Olympic Newsdesk - London's Warm- Up Weekend in August; Liu Not Ready to Return

Mayor Boris Johnson said Olympic Warm Up Weekend is first chance for Londoners to see future Olympic venues and athletes. (ATR/James Corbett)Olympic Warm-Up Weekend

London Mayor Boris Johnson has hailed Londoners’ ‘fantastic opportunity to watch world class athletes’ during the city’s Olympic Warm-Up Weekend in August.

Speaking at its launch at London’s City Hall he said, ‘This is the first real chance for Londoners to start seeing future Olympic venues like Hyde Park in action and to cheer on GB athletes who are hopefuls for London 2012.’

Hyde Park will host the Dextro Energy Triathlon World Championship series on August 15 – a test run for 2012. In a similar exercise the 02 (North Greenwich) Arena will host Four Nations basketball the previous evening. As well as basketball the North Greenwich Arena will be hosting gymnastics during London 2012.

The Modern Pentathlon World Championships will also be held at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre from August 13-17.

‘The Olympic park is going to be ready by 2011,’ he told reporters from the steps of City Hall. ‘People will be using those facilities and we’ve got to make sure people are benefiting from the Olympics before they actually begin. How ill I do this? With energy, dynamism and commitment.’

Asked what his message for Londoners was, Johnson signaled to the clear blue skies above the city and said: ‘My rallying cry for today is get on your bicycle... I think you’d be insane not to go on your bike on a day like today if you possibly can.’

Johnson was particularly pleased to be presented with a basketball shirt by GB basketball star, Dan Clark. ‘This is the original London Underground armpit nuzzler,’ he joked. ‘On the tube, in the heat, this is what you need – full armpit exposure. This is just the kind of garment that is ideal for hot weather conditions on the underground.’

Liu Won’t Be Ready Before World Championships

Liu Xiang will not return before the World Championships in Berlin. (Getty Images)Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang will not return to competition yet because he is not fully recovered from an injury, his coach said Tuesday.

“There’s really no need to rush. It is immature for him to run in competitions at this moment. We can count Liu in when he is fully ready. If he injures his leg again, it will certainly end his career once and for all,” his coach, Sun Haiping, said.

Sun said Liu’s rehab was on schedule, but he was not ready to compete in “top-level international competitions” and would miss the World Championships in Berlin in August.

No announcements were made on if Liu would compete in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in September.

Briefs…

…Kellogg’s will continue as a sponsor of British swimming after agreeing to a $5 million sponsorship. British swimmers Cassie Patten, Nick Robinson Baker, Sam Hynd and Olivia Allison will become Team Kellogg’s. Kellogg’s will support them through the 2012 Olympics.

Olympian Yao Ming may have to retire early because of a worsening injury. (Getty Images)…IOC President Jacques Rogge will attend the Association of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA) General Assembly next week in Abuja, Nigeria, according to Xinhua. The event, which will be held July 6-8, will include the 2016 bid cities.

…The Nigeria Olympic Committee will celebrate Olympic Day July 11 with cultural and sports events, primary and secondary school student debates about the Olympics and its traditional 10km run.

…Olympian Yao Ming may have to retire early after a foot injury he suffered earlier this year has worsened. The NBA star’s team announced that Yao could miss next season and possible end his career because of problems in his foot healing. Yao played for China in the Beijing Olympics.

With reporting from Isia Reaves and James Corbett

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