EYES ON LONDON: Batons, Felix, Phelps, Douglas

United States' Trey Hardee runs to take a jump in the decathlon pole vault during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

United States' Trey Hardee runs to take a jump in the decathlon pole vault during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Cyprus' Chrystalleni Trikomiti performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications at at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Andro Buslje, top, of Croatia defends against Ryan Bailey of the United States during a men's quarterfinal water polo match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

United States' Ashton Eaton clears the bar in the decathlon pole vault during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )

Katie Bell of the United States dives during the women's 10-meter platform diving semifinal at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LONDON (AP) ? Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:

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IN A RAGE

Luguelin Santos lost the plot.

The Dominican silver medalist was so angry at his team's disqualification in the 400-meter relay after a clumsy baton changeover that he threw his running shoes onto the track and repeatedly kicked the railings in the media mixed zone.

"I don't want to talk," he shouted.

? Jorge Sainz ? Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sainz-Jorge

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FELIX: ANOTHER GAMES

Sprinting at 30? Allyson Felix says: Why not?

With a gold medal already won in the 200 meters, and two more possible in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, Felix doesn't appear ready to sprint off into the sunset just yet.

She'll turn 27 in November, and she seems intent on trying to return for the Rio Games in 2016.

"I think I have one more games left in me," Felix says.

Making it to Rio would be her fourth Olympic Games. She won silver in the 200 in Athens and Beijing and grabbed gold in the 4x400 in Beijing.

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY

One more chance for Oscar Pistorius at these Olympics.

South Africa has won an appeal to advance to the 4x400-meter relay final despite a crash in the heat. The double-amputee runner was on the track but didn't get to run in the heat Thursday because a teammate tumbled out after a collision with a Kenyan runner.

The Kenyan team was later disqualified for impeding Ofentse Mogawane. South Africa, the silver medalists at the last world championships, filed an appeal to be restored to the final.

The IAAF says the South Africans will run in Lane 9 after the jury met and "agreed to advance the South African team, even though they did not finish the race, considering that they had been severely damaged in the incident with Kenya."

? Pat Graham ? Twitter http://twitter.com/pgraham34

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ONE TWO MANY

The Belgian Olympic Committee says it has ordered cyclist Gijs Van Hoecke to return home after photos appeared of him looking inebriated and unable to walk while leaving a London nightclub. Several British and Belgian newspapers published photos showing Van Hoecke, his eyes closed and his trousers and shirt wet, being helped into a vehicle by teammates.

Van Hoecke, 20, told Belgian network VRT that he regrets the incident, but that he was just "letting off some steam" after two years of hard work.

? Slobodan Lekic ? Twitter at http://twitter.com/slekich

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TAFFY THE GOAT

Michael Phelps isn't the only G.O.A.T at the Olympics.

Taffy the goat wandered the open water venue at the Serpentine in Hyde Park on Thursday. He was led by his red-clad handler from the Royal Welsh, Wales' infantry regiment.

Like Phelps ? nicknamed G.O.A.T., or greatest Olympian of all time, after winning his 18th gold in the pool in London ? Taffy boasted his own medals. Three shiny ones were pinned to the green cloth covering him. Silver sheaths adorned the tips of Taffy's horns and his white beard was neatly groomed.

Curious volunteers posed for photos with Taffy and one asked his handler if the goat ever got cross. The reply: "Yes."

? Beth Harris ? Twitter http://twitter.com/bethharrisap

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HELEN MIRREN

One of Team GB's biggest fans is Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren.

She was wearing the national colors Thursday and rejoicing in the home team's performances.

"It's been wonderful," said the actress who also appears in a short video played at the velodrome and main stadium to quiet the crowd before a race begins.

Here's a photo: http://yfrog.com/obx32xdtj

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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UNITING IRELAND

Ireland these days is touched by despair: 15 percent unemployment, mass emigration, a crippling bank bailout. But an Olympic heroine with a winning right hook is lifting the nation's heart.

Lightweight Katie Taylor is widely expected to win Ireland's first boxing gold in two decades. Employers across Ireland are letting workers leave early to watch her 4:45 p.m. fight versus Russia's Sofya Ochigave on Thursday.

A huge street party is forming in Taylor's hometown of Bray and thousands have traveled across the Irish Sea, transforming the Olympics boxing arena in London into a St. Patrick's Day parade.

"People with their hard-earned cash are coming over here and spending it to support Katie," marveled Peter Taylor, her coach and father.

? Shawn Pogatchnik ? Twitter http://twitter.com/ShawnPogatchnik

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PLATFORM BLUES

There was no sweet music on the diving platform for American Brittany Viola.

Both Viola, the daughter of former star pitcher Frankie "Sweet Music" Viola, and Katie Bell did not qualify for the 10-meter platform finals on Thursday.

"Tough day for USA on the platform," Frank Viola tweets. "Both (at)BrittanyViola and Katie Bell failed to qualify for finals. Thanks for support."

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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A BALKAN BALL

One thing is for sure about this year's final four in the men's water polo bracket: the teams are likely to watch what they say in the water.

That's because three of the four teams are from the former Yugoslavia: Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro ? and will know each other's native tongue. The fourth team in the final four is Italy.

The last grouping also represents a victory for the little guys. Montenegro, with a population of 625,000, beat Spain, population 47.2 million, in the quarterfinals. Croatia, population of 4.7 million, beat the United States, at 312 million. Serbia, population 7.3 million, beat Australia, 22.6 million.

? Danica Kirka ? http://twitter.com/danicakirka

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GABBY DOUGLAS AND ROYALTY

Gabby Douglas is rubbing shoulders with royalty.

The 16-year-old gymnastics gold medalist said Thursday, "I met Kate, the duchess, that was a cool experience for me. She loved our leos (leotards)."

At a press conference, she reflected upon her sudden stardom ? and, while showing some youthful innocence, she wasn't lacking in confidence.

"I've always wanted to inspire people, and the thing about the Olympics, this quote 'inspire a generation' - so, you know, I can check that off my bucket list.

"I'm just so happy that more people are starting to come into the gymnastics world."

? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb

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WOMEN'S BOXING GOLD

History is going to be made on Thursday, and Claressa Shields wants to be the one to make it.

The first Olympic gold for women's boxing will be awarded, with the American Shields slugging it out with Russia's Nadezda Torlopov.

The 17-year-old Shields has won over the London crowd with a combination of style, skill and charisma. And all this success is just starting to sink in for the final American in the boxing competition.

"I'm still kind of shocked," Shields says. "I'm thinking in my head, 'Is it really true? Am I fighting for a gold medal (Thursday)?'"

? Greg Beacham ? Twitter http://twitter.com/gregbeacham

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BOLT'S BID

Usain Bolt says he doesn't want to talk about being the greatest sprinter until he wins the 200-meter gold again.

The race comes on Thursday night. And if the talkative Jamaican wins as expected, you can bet he'll be more than happy to entertain the discussion.

Bolt won his semifinal heat in 20.18 seconds on Wednesday night, leaving plenty of gas in the tank for the final, where he will look to gain more redemption on teammate Yohan Blake. Blake beat Bolt in the 100 and 200 at the Jamaica trials, but Bolt already has a win in the 100 in London.

Says Bolt: "There's a lot of people there who have come to spoil the party, so we'll see."

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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WORLD CUP REMATCH

The U.S. women's soccer team still feels the sting from that shootout loss to Japan in the World Cup last July.

On Thursday night, they get another chance against the Japanese for Olympic gold.

"It's definitely redemption, but it's also an opportunity," midfielder Carli Lloyd says. "And an opportunity to show the world that we're the No. 1 team and this game is going to be different."

Abby Wambach ran into Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa in the athletes village, and they spoke briefly.

"We told each other that we were glad the other had won, because we believe that we're the top two teams in the world and we believe our fans deserve to see a great final," Wambach says.

? Janie McCauley ? Twitter http://twitter.com/janiemccAP

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FUTURE PAIRING?

Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross were opponents in the gold medal game in London. There's a good chance they could be teammates in Rio.

Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor capped a brilliant career with their third straight Olympic gold, beating Ross and Jennifer Kessy in straight sets. Both May-Treanor and Kessy plan to be out of the international game by the time the Rio Games come around in 2016.

May-Treanor is done competitively, looking to turn her attention to starting a family with Dodgers catcher Matt Treanor. Kessy says she's going to play for one more year until Ross finds another partner.

"She's a winner," Walsh Jennings says. "She's a champion. She's a fighter. She's someone I'd be honored to play with."

? Jon Krawczynski ? Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski

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ROYAL ENTRANCE

Prince Harry was in the house ? the beach volleyball house.

Silver medalists Jennifer Kessy and April Ross had the pleasure of watching the royal make his way into Horse Guards Parade on Wednesday night.

The U.S. pair were going through security ahead of their gold-medal match, which they lost to three-time champion countrywomen Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings.

Ross: "We actually thought the cameras were for us because they were filming us walking and then someone's like, 'Oh, Prince Harry's behind right behind you.' I was like, 'Aah.'"

Kessy on not talking to the prince: "We chickened out a little bit."

Ross: "We figured he might want a picture if we got a gold."

? Janie McCauley ? Twitter http://twitter.com/janiemccAP

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MOST CLICKABLE

Michael Phelps may have the most Olympic medals, but when it comes to clicks, Gabby Douglas gets the gold.

The gymnastics gold medalist is the most clicked-upon athlete on NBC's Olympics website, the network said. Through Sunday, her profile on the site had more than 18 million page views. Phelps' profile came in second with just over 7 million page views.

Four of the five most clicked-upon athletes were female gymnasts, NBC said. The Olympics event with the most live streams was the gold-medal-winning performance of the female gymnasts, with 1.46 million streams, followed by Usain Bolt's sprint for gold.

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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-08-09-OLY-Eyes-on-London-Package/id-c68fd3b5f6b74ca88b550efe8310e29c

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