Topic: Olympics

London is home to some of the world's most opulent hotels, but with five-star rooms in short supply during the Olympic Games this summer; wealthy visitors are increasingly turning to private homes to meet their accommodation needs.

Some of Britain's poorest regions are battling each other and neighboring France to boost their local economies by hosting Olympic athletes at training camps before this year's Games.

London Mayor Boris Johnson urged Olympic dignitaries on Monday to take public transport during this summer's Games rather than chauffeur-driven limousines on specially designated lanes, to help avoid raising the ire of log-jammed Britons.

London marked a mere six months to the start of its Olympic Games Friday by focusing on the minutiae of putting on the show now that the monumental stage has been built.

U.S. fast food chain McDonald's has extended its sponsorship of the Olympics for a further eight years, making it the official restaurant at Olympics venues until the 2020 Summer Games.

The London Olympics countdown entered its final 200 days Monday with government and organizers talking up the legacy Britain can look forward to long after the last medal has been won and the show is over.

Ten percent of the 40,000 construction workers employed for the 2012 Olympic Games were previously out of work, according to a report by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA).

IKEA is going into the business of selling walls, floors and roofs, in addition to furniture, housewares and rugs. The international home-goods retail monolith recently announced plans to build an entire neighborhood in Stratford, East London.

Olympic sponsorship must be a long-term commitment and the cost will almost certainly outweigh the benefits if it is not partnered with “activation” or marketing activities such as the launch of a new product, experts say.

Using the allure of the Olympics to get more children to play sports is a top target of the London 2012 Olympic Games organizers, but figures from a UK government agency show the number of 16- to 19-year olds playing sports at least three times a week has fallen sharply.

Ten bids have been received from would-be tenants wanting to take over the London Olympic press and broadcast center after next year's Games, the man in charge of the legacy company said on Wednesday.

With an extra three million journeys a day on London’s already crowded public transport system expected during the three weeks of the 2012 Olympics, London's commuters could have more to moan about.

Unemployment recently hit a 15-year high in the UK, inflation is hovering around 5 percent and economic growth is barely advancing, leaving many to wonder whether hosting an expensive event like the 2012 Olympic Games with taxpayers’ money will bring benefits for a nation already tightening its belt.

Between May 18 and July 27, the Olympic Flame will come to within just 10 miles of 95 percent of the population of the UK, visiting iconic landmarks including Loch Ness and Stonehenge and…Walford, the fictional London borough home to Eastenders, one of Britain’s most popular soap operas.