Free Republic

Hilarious moment Aly's dad annoyed spectator with celebration of daughter's win ... As Aly Raisman triumphantly raised her arms at the end of her gold medal-winning performance yesterday, the entire arena appeared to be cheering - except this guy. The grouchy gentleman may argue that he had the worst seat in the house during the women's gymnastics floor exercise final, right behind Raisman's jubilant parents. Sporting a preppy look with a white t-shirt and a green sweater over his shoulders, he cannot keep his exasperation a secret as Lynn and Rick Raisman celebrate their daughter's routine, which made her the...

A suspected terrorist who MI5 believe is a would-be suicide bomber was found repeatedly near the Olympic Games venue. The alleged al-Qaeda militant was caught crossing through the Olympic Park five times, breaking a ban imposed by the Home Secretary, The Sunday Telegraph has learned. The 24 year-old has previously tried to get to Afghanistan, allegedly for terrorist training, and is suspected of fighting for the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab, which has been responsible for thousands of deaths, including those of Western aid workers. He is accused of trying to recruit other Britons to its cause. A Home Office...

First lady Michelle Obama will lead the official American delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the White House announced on Friday. The group includes women's soccer Olympic great Brandi Chastain and basketball star Grant Hill, a member of the 1996 Olympics squad "This summer I'll be cheering on Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country," the first lady said in a statement released by the White House. "Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all...

Iran has threatened to boycott the London Olympics unless the organisers replace the official logo, which Tehran claims spells out the word "Zion".

London’s proposed ‘mega-mosque’ has been allowed to complete its application for planning permission, despite calls from one councillor to remove the “illegal and irresponsible” mosque. At Newham Council meeting last Monday night, Cllr Alan Craig asked the Mayor, Sir Robin Wales, to enforce a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to reclaim the site from the Abbey Mills Mosque Trust, members of Islamic sect Tablighi Jamaat. Cllr Craig said: “Tablighi Jamaat intend that the mega-mosque will be their new international headquarters, yet the current temporary mosque on the Abbey Mills site has now been operating illegally and irresponsibly without planning permission for...

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - New York bid leader Dan Doctoroff showed no signs of nerves as he awaited Tuesday's selection of the finalists vying to host the 2012 Olympics. With nine cities in the running, the International Olympic Committee (news - web sites) executive board is expected to keep as many as six candidates and as few as four. "I've heard everything from A to Z," Doctoroff said, calmly surveying the lobby scene Monday in a busy Olympic convention hall. "I've heard everything from four to nine. Nobody seems to know what's going to happen. I'm not going to worry about...

Dear International Olympics Committee: Hi! How ya doing? Good, I hope. I know you have a meeting coming up next month when you can toss out some of the nine cities you're considering for the 2012 summer Olympics. So I just thought, as a New York City resident, I'd add my two cents worth: TOSS US! Thanks but no thanks! Hasta la vista! We need the Olympics like we need an extra arrow next to our name on Al Qaeda's "to do" list. I mean, man, the Olympics. They're a terrorism magnet. Just look at what Athens is doing to...