Roof: Inflatable

In a surprise move it has been reported that the water polo venue for the 2012 London Olympics will feature an inflatable roof.

The plans are said to have been approved by the Olympic Delivery Authority and will ensure that the 5,000 spectators will not have to brave the elements if they choose to attend matches outside of the four days of sunshine that London is allocated each August.

The roof itself will be constructed from recycled PVC cushions and will be disassembled after the games and re-located elsewhere – news that will no doubt delight all those organisations desperately searching for an inflatable roof made out of recycled PVC cushions.

This is not the first time that overhead cover has raised eyebrows in the run-up to an Olympics. Ahead of the aquatic events at the 2004 Athens games it was announced that plans for a roof over the competition pool had been abandoned, a situation FINA described as a ‘fiasco’.

Plans for a paper-mâché flume and a balsa wood wave-pool remain as yet unconfirmed.

Deep-fried Mars Bar: Work, rest and play?

It has been announced that Britain’s swimmers will undertake their last training camp before competition begins at a home Olympic Games in Edinburgh.

In a statement from the Amateur Swimming Association of Swimming Federations of Great British Swimming (ASASFGBS), it was announced that the squad will ‘utilise [sic]‘ the Royal Commonwealth Pool in the Scottish capital, leaving open intriguing possibilities as to what they might ‘utilise’ it for – other than swimming.

National Performance Director Michael Scott certainly thinks it offers the best way to finalise preparations.  ‘Hi! I’m Michael Scott! We’ve done an exhaustive search to identify the best possible environment for our camp.’ he said, before adding ‘Round the clock access to Scotland’s historical and cultural centre along with bag piping, midges and deep-fried Mars bars will all contribute to a successful Olympic campaign. Bang! And the sun is gone!’

One prospective team member, speaking anonymously, said ‘It’s a great choice. I’ll be able to get my daily Buckfast more easily’.

It is not yet certain exactly how exhaustive a search was conducted or if any 50m pools closer to London could be found.