Countdown to the London Olympics 2012

Domino effect across London sets the scene for Olympic countdown

London prepared for the party of the decade - if not the century - this weekend with a string of events celebrating the countdown to the 2012 Games.

Organisers staged hundreds of sports and arts events across the capital, including the first tour for members of the public to see inside the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

Another highlight of the three-day 2012 Open Weekend was a domino chain of 8,000 concrete blocks running from Mile End Park to the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich - with a connecting block on a boat down the Thames. More

Olympics And Ramadan Don't Mix

Reports say that the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held during Ramadan, the most holy month in the Islamic calendar. In 2012 Ramadan will take place from July 21 to August 20 and the 2012 Games run from July 27 to August 12. It’s anticipated 3,000 Muslim competitors would be affected.

As it turns out we can't really blame Seb Coe et al because each bidding city is given a window from July 15 to August 31, which doesn't leave a lot of room for compromise.

Certain members of the Muslim community are optimistic about the situation however. Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, of Muslim Council of Great Britain has said, “I’m sure the athletes will seek advice from their scholars. They are obviously going to be at a disadvantage because other competitors will be drinking and keeping up their energy levels. They are athletes and I am sure they will train their bodies to cope with this.

Someone needs to tell Shaykh that there's a difference between 'athelete' and 'bionic superhuman'. Link

Considering how long the fasts are going to be, "at a disadvantage" is an understatement.