Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang warms up for Saint-Etienne in 2,500 crystal Nike boots

Posted on December 12, 2012 by adminsports

What would Stanley Matthews say in crusty boots from his greatest game as French star wears 2,500 diamond encrusted boots

UPDATED:

13:03 GMT, 12 December 2012

Footballers are well known for shamelessly flaunting their wealth, whether it be the latest Lamborghini, clothes straight from the catwalks of Milan or a million carat pair of earrings.

But rarely does such bling make it onto the field – until now.

Saint-Etienne's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set the bar pretty high on Monday when he warmed up for a match with Lyon in an outrageous 2,500 pair of boots encrusted in Swarovski crystals.

Outrageous: The 2,500 customised Nike Vapor boots worn by Saint Etienne's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Monday, encrusted with 4,000 Swarovski crystals

Sparkling: The boots took designers at Orravan 50 hours to create and the design incorporated Aubameyang's initials, shirt number and the club logo

It took more than 50 hours to customise the striker's pair of Nike Vapors with 4,000 tiny jewels in a design which incorporated the player's name, number seven and the club crest and colours.

Sadly Saint-Etienne didn't produce a sparkling performance to match, going down 1-0 in the derby.

Earlier in the year, Aubameyang received a pair of similarly blingy boots in the national colours of Gabon as they took part in the African Cup of Nations as co-hosts.

Impressed: Aubameyang was delighted when presented with his new boots before training

King of bling: Aubameyang playing in some more conventional boots against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and PSG last month

Golden Boot: An earlier Orravan Design creation to mark the match between France and Brazil

Gabon international Aubameyang isn't shy of drawing attention to himself – after scoring in a 2-0 win over Rennes in October, he celebrated by producing a Spiderman mask from behind the advertising hoardings, put it on and pretended to spin webs.

Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez set that trend two years ago, marking a goal against Blackburn by pulling a similar mask from his shorts.

Aubameyang was linked with a move to St James' Park in the summer and perhaps it's just as well he stayed put, otherwise the Toon would be swinging with comic book characters.

P.S. It's all a far cry from this!

These heavy boots were worn by Stanley Matthews in the 1953 FA Cup final, when his inspirational performance enabled Blackpool to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3.

The final is often referred to as 'The Matthews Final' because the 'outside right' hauled his team back from 3-1 down with just 20 minutes to play. Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick for the Seasiders.

The design of boots from that era may have been primitive compared to what we're used to today, but they carried Matthews through 783 Football League appearances and 54 England appearances in a playing career spanning nearly 35 years.

These boots were sold at auction at Bonhams in Chester two years ago, fetching 38,400 – five times the estimate.

How it used to be: The boots worn by Stanley Matthews in the 1953 FA Cup final alongside a programme and ticket from the match that is often called 'The Matthews Final'

John Smith"s call time on Grand National sponsorship

Posted on November 25, 2012 by adminsports

John Smith's call time on Grand National sponsorship

UPDATED:

22:02 GMT, 24 November 2012

Aintree is seeking a new sponsor for the Grand National after the shock decision of John Smith's to pull their backing after next year's race in April.

Those in charge at Aintree have had to deal with negative publicity following the deaths of two horses in each of the last two Nationals.

Thrill of the chase: Neptune Collonges (right) jumps The Chair on the way to winning the Grand National

Last summer the course's managing
director, Julian Thick, departed unexpectedly and at least one more
senior figure is set to leave.

Now Aintree has lost the backing of
the brewing giant John Smith's, who have invested heavily in the
three-day National meeting over nine years, with the prize money almost
doubling to just under 1million since 2005.

John Baker, new regional director for
Jockey Club Northern Racecourses, said: 'We are finalising new
sponsorship to ensure the event remains one of the crown jewels in the
sporting calendar.'

One of the leading bookmakers could
step in, since betting during the build-up to the National reaches an
annual peak on the day of the race.

But bookies are unlikely to provide the significant depth of funding delivered by John Smith's and, before them, Martell.

Lord Daresbury rode winners over the famous Aintree fences as an amateur.

Yesterday, as chairman of the
racecourse, he said: 'This news comes at a bad time but I am confident
the race will attract plenty of interest from potential sponsors.'

Luis Suarez won"t be sold, says Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Posted on November 19, 2012 by adminsports

We'll build squad round Suarez, says Rodgers as Liverpool boss says star won't be sold

UPDATED:

22:30 GMT, 18 November 2012

Three subjects have dominated Liverpool's peculiar season and they emerged again after the 3-0 dismantling of Wigan.

Luis Suarez's brilliance, the precocity of Raheem Sterling and what happens in January have been recurring themes, so it was appropriate chairman Tom Werner provided some answers after Liverpool's seventh undefeated Barclays Premier League game.

Without Suarez, whose double took his tally for the campaign to 13, Liverpool's prospects would be bleak and many will wonder how long he will stay if the club cannot provide him with Champions League football.

At the double: Suarez scored two goals in Liverpool's win over Wigan

Werner, however, made it clear Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, have no intention of trading in the crown jewels and they intend to back manager Brendan Rodgers in the new year with the funds to ease the goalscoring burden on the Uruguayan.

'Luis is a beautiful player to watch and, as a Liverpool fan, I hope I'm watching him for many years to come,' said Werner.

'Would we consider selling him Absolutely not.

'Our intention is to strengthen the squad but actions will speak louder than words. Hopefully, the fans will be pleased with what we accomplish.'

Suarez came under attack from Wigan manager Roberto Martinez who accused him of a 'stamp' on midfielder David Jones in the 63rd minute.

No action was taken by referee Kevin Friend but under FA regulations, because it occurred during play and was not an off-the-ball incident, it is considered as having been seen and no more action can be taken.

Mo Farah hopes for future success on track

Posted on August 21, 2012 by adminsports

More Mobots to come! Farah promises future track glory before turning attention to marathons

UPDATED:

19:20 GMT, 20 August 2012

Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah still has plenty more he would like to achieve on the track before turning his attention to competing in marathons.

Farah became one of London 2012's biggest success stories after capturing gold in the 10,000 metres before returning a week later to emerge victorious in the 5,000m.

Those triumphs are the jewels in a collection that go alongside his long distance double at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010 as well as the two medals he won at last year's World Championships in Daegu.

More to come: Mo Farah hopes to win more medals on the track before competing in marathons

But any thoughts of resting on his laurels are dismissed by the 29-year-old, who revealed he would relish participating on the track at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

'I've still got a long way to go, there are always more things to achieve and when everything's going well, it's good to get as many gold medals as you can,' he said.

'I feel like I would like to carry on on the track and then after that go on the road.

'I've never won a title at a Commonwealth Games so it would be good to have another win.

'You can't have too many medals, you've got to take what you can.'

Farah, however, makes no secret of his aim to eventually make the switch to marathon running but added much will depend on the advice of his coach Alberto Salazar.

You've done it: Farah took gold in the 5,000 and 10,000m at the Olympics

The Cuban – who was a successful long-distance runner in his prime, winning the New York marathon for three successive years from 1980 – has made a great impact on Farah, who has described Salazar as a 'genius'.

But the Londoner is a driven individual and is determined to push himself to his limits.

'It's definitely true, I'll definitely be stepping up to the marathon at some point but I've not decided when yet,” said Farah, who will perhaps be testing the waters when he runs a half-marathon in the Great North Run on September 16.

'We'll just have to wait and see what the coach says – he hasn't said much.

'He's said to take it one race at a time, see how it goes, see how we recover and then go into next year.

'I'm always wanting to try new events and test myself to see what I can do.'

While Farah is still hungry to add to his medal haul over the next few years, he admitted becoming just the seventh man to win the long-distance Olympic double in London will take some beating.

'To have the Olympics in your hometown was the dream,' he said. 'It's exciting, being a London man and growing up here and winning two gold medals at the Olympics means a lot.

A couple more Farah hopes to add to his two Olympic gold medals

'There's nothing out there that means more than an Olympic medal unless I can became an Olympic champion at a different event.'

Farah was speaking as part of the nationwide grassroots Join In campaign, which aims to encourage new participants to harness their enthusiasm for sport off the back of the successful Olympic Games.

'We're trying to get as many volunteers as we can for the clubs; it could be a rowing club, it could be a football club it could be anything,' Farah said.

'If we can just give the kids enough support then hopefully they'll get involved.

'When I was younger, I got motivated by footballers and seeing football on TV so having the Olympics here has helped a lot.

'I hope we can inspire the next generation and teach them hard work and dedication.'

Unsurprisingly, Farah has become a much heralded figure after capturing his second goal medal in the 5,000m on the final day of the Games, with his celebration – the 'Mobot' – taking the nation by storm.

Asked if he has adapted to his new status, he added: 'Yeah it's sunk in, I've just been chilling out and relaxing.

'I haven't really done much. I've been all over the place doing media stuff and shows.'

Proud: Farah celebrated with his family at the Olympic Park after taking gold

London 2012 Olympics: Medals delivered to Tower of London

Posted on July 3, 2012 by adminsports

Olympic medals delivered to Tower of London for safe keeping ahead of Games

UPDATED:

09:27 GMT, 3 July 2012

The prized Olympic and Paralympic medals are now under lock and key at the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels are kept under armed guard.

The next time the coveted gold, silver and bronze prizes will be seen in public is when they are draped around the necks of the winning athletes at the London 2012. They will stay in secure vaults at the Tower of London until then.

The winners of the men's and women’s 10m air pistol should be the first athletes to receive their medals.

Under lock and key: Rio Tinto chairman Jan du Plessias with LOCOG chief Lord Coe deliver the medals for secure storage in the vaults at the Tower of London

The medals were taken down to the vaults by London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and Jan du Plessis, chairman of mining company Rio Tinto which is in charge of mining the precious metals for the medals.

Lord Co, who is a two-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist, said: “For an athlete, winning an Olympic or Paralympic medal represents the conclusion of thousands of hours of training and reaching the highest level in sport.

“The victory ceremonies then provide the moment they can truly celebrate their success. It’s great that the London 2012 medals will be kept safe and secure at the Tower of London until then.'

Rio Tinto handed over the medals for safekeeping at a special ceremony where a fanfare by the trumpeters of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood hailed their arrival.

The Tower’s famous Yeoman Warders and 150 east London children from schools which are part of London 2012’s Get Set educational network were also in attendance.

Gold standard: The medals will be housed with the Crown Jewels at the famous landmark on the Thames

Gold standard: The medals will be housed with the crown jewels at the famous landmark on the Thames

A total of 4,700 medals are to be awarded in 805 victory ceremonies that will take place in over 30 London 2012 venues.

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson noted: 'To the athletes competing to win these medals they are as precious as the Crown Jewels, so it is fitting that they should be stored for safe keeping in the same iconic location.'

Over eight tonnes of gold, silver and copper has been extracted and refined to make the medals.

The hard-fought-for medals will be priceless to the athletes who get to take them home but, despite the price of gold having soared in the recession-hit years since the 2008 Beijing Games, the sporting treasures are not made of pure gold.

The top prize is made up of 92.5 per cent silver, 1.34 per cent gold while the remainder is copper. It contains a minimum of 6g of gold. The silver medal is 92.5 per cent silver and the rest is copper.

Bronze medallists win medals that are made up of 97 per cent copper, 2.5 per cent zinc and 0.5 per cent tin.

Final countdown: London is now primed for the Games which are just a matter of weeks away

The medals started life as ore dug up on opposite sides of the world – at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Utah Copper Mine near Salt Lake City in the US and from its Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia.

The Olympic medals have been designed by artist David Watkins and the
Paralympic medals were by Lin Cheung, jewellery artist and senior lecturer in jewellery design at Central Saint Martin’s College of Arts and Design.

The Olympic medals’ circular form is a metaphor for the world. The front of the medal always depicts the same imagery at the summer Games – the Greek Goddess of Victory, Nike, stepping out of the depiction of the Parthenon to arrive in the host city.

The front of the Paralympic medal represents spirit in motion. The image struck into the other side is an imagined close-up section of an outstretched wing of Goddess of Victory, Nike.

This is to represent forward flight, power and lightness – a natural metaphor for the spirit of the Paralympic Games.

The medals are being held in a vault that is below ground and secured with a unique barcoded seal.
It can only be opened in the presence of a London 2012 guardian who is a security-cleared official.

London 2012 Olympics: Medals to be kept in Tower of London

Posted on June 28, 2012 by adminsports

Crown jewels: Medals to be kept in Tower of London for safekeeping

UPDATED:

20:06 GMT, 27 June 2012

The medals awarded at the London Games will be stored in the vaults of the Tower of London for safekeeping during the Games, official metal supplier Rio Tinto has announced.

They will be handed over in a private ceremony on July 2.

Over eight tonnes of gold, silver and copper will be used to create the 4,700 medals up for grabs at the Games.

Water sight: Olympic rings have been attached to Tower Bridge for the Games

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Tag Archives: jewels

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang warms up for Saint-Etienne in 2,500 crystal Nike boots

John Smith"s call time on Grand National sponsorship

Luis Suarez won"t be sold, says Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

Mo Farah hopes for future success on track

London 2012 Olympics: Medals delivered to Tower of London

London 2012 Olympics: Medals to be kept in Tower of London