LONDON (Reuters) – Construction of all the main London 2012 Olympic venues is on track, but the deadlines for the aquatics centre and part of the athletes’ village are becoming tight, Britain’s spending watchdog said on Wednesday.

The National Audit Office (NAO) also said the final cost of the Games was “inherently uncertain,” and the remaining contingency needed to be carefully managed to stay within the overall 9.3 billion pound budget.

LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Construction of all the main
London 2012 Olympic venues is on track, but the deadlines for
the aquatics centre and part of the athletes’ village are
becoming tight, Britain’s spending watchdog said on Wednesday.

The National Audit Office (NAO) also said the final cost of
the Games was “inherently uncertain”, and the remaining
contingency needed to be carefully managed to stay within the
overall 9.3 billion pound ($14.9 billion) budget.

LONDON (Reuters) – Dissident Irish nationalists pose a security threat to the London 2012 Olympics, the sports minister said on Monday.

Hugh Robertson made the comment as he unveiled the latest government finances for the Games which showed the overall cost remains within the 9.3 billion pound budget.

LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Dissident Irish nationalists pose
a security threat to the London 2012 Olympics, Britain’s sports
minister said on Monday.

Hugh Robertson made the comment as he unveiled the latest
government finances for the Games which showed the overall cost
remains within the 9.3 billion pound ($14.9 billion) budget.

LONDON (Reuters) – The Church of England voted on Wednesday to use more accessible language during baptisms to help it connect better with congregations, especially non church-goers.

Members attending the Church’s General Synod, or parliament, in London, agreed that the Liturgical Commission should provide supplementary material to help prevent the eyes of congregations “glazing over” during important parts of the service.

LONDON (Reuters) – The search for a private company to provide the fabric wrap to jazz up London’s Olympic stadium began on Tuesday after the eye-catching 7 million pound covering was cut after a spending review last year.

The 496 million pound venue was designed with the curtain covering steel girders and grey concrete seating and would have allowed for colourful images and slogans to light up the stadium at night as well as minimising crosswinds.

LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) – The search for a private company
to provide the fabric wrap to jazz up London’s Olympic stadium
began on Tuesday after the eye-catching 7 million pound covering
was cut after a spending review last year.

The 496 million pound venue was designed with the curtain
covering steel girders and grey concrete seating and would have
allowed for colourful images and slogans to light up the stadium
at night as well as minimising crosswinds.

LONDON (Reuters) – The search for a private company to provide the fabric wrap around London’s main Olympic stadium began on Tuesday after the eye-catching 7 million pound covering was cut as part of government austerity measures.

The 496 million pound venue was designed with the wrap covering steel girders and grey concrete seating and would have allowed for colourful images and slogans to light up the stadium at night as well as minimising crosswinds.

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters Life!) – Britain’s Foreign Office should set up a “rapid response unit” ahead of the 2012 Olympics to rebuff or correct negative stories which could damage the country’s reputation, lawmakers said on Sunday.

The foreign affairs committee expressed concern that the Foreign Office’s overall message was ill-defined and that Britain should be promoted as a “diverse, inclusive and friendly country. Or in a word … generous.”