Olympic Chiefs Face Questioning; Team GB to Make Olympic Volleyball Debut

Games Chiefs Head to Assembly

London’s Olympic leaders will face the London Assembly today.

LOCOG chiefs Sebastian Coe and Paul Deighton will be joined by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, John Armitt and David Higgins for the questioning, beginning at 10am.

The group will face questioning on London’s Olympic preparations, including topics on the ability of transport infrastructure to cope during the Games, action taken to preserve legacy, andon efforts to ensure a sustainable Games.

Questioning, which takes place in the Chamber at City Hall, will be simultaneously webcast at the Assembly’s website.

British Volleyball Bound for London Olympics

Team Great Britain will make its Olympic debut in volleyball at the 2012 Games.

The British Olympic Association announced Tuesday both the men’s and women’s teams will utilize host nation qualification places to receive automatic entry into the Games.

The decision was taken by the BOA’s Olympic Qualifying Standards Panel in consultation with the British Volleyball Federation.

"We are delighted to see that British Volleyball has put in place a plan to ensure that the men’s and women’s indoor teams representing Team GB are capable of delivering a credible performance in London 2012, and will utilize the unique platform of a home Games to inspire the next generation of volleyball participants," Team GB chef de mission and BOA CEO Andy Hunt said in a statement.

Though exemptions are custom for Olympic host countries, the BOA says only those British athletes who can deliver both "a credible performance" and "a meaningful legacy" will receive automatic berths into the Games.

"We will demonstrate that GB can compete with more than just a credible performance," said BVF president Richard Callicott.

The British Handball Association is next up for the Olympic Qualifying Standards Panel with more spots in London 2012 on the line.

Stars Align for London 2012 Festival

Cate Blanchett, Toni Morrison, Jude Law and Damon Albarn are among a who’s who of headliners announced Tuesday for the London 2012 Festival.

The 12-week UK-wide celebration will begin in mid-June of 2012 and run through the end of the Games, a finale of sorts to the Cultural Olympiad that began in 2008.

"We've less than 600 days to the start of the greatest sporting show on Earth and want to match it with a cultural program thatis also memorable and exciting," London Mayor Boris Johnson said in a statement.

"The caliber of the people announced today – from London, the UK and abroad - underlines the ambition of the London 2012 Festival. It will be a series of fantastic events to mark an unforgettable year in London's history."

More than 11 million people have already attended Cultural Olympiad performances, workshops and installations, including a photography exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery featuring both the Olympians and the organizers behind London 2012.

LOCOG hopes the Festival’s 1,000+ events, some ticketed and some free, will draw another three million participants to a line-up that already boasts winners of the Nobel Prize, Brit Award, Turner Prize, Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award.

"Artistic talent from the UK and every continent will be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration," said LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe.

"2012 will be a magical summer and the Festival will play a huge part in ensuring everyone can be part of the greatest show on Earth."

A full events listing will follow next summer. Ticket sales begin in October.

With reporting in London by Matthew Grayson.