Tale of test tubes
London 2012 will be the most tested Olympic Games in history with more than 6,250 samples to be taken overall, meaning more than 400 a day. Wada will be analysing the samples 24 hours a day and at a laboratory the size of seven tennis courts. The message is clear, if you dope, stay away from the Games.
Olympic tennis museum at Wimbledon
Tennis was one of the sports at the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics where John Bolan, who was visiting family in Greece, decided to enter the tournament. The Irish student won both the singles and the doubles, the latter with a German, providing one of the few instances where individuals from different countries competed together.
The All Blacks have their haka to intimidate opponents, Valerie Adams has the "don't mess with me" look to psych out her competitors in the heat of a shot-put final. The Kiwi, who is the reigning Olympic champion, has to be in peak physical condition by August, but just as important is to be mentally ready to face your challengers in "battle".
What would happen if there was a terrorist attack in London during the Olympics? Authorities and emergency services have staged a mock disaster at a disused railway station in central London and the Royal Navy defended the River Thames.
Badges? Who needs them?
Paul McGill does. The 44 year-old from Carshalton has more than 1,000 pins linked to the London 2012 Games. The collector spends two hours a day searching for the badges and claims that pin-trading has become a "global phenomenon". His site gets 5,000 hits a month and has been endorsed by the daddy of pin collecting, Al Falcao.
Paralychic
Sportswear manufacturer Nike has started to target the disability market, teaming up with amputee and Paralympic athlete Sarah Reinersten from Orange County, USA, to produce a sole that clips on to the carbon-fibre prosthesis blade. Previously athletes would glue the sole of a regular trainer to give grip on the road.
Band of brothers
Jonny Brownlee thrives on the pressure of being the world's No1, and with his brother Alistair chasing him all the way to London 2012, they have been tipped by Daley Thompson to be the ones to watch. Jonny trains 35 hours a week in preparation for competing, with a 1.5km swim, 40km cycling and just to round it off, a 10km run.
A gig too far?
Ageing Britpoppers Blur have been confirmed as headliners of the closing ceremony show at Hyde Park. Joining the recent Brit award winners for outstanding contribution are the Specials and New Order. Tickets are on sale and £55 plus booking fee is what you'll have to pay for Blur's only major gig this summer.
Skippy the medal-predicting kangaroo
Australia have produced a virtual medal table, based on performances and results. Unsurprisingly the USA comes out on top, Great Britain match their Beijing ranking in fifth with the slightly lower number of 16 golds. The Poms rank two places above their antipodean cousins, with Australia in seventh. Somewhat surprisingly, Usain Bolt is predicted to claim only a bronze in the showpiece 100m behind fellow Jamaicans Nestor Carter and Asafa Powell.
A logo to rival them all
The USA basketball team has gone green. The all-white jerseys from Nike are made from 96% recycled polyester and are billed as the lightest ever. Modelled by NBA stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Deron Williams and Kevin Durant they sport a logo to rival the official 2012 effort.
Good week
Swimmer Nada Arkaji and sprinter Noor al-Malki will be the first women to compete at the Olympic Games for Qatar. Two more athletes could entered as Qatar looks to increase its profile after Doha's proposed bid for the 2020 Games.
Bad week
The Australia men's football team crashed out of qualifying for the Games with a 1-0 defeat to the UAE, joining their female counterparts in missing out. With other athletes and teams not qualifying, this leaves Australia with their smallest team since the 1992 Barcelona Games where they sent just 279 competitors. The Australian Olympic Committee predicts 370 or so will be on the plane to London in July.
Tweets of the week
"I genuinely thought that Ed Sheeran was the ginger kid from Harry Potter? Is it? Did he release music? Not good with celebrities" –
British Olympian Chris Tomlinson confuses the double Brit award winner with Ron Weasley
"Oh Lord. ITV have the Olympics. Poor old James Corden sent on to stop the men's 800m because they need to go to some car adverts" –Danny Baker shows some broadcasting solidarity.
