The torch’s journey took it from Nanaimo to Port Alberni and ended in Tofino, and there was never a shortage of cheering crowds of people. So far the journey of the Olympic flame has bee trouble free. Around 300 people stood in ocean water to watch the Olympic Torch catch a wave at Tofino’s surfing beach, Long Beach.

Grandmother Annie was in Parksville B.C. watching her grandson carry the torch. Although she has mixed emotions about the Olympics, she was still happy to see her 13-year-old grandson with the torch. “I’m sort of, in two minds about the Olympics because of the poverty and stuff and the money that could’ve been spent. But, I am proud that he has this chance to do a once in a lifetime thing. That’s pretty cool.”

For day four the flame will make its way through Qualicum Beach, Courtenay and Campbell River, among other spots. To read more on this story go to news1130.com. Tell us your thoughts on the Olympic games.

The day was full of excitement with police officers having fun serving alongside Treva and Hakeem. There were long lines of people all looking forward to a mouthwatering Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and many, if not all left with huge smiles on their faces. Hakeem Kae-Kazim showed a softer side than his character Dubaku on Fox’s “24” and loved seeing the children laughing and enjoying the ice cream. While Treva Etienne, who also played in “24” enjoyed helping so much he continued serving for 8 hours.

Other celebrities who helped on the day were: Amanda Annan (British Supermodel/Host), Brittany Curran (The life of Zack and Cody), B.Scott (Access Hollywood) and Romi Dames (Hannah Montana).

April 21st is Ben and Jerry’s annual ‘Free Cone Day’. The celebration is more than just a chance to get a free scoop. It is also an opportunity to involve the community at large to demonstrate the company’s commitment to giving back.

For more information on Special Olympics and to Donate: www.sosc.org

I have not watched as much Olympics as I have done this year and now I am left with an empty feeling inside, now what am I going to do with my time at home.

The opening ceremony was scripted and there was a lot of controversy such as the lip syncing with the young girl, but the closing ceremony was unscripted fun as if there was a party inside the Birds Nest.

The athletes looked as if they were having the most fun; maybe it was the taking part or the fact that they are on their way home to see their families. The athletes were blowing kisses at the crowd while those who won medals were showing them off.

The closing ceremony had acrobats, unicyclists playing basketball and a lot more to entertain the crowd.

London knew that they would not be able to match the opening and closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics when it came to the handover. They did a couple of things that did please the crowd, firstly driving a red double-decker bus on to the filed as well as David Beckham coming on to the field.

For images of the closing ceremony click here

Tim Brabants took the gold medal by crossing the line in 3:26.323 seconds, Britain still maintain third place in the gold medal standings.

Brabants was in lane five, Adam van Koeverden started to mount his challenge at the 500m stage, but it was not enough to catch Brabants from his great start. In the final 250m the Canadians surge faded gifting Brabants with the win.

After the race, Brabants said “That was exactly the race plan we wanted, that is what we have been working on all year in how to race an Olympic final.” He also added “I know it is easy to say when I won but right from the start line I was going to win the race.”

Britain now has two more gold medals to win in order to achieve their 20 gold’s that they hope to win.

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The first set was a close one, the match was tied at 10-10. The U.S. then has match point to take the first set, they won the first set 23-21. They have just one set to go to get the gold.

The second set was also a tight one; Marcio and Fabio are tied with Dalhausser and Rogers 8-8. USA takes it to 13-10 then it went to 15-15. Marcio sets Fabio with a great shot taking Brazil to 16-15. Set two ends with Brazil winning 21-17.

So set three will be the decider, USA took an early 8-1 lead Brazil had trouble with Dalhausser at the net. It looked as if USA was on a roll as they were up 9-1 then on to 11-2. It looked as if the pressure was getting to Brazil; USA finally took the set 15-4, in doing so took the gold medal.

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Other Olympic news

As the U.S. has lost to Japan people are hoping that it might help advance softball in the Olympics as the U.S. has normally dominated.

The U.S. has won 22 straight Olympic victories, which meant that the game was becoming predictable. The sport had been voted out for this reason; let us hope that this loss will keep softball alive.

Pitcher, Cat Osterman has said “I haven’t really thought about the big picture, it hurts too much to look at the future.” She also said “Hopefully for some of the younger ones there’s a chance they’ll have another shot with reinstatement, but in the present moment, it just hurts.”

Softball has been voted out of the 2012 games, but hopefully might make it back in time for the 2016 games.

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He Kexin has been feted after winning the individual and team gold, many believe that she is only 14 but she still maintains that she is 16. The ages of her team mates Jiang Yuyuan and Yang Yilin have also come into question.

There have been suspicions of the team’s ages as they look so young, the suspicions have now gained some ground since these documents had come out. These documents suggest that He is 13 or 14. Some of the documents look as if they have been amended or even removed following these questions.

Giselle Davies, director of communications for the IOC has said that they had asked gymnastics officials to investigate because “more information came to light”. She added: “If there is a question mark and we have a concern, which we do, we ask the governing body of any sport to look into it.” Davies said that it was not a formal investigation but was designed to clear up the situation and “put it to rest”.

The IOC has not gone as far as to announce the names of the individuals concerned. The head coach of the Chinese gymnast team, Huang Yubin has denied any such claim.

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Other Oylmpic News

Shawn Johnson scored 16.205 points; it was not a definite of her getting gold on the event. The American had to wait for teammate Nastia Liukin skitter to follow with her routine first. Liukin’s score popped up at 16.025, Johnson smiled as she knew she had finally won gold.

Shawn Johnson left it until the final night of the gymnastics competition until she won the gold, but I bet it was the best night of her life, one that her teammates will help her celebrate.

Johnson had hoped to win the gold in the all-around competition, but it was her teammate who took the gold with herself taking silver.

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32-year-old Hoy showed that he was in superb form in Tuesday’s semifinal and final, he won both races with convincing wins.

Team GB has now bagged seven out of ten gold’s at the Laoshan Velodrome. Let us hope that we can build on this success with some of the track and field events.

We currently stand in third overall with a total of 15 Gold Medals. I have never watched so much Olympics as I have this year; it is great to see Team GB doing so well. I hope that we finish in third; this will be a great momentum for us when we head to London 2012.

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Bolt, the world record holder did all that he needed to do in just the first 50 meters, he then looked left and right and then decided just to coast across the finish line in a time of 9.92 seconds.

While watching BBC1 this afternoon Bolt was asked if you had any more in the tank he replied “I have loads in the tank.”

Asafa Powell ran a time of 10.02 seconds while Gay did it in 10.09 seconds. It seems as if the American is looking a little unimpressive, Gay need to up his game if he wants a medal other than Bronze.

One thing is certain; we are all set for a thrilling 100 meter Olympic final. It will not be an American winning the gold though that will go to a Jamaican, but which one.

The first three gymnastics titles were won by the Chinese, but the U.S. must have been getting sick of hearing their National Anthem, it must have been music to their ears to finally here their own anthem.

Liukin had 63.325 points her after flawless exercises on each four apparatus, her combination was great with a good mix of difficulty and quality. Johnson was only 0.600 from taking the gold, however she had to settle for silver. It was Yang Yilin of China in 62.650 who took the bronze.

The reigning world champion Johnson did not have an answer for Liukin; she did not make any mistakes it just was not meant to be today. Johnson wooed both judges and spectators and started with a great performance but she later dropped to third, before clawing it back to finish second.

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Phelps dominated the pool again by winning the 200-metre individual medley, by doing it in a time of one minute 54.23 seconds. That time was a new world record, making it his sixth world record of the games.

I have not been paying much attention to these records that keep being beating in these games; they are not the true time what a human can swim them in. Back in the day of Mark Spitz all he had was his trunks and it was down to the power and technique, this is not so at these games I feel that swimmers of today cheat.

I do not mean my drugs or anything like that, I just do not agree with those things they wear on their legs. They are worn to improve the performance of their swimming, no longer is down to raw power in the pool instead it is down to science.

When a world record is won in a track or field event, which is when you get a true idea at just how great an athlete has performed. Many are saying that Michael Phelps is about to become the greatest Olympian of all time, but I do not agree. Swimming is a sport that is less demanding on the body, for me I would have to say that Carl Lewis is the greatest of them all.

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This is now Federer’s third attempt to win an Olympic gold; it is as if the Olympic Gold is not to be for the world No. 1. Roger Federer will have more bad news after the Beijing Olympics is over, as he is certain to lose his number one ranking to Rafael Nadal.

Today’s quarter final was delayed by almost three hours due to rain; Venus Williams was due to follow the match between Federer and Blake.

It seems that tennis is not that popular at the Beijing Olympics, as most matches have looked empty. I would have assumed that there would be a huge crowd watching the matches as the world’s top tennis stars are playing at the games.

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It seems that people are looking all over the Internet to watch the video of this happening, but all sites have had to take the videos down.

Baranyai was trying to snatch 148kg; it was his third lift, which was when his elbow pooped out. He was no longer able to support the weight of the barbell, his right forearm bent backwards.

He fell to the floor and was crying out in pain. All the audience could do was watch helplessly, but they all felt his pain.
Janos Baranyai’s coaching staff as well as competition officials rushed to try and help the injured weight lifter, as he laid trembling and screaming in pain on the floor.

He was carried off the platform and taken to a local hospital for treatment. It is still not known what his condition is.

Baranyai was carried off the platform on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment, said Benny Johansson, a technical controller at the event. It was not immediately clear how serious the injury is.

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Other Olympic News

Liu took the gold at the Beijing Olympics for the 200 Meter fly in a time of two minutes 04.18 seconds; she smashed the world record by 1.22 seconds.

Austrlia’s Jessicah Schipper’s only managed bronze, she was on target of beating her own record and for the gold but just after halfway she was unable to keep the pace, and started to drop back.

As we mentioned above, this was China’s first win the 2008 Olympic swimming competition. When they took gold and silver the home nation crown went wild inside the Water Cube.

Liu had been saying all week that she was up for the challenge, and she did not disappoint.

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