the first day of competition.

The Daily Telegraph says "DREAM COME TRUE" showing Storey celebrating on the Velodrome track, the scene of so many British medal wins this summer.

The Times goes simply with "Cover Storey".

Fridays Medal Events

Athletics

Men’s Club Throw F31/32/51

Women’s Long Jump F37/38

Women’s Discus Throw F35/36

Men’s Shot Put F42/44

Men’s Discus Throw F57/58

Men’s Shot Put F52/53

Men’s Long Jump F42/44

Women’s 100m T34

Men’s 200m T37

Women’s Discus Throw F40

Women’s 200m T35

Cycling

Women’s Indv B 1km Time Trial

Men’s Indv C4-5 1km Time Trial

Men’s Indv C1 Pursuit

Men’s Indv C2 Pursuit

Men’s Indv C3 Pursuit

Judo

Women -57kg Contest

Men -73kg Contest

Women -63kg Contest

Men -81kg Contest

Powerlifting

Women’s -44kg Group A

Men’s -52kg Group A

Men’s -56kg Group A

Shooting

Men’s R1-10m Air Rifle Stand-SH1

Women’s P2-10m Air Pistol-SH1

Swimming

Men’s 400m Freestyle – S8

Women’s 400m Freestyle – S8

Men’s 50m Butterfly – S7

Women’s 50m Butterfly – S7

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S10

Women’s 50m Freestyle – S10

Men’s 100m Backstroke – S9

Women’s 100m Backstroke – S9

Men’s 100m Freestyle – S11

Women’s 100m Freestyle – S11

Men’s 100m Backstroke – S14

Women’s 100m Backstroke – S14

Men’s 100m Butterfly – S13

Women’s 200m IM-SMS

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S4

Reported in London by Christian Radnedge

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