Day 10 - July 28
The opening day of competition for London 2012 and
the place is buzzing after last night's opening ceremony.
Bacon and eggs are sizzling in kitchen's around
London (well at least at the Balham bed and breakfast), people have lined the
streets for the men's road race and for those not out and about are soaking it
up on the 24 available BBC channels (it is amazing and here is a link to the BBC website
where you watch, track and record absolutely everything that is going on at the
Games).
From a Hunter end, swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes has
moved through to the final of the 400 metre individual medley and will be out
to challenge the Phelps-Lotche showdown in tonight's decider at 7.30pm (4.30am
Sunday AEST).
Also, basketballer Suzy Batkovic will be in action
today alongside fellow Novocastrian Jenni Screen when the Opals tackle the
hosts Great Britain on court at 10.15pm (7.15am Sunday AEST).
The Opals, buoyed by Lauren Jackson being the
Australian flag bearer at last night's opening ceremony, are attempting to
break their run of three silvers and grab that elusive gold medal this time
around.
Suzy was kind enough to answer a few questions for
the Maitland Mercury, 1233 ABC Newcastle and of course "Five rings, an
Aussie and a London eye" in her final days of preparation to London 2012.
1) Josh: After all the
training, the selections and build up, what does it feel like now to be on the
eve of the Olympics?
Suzy: It is always great to play in
an Olympics (this is my third), it is getting really exciting now that the
first game against Great Britain is only a few days away.
2) J: How have the final preparations been going? An almost
unbeaten lead up must instil the Opals with confidence in trying to crack the gold
in London.
S: We have had a good lead up,
it is the longest preparation we have had together going into an Olympics to
give us the best possible chance to take the next step and win gold.
3) J: How would you describe your role in the team?
S: Being one of the veterans on
the team I am one of the leaders now so I have been working closely with some
of our younger teammates.
4) J: What are your memories of growing up in Newcastle and do
regard this as home?
S: Definitely - Newcastle is
always home and we have the best beaches. My childhood memories are mainly of
spending most of my time at the basketball stadium.
5) J: Have you had much support from back home and who will be
in your support crew for the Games?
S: One of my most important supporters, my Mum, is coming to London for
the Games and it will be great to have her
here. I always get lots of support from Newcastle which is great.
Thanks Suzy and good luck to you and Jenni tonight as well as Thomas in the pool.
Links:
*Read the
London Eye each day in the Maitland Mercury during the 2012 Olympic
Games
*Tune
into 1233 ABC Newcastle each morning from
7.30am during the Games period for a live cross from the London Olympics with
breakfast presenter Aaron Kearney
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