http://www.mynorthwest.com MyNorthwest.com delivers up-to-the-minute local news and information for Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area. en-us 15 144 21 http://www.mynorthwest.com http://www.mynorthwest.com/img/lg_mynw_144x21.gif http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=622310 LONDON (AP) - Thousands of London 2012 volunteers are gathering at Wembley Arena for their first orientation and training event for the Olympics. The session at Wembley Arena in London on Saturday, with an expected attendance of around 10,000 people, is the first stage in the training program for employees and Olympics volunteers. London Olympic organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe launched the event, saying orientation sessions will deliver more than 1 million training hours for up to 70,000 people around the country. Saturdays event is the first of six events taking place over three dates in February. The events are expected to provide an introduction to the history of the Games and an insight into what working at London 2012 will be like. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:03:39 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=621910 AP Sports Writer SAO PAULO (AP) - The designer of the Olympic golf course for the 2016 Summer Games wont be announced until March. The winner had been scheduled to be selected Friday after the eight bidders spent two days this week in Rio de Janeiro making final presentations. This will be the first Olympic course in more than 100 years. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:33:39 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=609119 AP Sports Writer LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - Governments, law enforcement agencies and betting operators agreed Thursday to work more closely together to fight illegal betting and corruption in sports. The International Olympic Committee held a summit meeting of sports federation leaders and representatives of the United Nations, European Union and the international police agency Interpol. "There was a consensus around the table that sporting fraud should be a criminal offense," IOC director general Christophe De Kepper told The Associated Press. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:21 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=528156 LONDON (AP) - Transit officials have rejected a petition for Londons black cab drivers to bump up fares by 20 percent during the Summer Olympics. Transport for London said Thursday it had denied the requested fare hike by a drivers association, who say members need the incentive to work during the games. Officials say they came to the decision after consulting the drivers themselves, who feared the increase would drive away customers. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:41:21 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=509011 Associated Press LONDON (AP) - James Bond might have to cancel that Caribbean vacation: British officials say time off for some who work at the MI5 and MI6 security agencies will be restricted during the London Olympics. But two government officials denied British media reports that there would be a blanket ban on vacations until the games end in August at Britains foreign spy agency, MI6, and its domestic security agency, MI5. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:33:54 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=620858 SYDNEY (AP) - Triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice plans to return to competition next week as she makes a late bid for Olympic selection following shoulder surgery in December. Rice had an operation to repair a torn tendon in her right shoulder, setting back her chances of competing at this years London Olympics. The 23-year-old Rice has been entered to compete in four events at the New South Wales state titles from Feb. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:17:13 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=620756 LONDON (AP) - Construction and engineering firm BAM Nuttall has won two major contracts to transform the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Games, officials said Thursday. The Olympic Legacy Company said BAM Nuttall landed two contracts totaling 76 million pounds ($120.3 million) in work on the North Park and South Park areas of the site. The Olympic Legacy Company said about 500 temporary jobs will be created from the deal, which covers an 18-month build to clear Games-time structures including temporary venues such as the basketball arena and warm-up track along with walkways and roads. New roads and paths for cyclists and pedestrians will be laid across the site and the surrounding area, and permanent venues, bridges and parklands will be completed for their legacy use. The British legacy company said the cost of the work to transform the 2012 venue into the newly named Queen Elizabeth Park will come from 292 million pounds already earmarked under the Olympic budget. The Olympics start July 27th and end Aug. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:03:00 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=620574 AP Sports Columnist PARIS (AP) - All that stuff about the Olympic ideal, how its all about taking part, not winning, can often seem like so much hot air, rendered hopelessly quaint and outdated by the ultra-competitive and mercenary world of modern sport. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:33:59 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=620449 Associated Press LONDON (AP) - Have flame, will travel. London organizers revealed the first details Wednesday of the Olympic flames trip from Greece to Britain for the 2012 London Games, offering a brief outline of the start of its journey from ruins of the site of the ancient games to a military base in Britain. The release of the details moves organizers another step closer to the games that begin July 27 and end Aug. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:26:50 PST http://www.mynorthwest.com?nid=255&sid=620279 Associated Press LONDON (AP) - Memo to Brazil: That idea of putting up a giant Jesus statue in a London park to promote the 2016 Olympic Games is not going over well. Brazils tourist board has floated the notion of erecting a 30-foot (9-meter) replica of Rio de Janeiros Christ the Redeemer statue _ a symbol of peace and a well-known landmark of the city _ on Primrose Hill. Malcolm Kafetz, the chair of the Friends of Primrose Hill, said the objections had nothing to do with religion. "We oppose it on the grounds that we dont want any advertising in the royal parks," he said. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:17:39 PST