Countdown to Olympics starts

THE Olympic clock stopped just a day after it was launched and let’s hope this is not a bad omen for the main event next year.

The clock was put in place to mark 500 days before the 2012 Olympics start next July.

It had been unveiled by Lord Coe, London 2012 chief and the mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Omega, who are the official Olympic timekeeper, admitted the clock had stopped.

The clock froze seven hours, 56 seconds after it was started.

Thankfully, the clock was re-started after six hours.

Also, the application process for tickets for London 2012 Olympic Games has started.

Those interested must put their application in by April 26 of this year.

The organisers have 6.6m tickets to sell for 645 sessions across 26 sports.

It is being considered as a “chance in a lifetime” because this is the first time the country has hosted the Olympics since 1948.

The most sought after tickets will be for Sunday, August 5 at the Olympic Stadium.

On that day you will be able to see the final of the men’s 100m.

When England last held the Olympics – the event was called The Austerity Games as it was only three years after World War two and rationing was still in place.

The Olympics were also held in London in 1908.

Companies bucking the recession

JOHN Lewis and Waitrose have proven to be success stories in the recession.

It has been said that less people are going on nights out because of the uncertain financial situation and are instead spending the spare money they have on computers, gadgets and the latest HD TVs and stereos. And they are choosing to go to John Lewis for these items.

Waitrose has also been doing well. Some of their success has been attributed to Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal.

Since the advertising campaign with those two celebrities was launched an extra 370,000 people have gone through Waitrose’s tills.

Waitrose is also well known for providing affordable luxury.

John Lewis and Waitrose are part of the same brand and have just announced profits of £368 million.

The workers of these businesses also benefit as they own the companies. They are due to receive a bonus of two months’ pay.

Meanwhile, I find it difficult to believe that Subway has overtaken McDonald’s as the largest fast food outlet.

But it is true, Subway now has 33,749 restaurants compared with McDonald’s, which has 33,737.

This I found surprising because in town and city centre in England you would think there would be more McDonald’s.

However the American burger chain trails behind Subway, which has 200 more.

Subway started in 1965 and has an annual turnover of £9bn.

They can also be found in 95 countries.

European dominance of golf

ON Monday (February 28) the top four places in the world golf rankings were taken by Europeans.

Martin Kaymer was number one, Lee Westwood at two, Luke Donald at three with Graeme McDowell at four.

Luke Donald moved from number nine in the rankings to number three after beating Martin Kaymer three and two in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

The last time Europe was doing so well was on March 15, 1992 when Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Severiano Ballesteros were the top players.

Donald’s win also pushed Tiger Woods to fifth spot.

In winning the competition Donald took £870,000 in prize money, the cheque was for $1.4m.

It also means that for the last two years, an Englishman has won the trophy. Ian Poulter lifted the title in 2010.

The chances of a European also taking The Masters must now have increased also.

The last European to win The Masters was Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999.

In the 80’s and 90’s the Europeans dominated The Masters.

Seve Ballesteros won the event twice as did Bernhard Langer.

The most successful player though during this time was England’s Nick Faldo, who took three titles from 1989-1996.

The margin of victory in 1996 reads five, but Greg Norman should have won that year.

This year’s Masters will take place between April 7-10.