Category Archives: London 2012 Olympics

Think you know all there is about the Olympics?

Posted on by

 Here’s a question – how many times has London hosted the Olympic Games?*

OK, that one is easy, but you may well want to delve a little deeper into the history of the Games and what better way than to start with the Library? Sprint, jog or walk sedately (preferred option) down to shelf location 796.48 on Level 2 of the Library and you will find several bays of books on the subject.

 Alternatively, look into any of the Library’s 300 sports e-journals for specialist articles. How do you do that? I’m glad you asked. Just check out the Sports category of E-journals A-Z on Library Catalogue Plus or better still, use SportDiscus to search all things sport by subject. Did you know, for instance that there are 103 articles on the Olympics and Loughborough? No, nor did I. If you cannot wait to use this superb full-text database, in addition to finding it via Library Catalogue Plus, SportDiscus is also available via the EBSCOhost app on your mobile – just don’t try to search while jogging!

And it doesn’t stop there. Take a look at Nexis** for current and historic newspaper coverage from newspapers around the world, or the archival copies of The Times, Guardian, New York Times and Mirror with its wonderful collection of photographic images from the Games.

Just pop into the Library at any time and a librarian will be delighted to show you around our collections and resources.

* The answer is three times, 1908, 1948 (it should have been 1944 but the war got in the way) and 2012

** SportDiscus, Nexis and the newspaper archives are available from the Select Database options on Library Catalogue Plus.

Pictured is the 1948 London Olympic Games Poster, image copyright theirhistory, reproduced under CC Licence from Flickr.

The Torch Is Coming!

Posted on by

The London 2012 Olympics this summer is looming up on the inside lane fast – and the Olympic Torch is lighting every step of the way. And some of those steps are going to be taking it through campus!

It has just been announced this morning that on Tuesday July 3, 2012, the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through the Loughborough University campus.

The Olympic Torch will arrive on campus through the East Entrance on Epinal Way just after 9am. It will then make its way through campus via the athletics track, past the Library and Burleigh Court and through to the Sir Denis Rooke building, evntually leaving via the West Entrance at around 10.30am.

Full details of the Torch’s nationwide route, including its journey on campus, are available at the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) website. Further information will also be available on the University’s 2012 website.

The Library has a vested interest, too – our archives contain a genuine Olympic Torch from the 1948 Games. Look out for details of a forthcoming exhibition which will be displaying this wonderful piece of sporting history.

Lighting the Way to London 2012

Posted on by

Organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games in London estimate that the Olympic Flame will come within 10 miles of 95% of everybody in the UK - and have come up with a new resource to show where precisely the Flame is going to be visiting near you!

An interactive map shows each of the 1000+ cities, towns and villages the Flame will be carried through, as well as the locations of evening celebrations in honour of the event. All you need to do is enter a postcode in the search box provided to find out where and when the Flame will be near you. For instance, the Flame is due to be visiting Loughborough on Tuesday 3rd July 2012 – something to put in your diary!

Look out also for details of a forthcoming exhibition from the Archives in the Library, featuring a genuine Olympic Torch (albeit not a lit one!)

The map is available from the official London 2012 site at http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map .