London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games

LONDON (Reuters) - Companies will try to piggyback this year's London Olympics to win themselves free advertising, despite some of the strictest rules ever, by upstaging rivals paying millions of pounds to be official sponsors, a survey said on Thursday.

Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics have been accused in a report published on Thursday of damaging public confidence in the Games by being unduly secretive about the issue of ticket sales.

LONDON (Reuters) - The Grenadier Guards, Wimbledon tennis and rowing at Henley have all provided fashion inspiration for uniforms to be worn by an army of volunteers at next year's London Olympics.

Great Britain will kick off their quest for an Olympic football gold medal at Old Trafford next year as the dates and venues for their first round matches were revealed on Thursday.

Europe's biggest urban shopping centre opened on Tuesday in a deprived area of east London where it will act as the gateway to the 2012 Olympics.

London 2012's Olympic marathon chief David Bedford has revealed he quit his role due to his frustration with Games organisers.

The start of the English football season could be delayed so it does not clash with the 2012 London Olympic Games, organisers said on Thursday.

The start of the English football season could be delayed so it does not clash with the 2012 London Olympic Games, organisers said on Thursday.

London 2012 Olympics chief Sebastian Coe ruled out returning to frontline politics if the Conservative Party wins the British general election due within six months.

American Olympic executive Doug Arnot appointed to key operations role for 2012 London Games. Veteran U.S. sports executive Doug Arnot can add overseas experience to his resume after being given a leading role in the 2012 London Games.

The International Olympic Committee's chief inspector said on Thursday preparations for the 2012 London Olympics were "on the right track" and seemed unaffected by the global economic downturn.