London Latest - Teenage Torchbearer Missing; Ahmadinejad to Olympics?

Ahmadinejad to London

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly plans to attend the London Olympics.

Reports in Iranian media quote the Iranian Olympic Committee secretary general Bahram Afsharzadeh saying Ahamdinejad will fly to London the day before the Olympics, but did not say if he would attend the opening ceremony.

"Following thorough examinations it was decided that I will fly together with the president to London on July 26," Afsharzadeh said. "Just as he did in the 2008 Olympics, the president will watch the (athletes) compete."

In May, the controversial head of state said it was unlikely he would attend the Games.

"Unfortunately they have a problem with my presence," he said then. "Otherwise I would have liked to have participated in the Olympics, and to have applauded our dear youth."

Reports have said he would have likely faced difficulty obtaining a British visa to enter the country.

Cook Forgoes Legal Action Against BOA

World number one Aaron Cook will not take legal action against the British Olympic Association’s selection of 59thranked Lutalo Muhammad for taekwondo’s 80kg category at the Games

"Despite my representatives advising me that I still had a good chance of successfully overturning the BOA's ratification of Great Britain Taekwondo's decision not to select me for London 2012, I have decided not to take my case against the BOA to the High Court," he said Friday in a statement, citing the "prohibitive" costs of such a suit.

"I am really disappointed that the BOA did not agree to my case being heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport," added the reigning two-time European champion.

"The High Court is significantly more expensive, time-consuming and does not have the experience or expertise in dealing with sports-related disputes."

Cook finished fourth in the 80kg division at Beijing 2008 but has since suffered a first-round exit from the 2011 world championships – and a falling-out with British Taekwondo after leavingitstraining program last year.

In snubbing Cook for the nomination to Team GB, leadership of British Taekwondoargued that the sport’sworld rankings are flawed and that recent rule changes – specifically those governing headshots – make Muhammad a stronger medal prospect in London.

Still, the BOA’s four-person panel on Olympic Qualification Standards twice rejected British Taekwondo’s nomination of Muhammad over Cook before finally ratifying the pick earlier this month.

"I wish all of the athletes the very best of luck – that includes Lutalo Muhammad," said Cook, who is declining an offer to be first reserve at the Games.

Teenage Torchbearer Missing

British police are searching for Olympic torchbearer Natneal Yemane after the 15-year-old disappeared Thursday night.

The youngEthiopian was selected to carry the Olympic torch through the International Inspiration program of London 2012. Shortly after completing his leg of the torch relay, however, Yemane left the Nottingham hotel where he was staying and has not been seen since.

"We are concerned for Natneal as he does not speak very good English and is not thought to be streetwise," a Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said. "He does have family in London, but we need to find him and make sure he is safe and well."

A description posted on the Nottinghamshire Police website describes Yemane as "black, 5ft 8 tall, and of thin build." He was reportedly last seen wearing "faded dark jeans, a green and yellow camouflage hooded jacket and black trainers with a white stripe."

Torch Relay Update

The Olympic torch will travel 112 miles from Nottingham to Derby on day 42 of its journey to the London Games.

Friday's 98 torchbearers include boxer Donald Scott, who won the silver medal in the light heavyweight class at the 1948 London Olympics.

Along the way the flame will ride on the Heights of Abraham cable car and tour the grounds of Chatsworth House.

The cauldron will be lit at an evening ceremony in Darley Abbey Park.

Written by Ed Hula III, Hannah Reid and Matthew Grayson.

20 Years at #1: