Great Britain

[Lovejoy]

Good point.

I'd be happy to see a GB team at the Olympics but nowhere else. Given that the season will have started and Euro 2012 maybe it's an opportunity give youth players experience of international football in front of large crowds. I'd watch that.

You're only allowed 3 players over the age of 23 aren't you? From this p o v there probably wouldn't be that many playing both EURO2012 and the Olympics?

[General Smuts]

It has to an under23 team with 2 or 3 overage players allowed. The start of the premier league season will be delayed until the Olympics are finished.

Kinda my point but put better.

[Webbo]

How do you know this?

I thought it was common knowledge.

Wiki

Football (soccer) at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate. Men's teams were allowed to augment their squad with three players over the age of 23.

[Uncle Albert]

I thought it was common knowledge.

Wiki

That doesnt mean the Premier League will start later.

[Webbo]

That doesnt mean the Premier League will start later.

They mentioned it during part of the Olympic coverage, you'll have to take my word on that bit.

[purpleronnie]

Also Purpleronnie with a comment like that i take it you have never been to Australia and are infact a follower with little insight in to Australian socity.

Eh?

[James.]

not it wouldn't this years Olympics was delayed to avoid the heavy rain season in China, they will be in June/July as before

The closing ceremony for Athens 2004 was at the end of August...

August 13th-August 29th.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Opening date: 27 July 2012

Closing date: 12 August 2012

Country of the host city: United Kingdom (UK)

http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/london/index_uk.asp

Football season will kick off late, says Coe

The start of the 2012 football season will have to be delayed to fit in with the Olympics, though this issue was not mentioned officially in the London progress report to the International Olympic Committee this week.

Lord Coe, chairman of the organising committee, conceded outside the session in Turin that discussions about a clash of fixtures were being held. "We can't have the start of the Premiership season eating into the Olympic football tournament," he said.

The Olympics are due to start on July 27 and finish on Aug 12, and a rule specifies that no other sporting competitions can take place in an Olympic city during the Games.

This will mean rearranging many fixtures in London, including the Community Shield. The Australians had to reshuffle in a major way at Sydney and so will London.

Olympic football is due to be played at Villa Park, Old Trafford, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, St James' Park in Newcastle and the Belfast venue Windsor Park, if it is upgraded. Should naming rights for Old Trafford be sold to a sponsor, the venue will be ruled out because a stadium is required without advertising.

Coe's progress report concentrated on the setting up of various structures by London and, in a skilfully crafted speech, he referred to the London bombings the day after the city was awarded the Games by the IOC in Singapore, saying: "We will never forget the way that the Olympic family reached out to us in those very first hours and days after the attack."

Just before Coe spoke, the IOC session decided they did not want to include softball and baseball for 2012. This could save £50 million.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/otherspor...e-says-Coe.html

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Opening date: 27 July 2012

Closing date: 12 August 2012

Country of the host city: United Kingdom (UK)

http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/london/index_uk.asp

Football season will kick off late, says Coe

The start of the 2012 football season will have to be delayed to fit in with the Olympics, though this issue was not mentioned officially in the London progress report to the International Olympic Committee this week.

Lord Coe, chairman of the organising committee, conceded outside the session in Turin that discussions about a clash of fixtures were being held. "We can't have the start of the Premiership season eating into the Olympic football tournament," he said.

The Olympics are due to start on July 27 and finish on Aug 12, and a rule specifies that no other sporting competitions can take place in an Olympic city during the Games.

This will mean rearranging many fixtures in London, including the Community Shield. The Australians had to reshuffle in a major way at Sydney and so will London.

Olympic football is due to be played at Villa Park, Old Trafford, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, St James' Park in Newcastle and the Belfast venue Windsor Park, if it is upgraded. Should naming rights for Old Trafford be sold to a sponsor, the venue will be ruled out because a stadium is required without advertising.

Coe's progress report concentrated on the setting up of various structures by London and, in a skilfully crafted speech, he referred to the London bombings the day after the city was awarded the Games by the IOC in Singapore, saying: "We will never forget the way that the Olympic family reached out to us in those very first hours and days after the attack."

Just before Coe spoke, the IOC session decided they did not want to include softball and baseball for 2012. This could save £50 million.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/otherspor...e-says-Coe.html

Our national Rugby and AFL seasons normally finish late September finished in the middle of August was hard on the players starting the season in the summer rather than start of Autumn