Olympic Park 2012 London

The London 2012 Games are the catalyst for transforming 2.5sq km of land in east London. What was once industrial, contaminated land has been rapidly transformed over the past three years. The Olympic Park will create a green backdrop for the Games and a new green space after 2012 for people and wildlife living in and around the area to enjoy. The southern part of the Park will focus on retaining the festival atmosphere of the Games, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafes and bars. The northern area will use the latest green techniques to manage flood and rain water, while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare species, from kingfishers to otters. Around 2,000 semi-mature British-grown trees have been hand-picked to form the roots of the Park’s green spaces, which will be enjoyed by spectators and become a home for wildlife. There will also be a further 2,000 trees planted on the Olympic and Paralympic Village site. The trees have been carefully selected to ensure they are ‘future proof’ against climate change. They are mostly native species, such as ash, alder, willow, birch, hazel, cherry, poplar, London plane and lime. More than 300,000 wetland plants will also be planted in the Park. It will be the UK’s largest ever urban river and wetland planting. It will help create a colourful riverside setting for the London 2012 Games. Stretching for half a mile between the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium will be an area of gardens that will celebrate centuries of British passion for gardens and plants. They will trace the journey of the UK’s plant collectors around the world through more than 250 species of plants, trees, meadows and herbs. It will also be a highly accessible Park. The gradients of the paths will be accessible to everyone and views will be maintained of the new venues and landmarks in the surrounding area. ‘Henman Hills’ will be created so visitors to the Park during the Games will be able to watch live action on large screens.

International Inspiration in the swim in Bangladesh

Michelle, London 2012 International Inspiration Communications Officer, Recently I was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to the beautiful country of Bangladesh to visit one of International Inspiration’s most exciting projects, Swim Safe. Bangladesh is a very flood-prone country and it was evident to me even from my short time there that Bangladeshi life revolves around water – from the submerged rice fields to soaking and stripping jute, a reed used to make baskets, rugs and bags (Bangladesh is the largest exporter of this very versatile material) from the banks of rivers and streams. Despite this, many children lack even basic water-safety awareness and every year in Bangladesh around 17,000 children die from drowning. Michelle, London 2012 International Inspiration Communications Officer, The Swim Safe programme recruits and trains Community Swimming Instructors (CSI) to teach children aged four-10 years survival swimming skills. As well as learning to swim and tread water, children learn how to rescue somebody who is drowning and identify life-threatening water hazards like fast-flowing rivers. We visited two ponds in the rural Narsingdi region. While it’s only about 30 miles outside of the bustling capital city of Dhaka, it took us about five hours to reach by road – the traffic in Bangladesh was certainly an experience!

The ponds are made safe using specially designed bamboo structures that cost approximately $100 to make. I was told they were so inexpensive because, as is the case with a lot of things in Bangladesh, they use local materials and labour to construct them. When we visited one of the classes taking place, many people from the community had come to watch the children learn and there was plenty of clapping and encouragement as well. Nargis, a local woman I met in Narsingdi, told me she jumped at the chance to enrol her eight-year-old daughter Anika – who nearly drowned as a younger child – in the Swim Safe programme when it arrived in her village: ‘When Anika was much younger, she fell in the water and was about to die. They took her to the hospital and it’s God’s mercy that she survived, so I did not miss the chance when I was asked if I wanted her to have swimming lessons. ‘She always tells me how much she enjoys swimming and says she can swim faster than anyone else in her class. Now I feel confident that she will not drown – I don’t need to worry about whether she is playing near water.’ Swim Safe’s future One of the main reasons that International Inspiration is so successful is that it works closely with local in-country partners; in Bangladesh it works with the International Drowning Research Centre (IDRC). We had the opportunity to chat to Dr Aminur Rahman, Director of IDRC Bangladesh about the Swim Safe programme, its successes so far and his hopes for its future – you can watch what he said (and enjoy the beautiful Bangladeshi landscape in the background) in this short International Inspiration Swim Safe video Excitingly, Swim Safe isn’t the only project currently underway in Bangladesh and there is plenty more work going on around the country. Girls’ empowerment programmes and youth sport leadership programmes are giving young people confidence and recognition within their communities, while at the same time challenging traditional ideas about gender inclusion. Bangladesh is a beautiful country, bursting with colour and life. International Inspiration’s Swim Safe programme is working to make sure the stunning backdrop of rivers, streams and ponds, that run through the country, can be enjoyed and not feared by its children and communities and remain a source of life and not death.

Joorabchian stands by Tevez Advisor defends City striker in the wake of his reported refusal to play

Carlos Tevez's commitment to any side he turns out for cannot be questioned, according to his advisor Kia Joorabchian.

The Manchester City striker has caused a storm with his recent actions, with his reported refusal to take to the field in a UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich seeing him vilified. Having remained rooted to the bench at the Allianz Arena, Tevez has been hit with a two-week suspension by City as they carry out an internal investigation. The Argentina international, who is currently back in his homeland, has always maintained that he did nothing wrong. In a post-match interview he was said to have told Sky Sports reporters that he 'did not feel right to play', while a statement released in the aftermath of the game claimed there had been a 'misunderstanding'. The full consequences of his actions are yet to be determined, but Joorabchian claims Tevez has not acted out of line after claiming the translation of the questions put to the player in the post-match interview were not accurate. Eager He believes his client is a model professional who never gives anything less than 100 per cent when out on the field and should not be judged until the full facts have come out. "One thing you can't criticise him for is his commitment when he's on the pitch," Joorabchian told the Leaders in Football conference in London. "You can never criticise him for not wanting to play. "There have been several times at Manchester City, throughout his two-year career, that he has taken injections where he has played with swollen ankles, where he has played in situations where even doctors have told him not to play. "My opinion is that Carlos, throughout his career, has been one that fights to play. If there is any issue it is because he is so eager to play. Vision "You have to remember that Carlos joined Manchester City when he had an offer from Real Madrid and Manchester United on the table. Man United gave him an offer, Real Madrid gave him an offer and Manchester City gave him an offer. "He was one of the first players to join Manchester City's new vision. Carlos was brought in to help start that vision, so he feels differently towards the club. He has an intense feeling. "At the end of his first season, when they didn't qualify for the Champions League, he took that as a very personal issue. In his second season his performances were outstanding." Joorabchian believes many people have judged Tevez without knowing the whole story and has called on those that have been quick to condemn him to hold fire until the club have carried out their investigation. He said: "The main issue is, what happened on the bench in Munich is one of a lot of confusion. Although I don't think it's correct for any player to say they don't want to play, I think the events in Munich have been judged prior to the real outcome coming out. We didn't see what really happened on the bench. We saw the TV footage. "We see Nigel de Jong going on and Carlos still warming up and a God-awful row between Roberto Mancini and Edin Dzeko. You see this row carrying on and Carlos sits down. Carlos then stands up, there's more shouting and he sits back down. "The next thing we hear is what Roberto says." Joorabchian also refused to speculate on Tevez's future, saying: "I cannot predict what Carlos wants to do. "He has been clearly judged and condemned before the case has been fully looked into. I think the club and Carlos are in a very difficult position."

Shearer rules out England But Three Lions legend would like to manage in the future

Alan Shearer does not think he has the necessary experience to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss, but he hopes to take the job in the future. The former Three Lions captain has made little secret of his desire to return to management after a short and unsuccessful attempt to save his beloved Newcastle from relegation in 2009. Shearer, along with Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson, has since been linked with the England job, which is set to become vacant when Capello leaves after Euro 2012. But Shearer, who was close to becoming Cardiff boss in the summer and has yet to start his Uefa Pro coaching licence, does not think he is ready for the role. Man-management He said in The Sun: "There are far more experienced candidates than me. "When you see what guys like Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson have done and the experience they have, to put me in the bracket with those guys is not right." Shearer added: "I would love to do it one day, but now would be tough. "I think if you were to ask an experienced Englishman like the guys that I've mentioned I'm sure they would snap your hands off. "Harry would be great because of his man-management. That's hugely important at football clubs but more so with England because you're only getting players for a week, or five weeks at a tournament."

Carlos Tevez behaviour unforgivable, says Francis Lee

Manchester City legend Francis Lee says the behaviour of suspended striker Carlos Tevez is "unforgivable." Tevez allegedly refused to play against Bayern Munich last Tuesday, with the club suspending the Argentine for two weeks pending an investigation. "It was unforgivable," Lee told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek. "I don't know what was going on in his mind. "When you refuse to go on the pitch , there's no way back, it's as cut and dried as that." City manager Roberto Mancini said at the time that he felt Tevez could never play for the club again after claiming the 27-year-old had ignored his orders by failing to come on as a substitute in the Champions League group match. Lee, however, insists that the club needs to take a decisive stance with the player, stating: "If there is an example to be made of people, I think we'll take it. "The club could be doing a lot of football clubs a favour by putting a player in his place. You can't mess this club around because it's so vastly wealthy. "They need to show whoever they sign in the future, whatever their contracts are, that they're not going to be pushed around by temperamental stars."

Ferguson rules out Manchester United move for Campbell

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he will not be signing former England defender Sol Campbell. The 35-year-old centre-half revealed he would be keen on an Old Trafford move having been released from his Notts County contract last week. Ferguson said: "Campbell was a great player. But he is not a player we are thinking about bringing to United." However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has not ruled out a move for Campbell, saying: "You never say never." Campbell, who left the Gunners for Portsmouth in 2006, has been training at Arsenal's training ground in Hertfordshire since leaving County. Wenger added: "I love Sol Campbell and the fact he came back here and wanted to practise with us shows he loves the club as well. "At the moment, we have four centre-backs and we will always have four. "If one would go, then I would consider it, but at the moment we are four, so I have no need to sign anybody else. "Sol can still do a job in the Premier League, especially now he is fit. He has worked very hard." Campbell, capped 73 times by his country, is a free agent and available in the January transfer window having been released from his five-year contract with the League Two side last week. Earlier in the week, the former Tottenham star told ESPN he would "love to play for Manchester United", but without any official contact, added he was "not counting any chickens and just waiting to see what happens". United had 15 players missing - including eight defenders - for Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League win at Wolfsburg and Campbell could have been viewed as an attractive option. Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were part of a makeshift three-man defence in Germany and Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic are the only regular defenders who are fit. However, the injury crisis shows some sign of receding with the news that Jonny Evans (calf) could be back in 10 days, while John O'Shea (thigh) may return after Christmas. Ferguson added: "We are having a hard time with centre-backs at this moment in time but I am sure by January most of them will be back." It has been suggested the club are experiencing financial difficulties with Ferguson's lack of transfer activity following the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m in the summer. However, the Scottish boss said: "It has been said I do not have the money, but the money is there if I wanted to use it. "I didn't see any value in the summer and I don't see any value at the moment either. I am happy with the players I already have at the club." Campbell only settled his contract dispute with Notts County last Wednesday after the club initially refused to release his registration. He linked up with director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson at Meadow Lane in August but departed less than a month into the deal having played just one game after reportedly becoming disillusioned with the club's rate of progression.