2012 July

Full interview: how alternative torch relay Real Relay was organised

Earlier this month we wrote about the alternative torch relays springing up around the country. As part of that we interviewed Kate Treleaven of Real Relay – here’s that interview in full. The costs of organising the relay were pretty minimal … Continue reading

The mechanics of buying the Olympic torch (credit cards accepted)

Carrying the Olympic torch is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so it’s pretty likely that you’ll want a memento of the occasion – and organisers LOCOG have made sure that they’re ready to respond at any moment to your … Continue reading

Can you help? Crowdsourcing mystery torchbearers with The Guardian

Yesterday we published a spreadsheet on The Guardian's Datablog of 500 torchbearers running without a story. Want to help investigate?  There are plenty of curious names in there alongside the sporting stars, celebs and genuine co…

Olympic tickets ‘for young people’ given away to universities – after students have gone

50 tickets to Olympic events will be given to every higher education institution in the country as part of an “extension” of the Ticketshare programme to get young people to the Games – even though most students will have gone … Continue reading

Useful Olympic links for July 11th through July 12th

Here are the Olympic-related links we’ve been looking at over the last week from July 11th through July 12th: Olympian blends of torchbearers – Knit Data – London Assembly says Dow sponsorship damages Games- “LOCOG and the IOC must tighten … Continue reading

Is this Olympic torchbearer another Aggreko director?

Philippe Boisaubert carried the torch in Hull with no nomination story. Could it be the same Philipp Boisaubert listed as Managing Director, Continental Europe? His profile on Viadeo lists his home town as Sucy en Brie – the same as … Continue reading

Who are the mystery torchbearers? Crowdsourcing with Guardian users

The Guardian have published our list of the 500 torchbearers lacking a nomination story, with an appeal to users to help identify the 400 or so yet to be identified. Of the other hundred or so that we’ve already looked … Continue reading

Tracing individuals online: How to identify mystery torchbearers

Over on Help Me Investigate the Olympics we've posted a guide to tracing individuals. It's specifically related to the 'mystery torchbearers' who don't have a nomination story, but has wider application for tracing any i…

Useful health links for July 6th to July 11th

Here are the health-related links that have caught our eyes between July 6th and July 11th: Security scandal at the Olympic stadium | The Sun |Sport|Olympics – But security firm G4S “ghosted” the searches of traffic entering the park in … Continue reading

Russian executive carried the Olympic torch under someone else’s story

A 40-year-old Russian executive carried the Olympic torch through the Welsh resort of Towyn under the nomination story of a 61-year-old art director – despite having a different name. Russian torchbearer Konstantin Geskin is named in both the BBC relay … Continue reading