FILE - In this Monday, July 30, 2012 file photo, a paddle sits on the table during the men's table tennis competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. Table tennis has its own version of ``doping.'' It has nothing to do with ingesting banned substances. Just as other Olympic athletes, pingpong players are regularly tested for those. Pingpong's problem involves players applying performance enhancing materials to the racket, or paddle, to get more grip, spin and speed. The substances go by various names _ speed glue, booster or tuner. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
FILE - In this Monday, July 30, 2012 file photo, a paddle sits on the table during the men's table tennis competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. Table tennis has its own version of ``doping.'' It has nothing to do with ingesting banned substances. Just as other Olympic athletes, pingpong players are regularly tested for those. Pingpong's problem involves players applying performance enhancing materials to the racket, or paddle, to get more grip, spin and speed. The substances go by various names _ speed glue, booster or tuner. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Switzerland's Nicola Spirig, middle, Sweden's Lisa Norden, right, and Australia's Erin Densham react after finishing the triathlon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. Spirig won the gold medal. Norden took the silver and Densham the bronze. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jamaica's Usain Bolt, left, leads in a men's 100-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jamaica's Usain Bolt gestures before competing in a men's 100-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Jamaica's Yohan Blake competes in a men's 100-meter heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
LONDON (AP) ? Around the 2012 Olympics and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of the games to you:
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RACKET DOPING
So you think table tennis is a low-key, low-stakes rainy-day game? No way. There's a form of "doping" in pingpong.
It has nothing to do with ingesting banned substances. We're talking about doctoring the racket to get more spin and speed, more dips and curves for the celluloid sphere.
The substances go by various names ? speed glue, booster or tuner. The world governing body of table tennis has eliminated some of the problem but has yet to wipe it out.
Matthew Syed, a two-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth table tennis champion, lends insight.
"Table tennis has two distinct meanings," says Syed. "It's a mass participation parlor game that anybody can play. It's recreational. Then you have the elite, techno-crazy game. They are very different. So people are often surprised.
"But at this level, people are always looking for that edge."
? Stephen Wade ? Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP
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THE CAP CARRIER
While youth may often triumph at the Olympics, it can also have its disadvantages.
Take Sandro Sukno.
Croatia's biggest offensive weapon in water polo and the team's leading scorer so far at the Olympics with nine goals, Sukno trudged past reporters carrying his teammates' caps slung over his shoulder on the way to the locker room after netting two goals in an 11-6 win over Australia.
Asked how he got stuck with the task, the 22-year-old Sukno shrugged: "I'm the youngest."
? Ryan Lucas ? Twitter www.twitter.com/relucasz
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SYRIA PROTEST
A dozen people opposed to the Syrian government have protested the presence at the Olympics of equestrian rider Ahmad Saber Hamsho, whose father is under U.S. and EU sanctions for supporting the regime of President Bashar Assad.
Hamsho competed Saturday in the show jumping individual qualifier.
He's been quoted in the British media as supporting Assad. On Saturday, he dismissed the protesters outside the gate as "stupid."
"They should be proud of us athletes who are representing Syria," he said.
In Damascus, heavy explosions shook the capital Saturday and helicopters circled overhead as rebels appeared to be renewing their offensive in the city.
? Nicole Winfield ? Twitter www.twitter.com/nwinfield
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THE BOLT FACTOR
American sprinter Justin Gatlin has some advice for anyone up against Usain Bolt: Forget he's there.
"He's the equivalent of the guy walking on the moon for the first time," says Gatlin. "You have to line up in the blocks shoulder to shoulder with this guy? You're going to be in awe sometimes."
He says he's seen inexperienced runners allow themselves to be defeated by Bolt before a race has even begun.
"I think a lot of runners almost have that audience mentality ? see what he's going to do, even while you're running. You've got to block that out, go out there and compete against that guy."
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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SMELLY PLATES OF MEAT
Volunteers at the London Olympics are only issued two pairs of socks for their "plates of meat" (that's "feet" to those not well versed in cockney rhyming slang.)
They're expected to be in the official uniform at all times when on duty. With just two tops, two pairs of trousers and two pairs of socks that means regular laundry is a must.
However, there's one exception to the rule and luckily it relates to the socks. You are allowed to replace them with your own if you run out ? but they should be unbranded and not visible.
? Fergus Bell ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fergb
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QUICKQUOTE: DON'T SIT
"If you're sitting at home, don't sit at home ? stand up. It's going to be crazy, that's what you're going to do anyway, stand up" ? American sprinter Justin Gatlin on how viewers should watch Sunday night's men's 100 meter dash.
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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SERBIAN MILESTONE
Vlade Divac was waiting for this one.
Serbia's Ivana Maksimovic won the silver medal in the Olympic women's 50-meter three-position rifle final on Saturday ? the second medal in her family's history, and the 100th all-time for her country.
And Divac, the president of the Serbian Olympic Committee, was there to see history happen.
"She's absolutely a hero," said Divac, the former NBA star. "First medal for her. Second medal for her family. Second medal for our Olympic committee at this Olympic games. And 100th medal in the history of the national Olympic movement. We've been waiting for it and she won it."
? Tim Reynolds ? Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ByTimReynolds
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BLAKE TRIES TO DASH OFF
Two Olympic volunteers tried to stop him, but Yohan Blake was having none of it.
Athletes are required to walk through a media zone following races but the Jamaican sprinter cut through a barrier in a bid to dodge everyone.
When challenged, Blake argued he wasn't going back and continued to walk toward what appeared to be a staging area for athletes. More Olympic personnel got involved, and Blake was escorted back out surrounded by at least four workers.
He didn't want to be there, walking briskly through the maze and refusing to stop for any questions.
"How was the race?" I shouted.
"It's not the finals. It's not the finals," he replied as he passed. "Good. Good."
Then he was gone.
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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QUICKQUOTE: BOLT
"I can't say I've been doing a lot of work on that. We're not focusing on the start, we're focusing on the rest of the race, which I always do. I'm working on the last 60 meters, which is my strong point" ? Usain Bolt, commenting on his slow start out of the blocks in Saturday's 100-meter heat.
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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BOLT VS BLAKE
In his first appearance at the London Olympics, Usain Bolt did what he had to do to advance to the 100-meter semifinals, overcoming a slow start to win his heat in 10.09 seconds Saturday. Yohan Blake finished his heat a fraction faster in 10.00 seconds.
? Howard Fendrich ? Twitter http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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ROYAL JUMPERS
Another royal family is getting air time in the equestrian ring at Greenwich Park.
Prince Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, a grandson of King Abdullah, jumped a clean round in good time in the qualifying portion of the individual show jumping competition Saturday. The top 60 riders advance.
The prince, whose father and grandfather are both fans and owners of race horses, said he hoped his grandfather was watching on TV.
"He's the main sponsor for our team," Abdullah told The Associated Press. "He sponsored us with all these good quality horses, and trainers and all good stuff ? top stuff: grooms, blacksmiths ? so I think he deserves to have watched his sons from Saudi Arabia having good rounds today."
Last week, it was the British monarchy in the limelight in the equestrian stadium: the queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, was part of the silver-winning British eventing team, and her mother Princess Anne presented the medals.
Also in the arena that day was Princess Haya, the head of the International Equestrian Federation and a daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan.
?Nicole Winfield ? www.twitter.com/nwinfield
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GLIB GABBY
Gabby Douglas and her electric smile ? not to mention her two Olympic gold medals ? are sure to have advertisers lining up.
The 16-year-old, who won the women's all-around gymnastics title on Thursday, is proving she's just as fast with a one-liner as she is racing down the vault runway.
Holding the all-around gold in her hands hours after taking the title, Douglas didn't hesitate when someone jokingly told her "nice medal, where did you get?"
"Dollar Tree," she said before eliciting a giggle.
? Will Graves ? Twitter: www.twitter.com/WillGravesAP
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FAILED DRUG TESTS
A Russian cyclist and Colombian track and field athlete have failed Olympic drug tests.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams says Russia's Victoria Baranova was expelled after failing a pre-competiton test. Colombia's 400-meter runner Diego Palomeque has been provisionally suspended after a pre-competition positive test. The 18-year-old athlete did not start in his scheduled heat Saturday.
? Stephen Wilson ? Twitter http://twitter.com/stevewilsonap
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NEW RECORD (ON THE TUBE)
New records are being set on the track, in the water ? and deep underneath the British capital.
Transport officials say the games have led to the busiest days ever on London's transport network, with more than 4.3 million journeys counted on the capital's subway system on Thursday alone.
London's sprawling subway system ? known as the Tube ? typically sees about up to 4 million journeys a day.
Transport has been a key concern for Olympic organizers, with some wondering whether the capital's stretched transit network would cope. So far, however, London seems to have avoided any major headaches.
? Raphael Satter ? Twitter http://raphae.li/twitter
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QUICKQUOTE: PISTORIUS JOY
"I've worked for six years ... to get my chance," said Oscar Pistorius. "I found myself smiling in the starting blocks."
? Howard Fendrich ? Twitter http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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HUBBY'S HERE
Sanya Richards-Ross has been counting the days until her husband can see her compete live for the first time in major competition.
The day came Saturday when Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross arrived at the London Games. He received three days off from training camp to see the American sprinter compete.
"My honey has finally arrived!!! I am overjoyed!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!! Thx again for letting me borrow him JagNation," she tweeted.
? Jenna Fryer ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jennafryer
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QUICKQUOTE ON PISTORIUS
"I know Oscar was the protagonist in the race," said Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, who actually won the heat by .4 but went virtually unnoticed. "But I love him. He's a good racer."
? Eddie Pells Twitter http://www.twitter.com/epells
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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
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