<a href="http://ydtalk.com/jdispatch/2012/09/06/inspiration-from-the-paralympics/">Inspiration from the Paralympics

September 6, 2012

Check out the amazing abilities of our paralympian athletes. http://youtu.be/hLgVp7mDbsQ

Paralympics open in London

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 30, 2012

Check out some of the highlights of the 2012 Paralympic games in London. http://youtu.be/vBmmA7rfliw

Monday Olympic Photo Gallery: The closing ceremony, basketball, pentathlon, handball, rythmic gymnastics, wrestling and more

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 13, 2012

Yes, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London are over, but Junior Dispatch had to squeeze in one more photo gallery to cover the big final day on Sunday.

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The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, waves the Olympic flag during the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jeff J Mitchell, Pool)

The London Olympics have ended. IOC President Jacques Rogge just pronounced them closed.

“We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these games. You, the spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these games,” Rogge says.

He adds: “You have shown the world the best of British hospitality.”

And this: “These were happy and glorious games.”

He concluded: “I declare the games of the 30th Olympiad closed.”

Next stop for the Summer Games: Rio 2016.

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As the London Olympics closed, the next host, Rio de Janeiro, was set to kick off four years of preparations for games that some see as Brazil’s entrance onto the world stage.
Many are bracing for a rocky ride as Rio — a laid-back beach city not known for its efficiency or punctuality — rushes to build four main Olympic sites and undertake a massive infrastructure overhaul.
Rio native Joao Carlos de Figueireiro said that despite the “mess” that was sure to come, he had faith things would work out in the end.
“There are definitely things we need to work on, organization-wise,” said Figueireiro, a 56-year-old barman at a neighborhood cafe. “But we’re experts at pulling rabbits out of hats at the last minute and I’m sure that’s what we’re going to do.”

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Overnight, Olympic Park in London has gone from party central to an empty, blocked-off construction site.

Now that the games are over, the park is eerily deserted. The main stadium is blocked off by metal barriers, concession stands are closed, and the world’s biggest McDonald’s empty. Small groups of construction workers are working to transform the venues for use in the Paralympic Games, which begin Aug. 29.

Olympic Park had been visited by more than 5 million people over the last 17 days.

It will be closed to the public until the Paralympics — and for almost a year afterwards, while some venues are torn down and others are modified. It will open in stages from next summer as the 560-acre (227-hectare) Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

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Now on to the last batch of photos from the 2012 Olympic games in London.

Russia’s Egor Mekhontcev, left, fights Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov in a light heavyweight 81-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. Mekhontcev won the gold and Niyazymbetov won the silver. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Fans watch as cyclists compete in the Mountain Bike Cycling men’s race, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at Hadleigh Farm, in Essex, England. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Silver Medalist Nino Schurter, of Switzerland, competes in theMountain Bike Cycling men’s race, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, at Hadleigh Farm, in Essex, England. Schurter rode an aggressive race as only two riders, bronze medalist Marco Aurelio Fontana, of Italy, and gold medalist Jaroslav Kulhavy, of the Czech Republic, were able to follow his frenetic pace. The leading trio started to work together to distance the rest of the field, building a gap of 10 seconds after the second lap. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The team from Russia performs during the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The bronze medallist team from Italy performs during the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

France’s Thierry Omeyer reacts during the men’s handball gold medal match against Sweden at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

France’s Nikola Karabatic (13) and Sweden’s Tobias Karlsson challenge for the ball during their men’s handball gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

The United States’ Kobe Bryant jumps to score during the men’s gold medal basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Ralston, Pool)

United States’ LeBron James celebrates after winning the gold medal at the men’s basketball game against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

United States’ Kevin Durant celebrates after the men’s gold medal basketball game against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. USA won 107-100. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Athletes run near Big Ben during the men’s marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Athletes run through the Leadenhall Market during the men’s marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Gold-medalist Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda finishes the men’s marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Margaux Isaksen, of United States, competes with horse Puck Glen in the equestrian show jumping stage of the women’s modern pentathlon, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Aya Medany of Egypt shoots in the combined running and shooting stage of the women’s modern pentathlon, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Margaux Isaksen, of the United States, left, hunches over after crossing the finish line in fourth place behind bronze medalist Yane Marques, of Brazil, right, in the women’s modern pentathlon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Croatia’s Paulo Obradovic, top, shoots against Italy’s Amaurys Perez during the men’s water polo gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Croatia coach Ratko Rudic swims after jumping in the pool to celebrate his team’s 8-6 victory over Italy during the men’s water polo gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Sergey Grankin of Russia sets the ball during a five set win over Brazil 25during the men’s gold medal volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Brazil’s Wallace de Souza, right, spikes the ball past Russia’s Alexander Volkov, left, and Sergey Tetyukhin during a men’s gold medal volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Ramazan Sahin of Turkey competes with Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan (in blue) during their 66-kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Jacob Stephen Varner of the United States, celebrates winning against Valerii Andriitsev of Ukraine, at the end of their 96-kg freestyle wrestling gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fireworks explode during the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

French athletes Amelie Cazae and Julien Bahain sit after the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jamie Gray shows off her gold medal after returning home to the United States. Gray, of Lebanon County, won the medal at the the women’s 50-meter three-position rifle shoot at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS EARL BRIGHTBILL)

Friday Olympic Photo Gallery: Water polo, soccer, decathlon, triple jump, sailing, hockey, taekwondo and more

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 10, 2012

Australia’s crew Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, foreground, celebrate after winning the gold medal of the 470 men’s class sailing competition at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, England. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Here are five things to look out for at the London Olympics on Friday, according to the Associated Press:

1. 4×100 RELAY: The American women look like the team to beat in the final.

2. OSCAR PISTORIUS: South Africa’s double-amputee runner finishes his landmark first Olympics in the men’s 4×400-meter relay final.

3. BEYOND BOLT: Jamaica’s men run in the 4×100 relay heat, but Usain Bolt is unlikely to feature. How much strength in depth do they have?

4. DOPING: Just days before the eight-year deadline expires, the IOC formally stripped American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his 2004 gold for doping.

5. THEY RULE THE WAVES: Australia bounced back — slightly — from a disappointing Olympics, winning a sailing gold — its third — to become the most successful nation on the ocean at these games.

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Gold medalist Claressa Shields of the United participates in the medals ceremony after their women’s final middleweight 75-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Claressa Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., has been celebrating this week after the teen boxing sensation punched her way to an Olympic gold medal.

Mayor Dayne Walling and City Councilman Bryant Nolden invited city residents to a local bar to watch the 17-year-old’s gold medal match against Nadezda Torlopova of Russia. Shields won the middleweight bout 19-12

Shields’ father, Clarence, was among the about 200 people who attended the free viewing event in downtown Flint. He took to a knee to pray after watching his daughter receive her medal.

The mayor said “the atmosphere was electric” as people watched a young product of the struggling community’s schools and youth sports programs reach the peak of her craft.

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A television crew from NBC affiliate WTHR in Indianapolis has been toting around its meteorologist for the entire games. Or, at least, one version of its meteorologist.

The crew is trying to get as many athletes and celebrities as possible to pose with a cutout of Chuck Lofton. On Thursday, entertainer Ryan Seacrest went along with the gag.

Looking into the television camera as he held out the miniature picture of Lofton, the diminutive Seacrest told the meteorologist, “Chuck, you might be bigger than me.”

Check out Flat Chuck with swimmer Allison Schmidt here: http://pic.twitter.com/A5T27mkU

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United States’ Abby Wambach, rear, hugs teammate Heather Mitts after winning the women’s soccer gold medal match against Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

If athletes from the University of Florida comprised their own country in the Olympics, they’d give many nations a run for their money.

Gator athletes had another big day Thursday, when triple jumpers Christian Taylor and Will Claye won gold and silver, soccer players Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts were part of the U.S. women’s gold medal winning squad and Melanie Booth of Canada got bronze on her national team’s effort.

The triple jumpers, Wambach and swimmers Ryan Lochte and Conor Dwyer reveled in the Gator success on Friday and posed for pictures together doing the trademark Gator chomp.

“Gator nation is the best,” says Lochte, winner of five swimming medals in London.

“We’ve worked hard. I’ve personally seen most of the athletes working out. We push our bodies to the limit and that’s why we did so well.”

He continued: “And you know what? We’re like a big family so we always help each other out. No matter what sport it is, we come together and work toward the goal. Once swimming was done, I was totally tuned into track and field and all the other sports Gators are representing.”

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The gender balance at the Summer Olympics is changing.

The International Olympic Committee says Thursday that 44 percent of the athletes competing in London are women. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, women made up only 24 percent of participants.

The London games are also the first Olympics where all 204 nations have sent a female athlete.

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As the London Games wind to a close, Rio is ramping up.

Leonardo Gryner, head of the Rio organizers, says they are “transforming the whole city” for the 2016 Summer Games.

“All of the construction is on time,” Gryner says. “All of the sports venues will be completed by 2015 in time for full test events for each competition.”

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See more of the Junior Dispatch’s Olympic photo galleries:

And now on to today’s Olympic photo gallery, as shot by the Associated Press’s photographers.

Emanuel of Brazil digs out a ball during the men’s gold medal beach volleyball match against Germany at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Canada’s Emilie Fournel paddles in the women’s kayak single 200m in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Cyclists compete in a BMX cycling men’s quarterfinal run during the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Montenegro’s Majda Mehmedovic, foreground, and team mate Suzana Lazovic celebrate after winning the women’s handball semifinal match against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Czech Republic’s Barbora Spotakova takes a throw in the women’s javelin throw final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

United States’ Ashton Eaton leads in the men’s decathlon 1500-meter during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Eaton won the gold medal for the event. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

This combination of eleven photos shows in the center frame, United States’ Ashton Eaton being embraced by his fiancee Brianne Theisen after winning gold in the decathlon following the 1500-meter race during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. The other ten frames show Eaton competing in the ten disciplines that comprise the decathlon event over two days, Wednesday to Thursday, Aug. 8-9, at the London Olympics – from top left, clockwise: the long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter run, 110-meter hurdles, pole vault, 1500-meter run, 100-meter run, javelin and discus. (AP Photo)

The Netherlands’ Billy Bakker, left, celebrates after scoring his third goal against Britain during a men’s field hockey semifinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

France’s Sandrine Gruda, top, battles Russia’s Anna Petrakova for a rebound during a women’s semifinals basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

United States’ Manteo Mitchell competes in a 4×400-meter relay heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. Manteo had half a lap to go in the first leg of the 4×400-meter relay preliminaries Thursday and a choice to make: keep running or stop and lose the race. To him, it was never much of a choice. He finished the lap and limped to the side to watch the Americans finish the race and qualify easily for the final. A few hours later, doctors confirmed what he suspected: He had run the last 200 meters with a broken left fibula. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

United States women’s water polo players huddle before the gold medal match against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. The U.S. won 8-5. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Elsie Windes of the United States, goes for a shot on goal as Andrea Blas Martinez of Spain, goes to block during their women’s water polo gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Members of the United States women’s water polo team celebrate after winning the gold medal match against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

A fan wears a costume representing the flag of the United States at the canoe sprint competition in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Fans of the United States wait for the start of the gold medal match between the United States and Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. The U.S. women’s football team won its third straight Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last year’s World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its history.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo dives for the ball during the women’s soccer gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo celebrates with teammates after winning the gold medal match against Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

United States players celebrate winning the gold medal in their women’s soccer final against Japan at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Sweden’s Elin Johansson reacts during her fight against Egypt’s Seham Elsawalhy in women’s 67-kg taekwondo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt kisses the finish line after winning the men’s 200 meters at the Summer Olympics in London on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt uses a photographer’s camera as he takes pictures after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200-meter during the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

USA’s Amanda Clark, not seen, and Sarah Lihan compete during the 470 women’s class medal race at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, in Weymouth and Portland, England. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

United States’ Christian Taylor competes in the men’s triple jump final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

United States’ Christian Taylor kisses his gold medal during the ceremony for the men’s triple jump at the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Lessons in field hockey

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 10, 2012

Learn some basic hockey rules and stick handling tips. By the way, we call it field hockey in America. http://youtu.be/XEtPqpd95nM

Thursday Olympic Photo Gallery: Volleyball, basketball, boxing, taekwondo, wrestling, running and more

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 9, 2012

Here are five things to look out for at the London Olympics on Thursday according to the Associated Press:

1. USAIN BOLT: The Jamaican sprinter runs in the men’s 200-meter final. If he wins, he’ll be the first Olympian to repeat the so-called sprint double of 100-meter and 200-meter golds.

2. WOMEN’S SOCCER: The United States plays Japan at Wembley in a repeat of last year’s World Cup final.

3. ONE MORE CHANCE: South Africa has won an appeal to advance to the 4×400-meter relay final despite a crash in the heat. That means Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee runner, can compete for a medal on Friday.

4. DOPING: The IOC is set to formally strip U.S. cyclist Tyler Hamilton of his gold from the 2004 Athens Games and reassign the medals after his admission of doping.

5. WOMEN’S BOXING: The first Olympic gold will be awarded, with American Claressa Shields slugging it out with Russia’s Nadezda Torlopov.

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius reacts after fellow team members crashed out of a men’s 4×400-meter relay heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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Michael Phelps isn’t the only G.O.A.T at the Olympics.

Taffy the goat wandered the open water venue at the Serpentine in Hyde Park on Thursday. He was led by his red-clad handler from the Royal Welsh, Wales’ infantry regiment.

Like Phelps — nicknamed G.O.A.T., or greatest Olympian of all time, after winning his 18th gold in the pool in London — Taffy boasted his own medals. Three shiny ones were pinned to the green cloth covering him. Silver sheaths adorned the tips of Taffy’s horns and his white beard was neatly groomed.

Curious volunteers posed for photos with Taffy and one asked his handler if the goat ever got cross. The reply: “Yes.”

—

United States’ Aries Merritt wins the men’s 110-meter hurdles final ahead Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, left, during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

The American men are way out front in the hurdles — and the hairstyles.

Gold medal winner Aries Merritt has his hair twisted into intricate braids while silver medalist Jason Richardson has sported his trademark dreadlocks for years.

“We both have a little hair thing going on,” Merritt says with a smile.

NBC’s “Today” show weatherman Al Roker seemed a little envious.

“It’s not for everyone,” Richardson said with a chuckle.

—

Ryan Bailey of the United States looks to shoot against Croatia during a men’s quarterfinal water polo match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. Croatia won 8-2 and will play Montenegro in the semifinal round. The U.S. will play Spain in the fifth to eight place semifinal. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

One thing is for sure about this year’s final four in the men’s water polo bracket: the teams are likely to watch what they say in the water.

That’s because three of the four teams are from the former Yugoslavia: Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro — and will know each other’s native tongue. The fourth team in the final four is Italy.

The last grouping also represents a victory for the little guys. Montenegro, with a population of 625,000, beat Spain, population 47.2 million, in the quarterfinals. Croatia, population of 4.7 million, beat the United States, at 312 million. Serbia, population 7.3 million, beat Australia, 22.6 million.

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United States’ Kerri Walsh Jennings, right, and Misty May-Treanor, left, react during a podium ceremony after winning the women’s gold medal beach volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross were opponents in the gold medal game in London. There’s a good chance they could be teammates in Rio.

Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor capped a brilliant career with their third straight Olympic gold, beating Ross and Jennifer Kessy in straight sets. Both May-Treanor and Kessy plan to be out of the international game by the time the Rio Games come around in 2016.

May-Treanor is done competitively, looking to turn her attention to starting a family with Dodgers catcher Matt Treanor. Kessy says she’s going to play for one more year until Ross finds another partner.

“She’s a winner,” Walsh Jennings says. “She’s a champion. She’s a fighter. She’s someone I’d be honored to play with.”

—

See more of the Junior Dispatch’s Olympic photo galleries:

And now on to today’s Olympic photo gallery, as shot by the Associated Press’s photographers.

United States’ forward LeBron James jumps for the ball during his team’s men’s quarterfinal basketball game against Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mark Ralston, Pool)

France’s Kevin Mayer takes a throw in the discus throw for the decathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Iran’s Ehsan Rouzbahani reacts as he leaves the ring following a fight against Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov in a light heavyweight 81-kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

United States’ Brittany Viola competes in the women’s 10-meter platform diving preliminaries at the Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Christin Steuer from Germany competes during the women’s 10-meter platform diving preliminaries at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito competes in the women’s 10-meter platform diving preliminaries at the Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

China’s Wu Jingyu reacts after defeating Spain’s Brigette Yague Enrique (in red) in their gold medal match in women’s 49-kg taekwondo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Britain’s Martin Stampler, right, reacts after his match against Mexico’s Erick Osornio Nunez in men’s 68-kg taekwondo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Czech Republic’s Petr Frydrych takes a throw in a men’s javelin throw qualification round during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen takes a throw in a men’s javelin throw qualification round during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Sweden’s Ebba Jungmark competes in a women’s high jump qualification round during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Croatia’s Ivan Cupic, right, scores past Tunisia’s Wassim Helal, right, during their men’s handball quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

United States’ Trey Hardee reacts after competing in a 110-meter hurdles heat in the decathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Germany’s Peter Kretschmer, right, and Kurt Kuschela react after winning the gold medal in the men’s canoe double 1000m in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

United States’ Allyson Felix crosses the finish line to win the women’s 200-meters final ahead of Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

United States’ Aries Merritt, center, crosses the finish line ahead of United States’ Jason Richardson, right, to win gold in the men’s 110-meter hurdles final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

United States Misty May-Treanor, right, dives for the ball as Kerri Walsh Jennings watches during a women’s gold medal beach volleyball match against United States April Ross and Jennifer Kessy at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Players of the Netherlands celebrate their victory over New Zealand in a women’s hockey semifinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun of the United States, rear, lifts Irini Merleni of Ukraine during their 48-kg women’s freestyle wrestling bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun of the United States celebrates after her win against Irini Merleni of Ukraine in their 48-kg women’s freestyle wrestling bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Wednesday Olympic Photo Gallery: Volleyball, discus, track and field, decathalon, soccer, BMX and more

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 8, 2012

The U.S.’s April Ross sets a ball during the semifinal women’s beach volleyball match against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Here are five things to look out for at the London Olympics on Wednesday:

1. GOLD FOR CERTAIN: The Americans are guaranteed first place in women’s beach volleyball, with Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor playing compatriots April Ross and Jennifer Kessy.

2. LONG JUMP: American Brittney Reese is a strong gold medal chance.

3. TABLE TENNIS: China is on the brink of another gold in the men’s team table tennis, where they’ve won every gold on offer so far.

4. 200-METER FINAL: In an evening race, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown will attempt to become the first woman to win the same track and field event at three consecutive Olympics.

5. USAIN BOLT: The fastest man in the Olympics runs in the semifinal of the men’s 200 meters, an event he won in Beijing.

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A bet is a bet, and Australian sports minister Kate Lundy won’t row back on her wager.

Lundy will put on a Great Britain team shirt — the height of embarrassment for a citizen of the U.K.’s fiercely competitive former colony — and row the Olympic course at Eton Dorney, west of London.

The bet was with British sports minister Hugh Robertson over which nation would claim the most Olympic medals in London.

British athletes have already powered to 48 medals, including 22 golds, while Australia — which retains Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state — is lagging behind with 25 medals and just 4 golds.

“I have cheerfully conceded,” Lundy said Wednesday as an national inquest began at home over why the sports-crazed nation has stumbled so badly. At Beijing in 2008, Australia claimed 46 medals.

—

Olympic athletes are getting used to the idea of life after the games.

“Right, time to sort out home insurance and my many emails… backtoreality” tweeted track cyclist Geraint Thomas who won gold for Britain in the men’s team pursuit.

British Boxer Zoe Smith tweeted, “Right. Well then. After the non-stop madness of the last week and few days, I think it is high time I sorted my life out.”

U.S. shooter Jamie Gray posted a photo of her kit all over the floor of her Alabama home, saying that a “clothing bomb went off unpacking from London2012.”

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Make way for the daredevils.

The BMX competition begins on Wednesday, with cyclists hitting jumps at break-neck speeds in pursuit of gold.

British star Shanaze Reade knows how difficult that can be. The two-time defending world champion crashed on the final curve in Beijing.

Now she’s back for another shot.

“It was the best thing that happened to me in Beijing to not win that Olympics because it gave me the rules of how to be an Olympic champion,” she says.

Some BMX factoids:

Bicycle moto cross – or BMX – started in California in the late 1960s
The International BMX Federation was founded in 1981
BMX is the newest cycling discipline in the Olympics. It first appeared on the program at the Beijing games in 2008
BMX races take place outdoors and include jumps and tight corners
In a typical race, eight riders compete in heats. The top four then qualify for the next round

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Germany’s Robert Harting takes a throw in the men’s discus throw final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Discus gold medalist Robert Harting of Germany put on a show Tuesday night.

Harting ripped his shirt to shreds following his win — much like the Incredible Hulk — flexed his muscles and then took to the track to make a pass on the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

“If you see me coming out of the stadium without a shirt, you know it was good,” Harting said.

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A tsunami of indignation and humor is swamping Irish Twitter.

Why? Because a London newspaper — The Daily Telegraph — asked its readers: “Can anyone beat Britain’s Katie Taylor?”

Taylor is Irish, not British, thank you.

Taylor, the world’s reigning lightweight champion boxer, won easily to advance to Thursday’s final as overwhelming favorite to win the gold. Her performances have riveted Ireland.

“Dear Daily Telegraph. Katie Taylor is IRISH. However, please feel free to claim Ronan Keating, Jedward, Louis Walsh …,” tweeted Fergus Murphy.

“Ireland’s Sir Chris Hoy unavailable for comment,” deadpanned Irish comedian Dara O Briain, referring to Britain’s top track cyclist.

The Daily Telegraph tweeted an apology. “She is Irish, of course,” said the newspaper, which previously has described scores of Irish athletes and entertainers, including Bono, as British.

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Aly Raisman has an issue with her gold medals. She’s not sure which is which.

The captain of the Fierce Five, the first U.S. team since 1996 to win the women’s gymnastics title, got her second gold medal Tuesday, claiming the title on floor exercise. But in the frenzy afterward, that medal got mixed up with her team medal.

“Yesterday was so hectic,” she said, “I forgot to mark them.”

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Here is a look at some of today’s best photos by the Associated Press from the 2012 London Olympic games:

Italy’s Valentina Arrighetti, right, turns her back as team South Korea celebrate in the background after a point was scored by South Korea during a women’s quarterfinal volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. South Korea won in four sets. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Germany’s Lisa Hahn competes with South Korea’s Cheon Eun-bi as South Korea’s goalkeeper Jang Soo-ji makes a save during their classification hockey match at the Riverside Arena at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ken Nee Yeoh of Malaysia dives during the men’s 3-meter springboard diving final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Germany’s Pascal Behrenbruch competes in a 100-meter decathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

United States’ Galen Rupp, front left, and Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel lead the pack midway through the men’s 5000 meters during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

United States’ LoLo Jones, right, crosses the finish line to place fourth in the women’s 100-meter hurdles final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

U.S. silver medallist gymnast McKayla Maroney gestures during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women’s vault finals at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Turkey’s Merve Aydin is assisted from the track after a women’s 800-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Members of the Hungarian women’s water polo team step into the water prior to their women’s semifinal water polo match against Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Vietnam’s Huynh Chau Le fights Chinese Taipei’s Chen-Yang Wei (in red) during their match in men’s 58-kg taekwondo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Russia’s Kristina Kim gets kicked in the head by Thailand’s Chanatip Sonkham during their match in women’s 49-kg taekwondo competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

France’s Kevin Mayer competes in the decathlon long jump during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, South Africa’s Willem Coertzen competes in the long jump decathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Palestinian athlete Woroud Sawalha prepares to compete in a women’s 800-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Maica Garcia of Spain, in blue cap, reacts as she gets into position in front of Tamas Varga of Hungary during their women’s semifinal water polo match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Iceland’s Bjorgvin Pall Gustavsson reacts during the men’s handball quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

South Korea’s Nam Tae-hee, centre watches the ball after a save by Brazil’s goalkeeper Rafael Cabral , left, during their semifinal men’s soccer match at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Russia’s Ivan Ukhov celebrates winning gold in the men’s high jump final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )

United States’ Dawn Harper, left, celebrates winning silver with bronze medallist Kellie Wells of the United States following the women’s 100-meter hurdles final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

A competitor picks up a shot during the shot put decathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Sailing scenes for the Olympics

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 8, 2012

Here’s a look at some of the sailing competitors for the 2012 Olympics. http://youtu.be/GlV-5mzTQ7M

Tuesday Olympic Photo Gallery: Ping pong, handball, basketball, hurdles, javelin and more

Posted by Dispatch staff

August 7, 2012