:00:06. > :00:08.Good evening and welcome to Wales Today from the Millennium Stadium,
:00:08. > :00:17.where in a year's time, women's football will be the first event of
:00:17. > :00:23.the 2012 Olympic games. They say it's the greatest show on
:00:23. > :00:25.earth - so what can we in Wales expect to get out of it?
:00:25. > :00:30.Meet our Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls - five athletes we're
:00:30. > :00:35.following on the road to London. Our countdown begins tonight with
:00:35. > :00:40.cyclist, Sam Harrison. And he won silver in Beijing, but
:00:40. > :00:50.now Tom Lucy's tackling the Taliban in Afghanistan.
:00:50. > :00:53.
:00:53. > :00:55.Our other headlines tonight. The men charged with murdering a
:00:55. > :00:58.honeymoon couple from Pontardawe. Scotland Yard detectives are
:00:58. > :01:01.accused of fixing evidence. The biggest sale of land in a
:01:01. > :01:11.generation - the people who live there are asking what will a new
:01:11. > :01:26.
:01:26. > :01:28.Good evening and welcome to the Millennium Stadium. All quiet
:01:28. > :01:33.tonight, but in exactly a year's time, the stadium will have hosted
:01:33. > :01:40.the first event of the London Olympic games. Women's football the
:01:40. > :01:45.sport. There are games across the UK on July 25th, but things kick
:01:45. > :01:49.off here, half an hour earlier than anywhere else. So Wales has the
:01:49. > :01:55.honour of getting things underway. Many voices are saying it's a great
:01:55. > :01:58.privilege - others are asking why isn't Wales playing more of a part?
:01:58. > :02:04.The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London is the 25th July
:02:04. > :02:06.next year. But all eyes will be on Wales two days before, as the
:02:06. > :02:08.Millennium Stadium plays host to the first competitive action -
:02:08. > :02:18.women's football, eleven games over eight days, including two quarter
:02:18. > :02:23.
:02:23. > :02:30.finals and a bronze medal match. It is a world event. You do not get
:02:30. > :02:37.bigger it them beat the Olympic Games. Safety is the objective. But
:02:37. > :02:40.it is all about looking after spectators and protecting the Games.
:02:40. > :02:42.It's billed as a Games to include the whole of the UK, but it seems
:02:42. > :02:45.Wales has missed out. It's estimated that of the �6 billion
:02:45. > :02:54.pounds of contracts awarded to UK businesses, only 38 million is
:02:54. > :03:01.being spent here. It is always difficult to get business from
:03:01. > :03:05.large contracts. You were talking billion pound business. But we hope
:03:05. > :03:12.to see some trickle-down effect. And there's some frustration too
:03:12. > :03:17.that with all Wales has to offer, we've been overlooked. We would of
:03:17. > :03:23.course have liked more events but we have to understand the
:03:23. > :03:29.facilities that we have. It is a shame that more of the terrain of
:03:29. > :03:34.Wales was not used for a mountain biking, for example. I understand
:03:34. > :03:39.an artificial track is being built somewhere else. It would have been
:03:39. > :03:41.easier to come to Wales where we have outstanding facilities. And on
:03:41. > :03:48.the streets outside the MS today, most were looking forward to having
:03:48. > :03:54.a taste of the Olympics on the doorstep. I think it is fantastic
:03:54. > :04:00.for everybody what ever colour or creed you are. It probably brings
:04:00. > :04:04.lots of money, hotels, shopping. But first the only I'm not really
:04:04. > :04:06.very interested. Wales is benefitting from being the choice
:04:06. > :04:08.venue for many visiting teams in pre-training. Australia, New
:04:09. > :04:14.Zealand and South Africa's paralympic teams will be based in
:04:14. > :04:16.Swansea and Cardiff. Trinidad and Tobago's Olympic athletes have
:04:16. > :04:20.chosen Cardiff as their camp and Swansea University is where the
:04:20. > :04:22.Irish Triathlon team will be calling home. Meanwhile in the
:04:22. > :04:27.North the Chinese weighlifting team are using Bangor and a new state of
:04:27. > :04:29.the art facility in Holyhead as their base. In total, training
:04:29. > :04:39.camps will involve over 1,000 athletes and support staff before
:04:39. > :04:41.
:04:41. > :04:44.they head off to London for the Games.
:04:44. > :04:54.I'm joined by Olympic Gold Medalist, Lyn Davies. And Chair of the Sports
:04:54. > :04:58.Council, Laura McAllister. Good evening. The First Minister is
:04:58. > :05:03.disappointed that Wales did not get more. But was that ever going to be
:05:03. > :05:10.the case? I do not think it was entirely realistic. It is about
:05:10. > :05:14.looking ahead to what we can do for sport through the Olympics. It is
:05:14. > :05:19.such a showcase to get young people involved and of course celebrate
:05:19. > :05:27.the success of Welsh athletes. So it is all positive and wonderful
:05:27. > :05:33.that we get the first event. That first event is women's football.
:05:33. > :05:39.But football does tend in an Olympics, people struggle to get
:05:39. > :05:45.engaged with it. Do you think it will happen? I think it will. We
:05:45. > :05:50.have seen the recent women's World Cup and the standard of play. The
:05:50. > :05:58.Olympics have a character of their own. I think all the sports
:05:58. > :06:04.captured the imagination. I think women's football will fit that bill.
:06:04. > :06:11.As president of UK Athletics, our people engaging with it? Not quite
:06:11. > :06:14.yet, but they will. The Olympic Games is special and it is a once-
:06:14. > :06:18.in-a-lifetime opportunity for our athletes to show their stuff on the
:06:18. > :06:25.greatest stage in the world. And unsure as the games get closer
:06:25. > :06:30.people will engage with our top athletes. I'm pretty sure that the
:06:30. > :06:35.Welsh public, loving sport as they do, will follow the Olympic Games
:06:35. > :06:41.as we get closer. The fact is that many will have to watch it on the
:06:41. > :06:48.television. Sebastian Coe has explained that demand has far
:06:48. > :06:50.outstripped supply. Nothing to do with me whatsoever! But I do
:06:50. > :06:54.understand that disappointment especially for people who love
:06:54. > :06:59.sport and want to be there. But watching it on television is a
:06:59. > :07:05.brilliant way to follow it, you see everything. Hilt is the one to
:07:05. > :07:12.watch? I will leave the athletics to Lynne. But there are some other
:07:12. > :07:19.sports which people do not see as much of. Some fantastic Paralympic
:07:19. > :07:29.athletes. Really top athletes. a little commitment to sport Wales
:07:29. > :07:30.
:07:30. > :07:37.who did a fantastic job in raising standards. They have been helped
:07:37. > :07:39.and resourced in the early days. Now, all this week, we're starting
:07:40. > :07:43.our countdown to the Games by looking at five Welsh athletes with
:07:43. > :07:47.big dreams of getting to London. With a year to go, they are fully
:07:47. > :07:55.focused on getting into Team GB. Tonight we start with cyclist, Sam
:07:55. > :08:05.Harrison. He's been struggling with injury but is back with a real
:08:05. > :08:15.
:08:15. > :08:20.He is one of the best young talents on the track. Just five years after
:08:20. > :08:26.starting cycling, Sam Harrison has a real chance of making it to the
:08:26. > :08:32.London Games. As expectations here are high, the last time around in
:08:32. > :08:39.Beijing, which was Britain's most successful sports, Sam is competing
:08:39. > :08:46.against some of the best for a place in the squad. A I am a bit of
:08:46. > :08:52.an outsider. There are phenomenal athletes like Bradley Wiggins. It
:08:52. > :09:00.is a big ask. If you had asked me a year ago if I was in with a shout I
:09:00. > :09:05.would have said No. If I give it 100% I think I have a real chance
:09:05. > :09:11.of getting into the team. training 20 hours a week is tough
:09:11. > :09:18.as Sam is recovering from a serious injury. How are you feeling? Pretty
:09:18. > :09:26.knackered. I broke my collarbone six weeks ago and it has been an
:09:26. > :09:34.uphill struggle. But I'm just giving it 100%. You will be a bit
:09:34. > :09:40.stiff tomorrow. We picked out Sam from the Under 23 team. We took him
:09:40. > :09:45.to the world championships. He performed really well. Then I put
:09:46. > :09:54.him on the squad for 2012. He is one of seven or eight guys going
:09:54. > :10:01.for four spots. Back at his flat and Sam is getting to grips with
:10:01. > :10:07.living away from home for the first time after leaving for Manchester.
:10:07. > :10:15.You have to watch your diet. It makes a difference. You have to be
:10:15. > :10:24.switched on when it matters. I'm getting used to living on my own, I
:10:24. > :10:29.never realised how much you take your parents for granted! I used to
:10:29. > :10:35.put things in the washing basket and it would get done! But Sammut
:10:35. > :10:43.is one of the lucky ones, he gets funding. No need for a part time
:10:43. > :10:47.job, so he can concentrate solely on his cycling for. After getting
:10:47. > :10:56.the medal I got the top level funding which makes life so much
:10:56. > :11:04.easier. You're not having to worry about buying fruit, you take things
:11:04. > :11:12.for granted but fruit costs so much. I will leave you to enjoy your
:11:12. > :11:16.salad. Rather boring! 12 months ago Sam thought his Olympic dream was
:11:16. > :11:20.over but after successful performances this year he is back
:11:21. > :11:24.in contention with qualification for London within reach.
:11:24. > :11:34.High hopes for Sam Harrison. And plenty more from our other Olympic
:11:34. > :11:52.
:11:52. > :11:55.wannabes throughout the week here on Wales Today.
:11:55. > :11:58.It's the biggest chunk of land to be sold in Wales in living memory.
:11:58. > :12:01.But who will the new owner be? That question is on the lips of people
:12:01. > :12:04.attending a public meeting tonight to discuss the planned sale of the
:12:04. > :12:06.lease on the Vyrnwy Estate in Powys. The utilities firm Severn Trent
:12:06. > :12:09.says it's chosen its preferred bidder for the 23,000 acre site,
:12:09. > :12:15.but refused to comment on claims it was selling it to United Utilities.
:12:15. > :12:20.Our reporter, Cemlyn Davies, is in Abertridwr for us tonight. People
:12:20. > :12:24.have already started arriving ahead of the meeting tonight. Just a
:12:24. > :12:31.couple of hours ago Severn Trent Water confirmed what many had
:12:31. > :12:37.already suspected, that their perfect bid is a joint one
:12:37. > :12:42.presented by United Utilities and the RSPB. United Utilities is
:12:42. > :12:47.another water and telecoms company offering services to around 7
:12:47. > :12:53.million people in north-west England. I am joined by some local
:12:53. > :13:03.residents who will take part in the debate tonight. Can I ask for your
:13:03. > :13:04.
:13:04. > :13:14.initial reaction to this news? Shocked, disappointed. For 12
:13:14. > :13:19.
:13:19. > :13:29.months now they have kept us hanging on and we are disappointed.
:13:29. > :13:29.
:13:29. > :13:33.We wanted the work brought into the community. Why are you so concerned
:13:33. > :13:42.that United Utilities and RSPB cannot have the same kind of
:13:42. > :13:47.impact? I am concerned and soul are at the community because we are
:13:47. > :13:55.replacing one water company with another. It all means profit to
:13:55. > :14:03.them. They do not care about us, the roads, the hedges. The RSPB are
:14:03. > :14:13.the same. They never support anything. It is important to
:14:13. > :14:22.remember that this is not the final decision. This is only the perfect
:14:22. > :14:27.bid. But do you share the same concerns? United Utilities and
:14:27. > :14:37.Severn Trent has been working together with the RSPB and that is
:14:37. > :14:37.
:14:37. > :14:45.the problem. But we do not know yet. What other main issues, what is so
:14:45. > :14:55.important, what must these people invest in for you? Labour, plenty
:14:55. > :15:02.
:15:02. > :15:10.of work for families. We want the youngsters to have more work appear.
:15:10. > :15:15.Thank you very much. Quite an interesting debate to come here
:15:15. > :15:19.this evening. And just one final note, this is not the final
:15:19. > :15:28.decision and the next step now has a three-month consultation between
:15:28. > :15:31.Severn Trent Water and the Countryside Council for Wales.
:15:31. > :15:33.In Antigua, the jury in the Mullany murder trial has heard claims
:15:33. > :15:35.Scotland Yard detectives fixed evidence to try to secure
:15:35. > :15:37.convictions. That's according to one of the lawyers of the two men
:15:37. > :15:39.accused of killing the Welsh honeymooners. Ben and Catherine
:15:39. > :15:44.Mullany from Pontardawe were shot dead in their hotel room three
:15:44. > :15:46.years ago. Avie Howel and Kaniel Martin deny murder. And we can go
:15:46. > :15:55.over now live to Antigua to get the latest from our reporter, Roger
:15:55. > :16:00.Pinney. Roger, what has the jury heard today?
:16:00. > :16:05.Quite an astonishing attack. I have spent a long time reporting from
:16:05. > :16:15.chords and had never heard anything like it. It came from markers
:16:15. > :16:15.
:16:15. > :16:21.Foster who represents Kenny Elk Maarten. He accused Scotland Yard
:16:21. > :16:24.detectives of fixing the evidence to secure a conviction. He said
:16:24. > :16:32.there were called in because the Antiguan police were not good
:16:32. > :16:37.enough. He also condemned the name Scotland Yard detectives going to
:16:37. > :16:43.their operation, Operation savanna, which he said conjured up images of
:16:43. > :16:52.Africa with wild animals. An astonishing attack. What happens
:16:52. > :16:56.next? Well it is lunchtime here and the jury has been sent home for the
:16:56. > :17:01.day. The judge said he had important matters to discuss with
:17:01. > :17:04.the defence and the prosecution before he starts his summing up.
:17:04. > :17:09.That should happen here first thing tomorrow morning. After that the
:17:09. > :17:12.jury will be sent out. The family of a 57-year-old man
:17:12. > :17:16.killed at an oil refinery in Hampshire have described him as a
:17:16. > :17:18.fantastic father and grandfather. Tony McGowan from Ebbw Vale died in
:17:18. > :17:24.hospital after becoming trapped underneath pipes at the Exxon Mobil
:17:24. > :17:34.plant in the New Forest. The police and Health and Safety Executive are
:17:34. > :17:45.
:17:45. > :17:48.investigating the accident. Get out and enjoy Wales' three
:17:48. > :17:50.National Parks! That's the message of National Parks Week. Over the
:17:50. > :17:52.next few days we'll be visiting Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons.
:17:52. > :17:55.And tomorrow, we're heading to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
:17:55. > :18:05.It covers a third of the county and is the only one in the UK which is
:18:05. > :18:05.
:18:05. > :18:10.entirely coastal. Matt Murray's been exploring. It is down to the
:18:10. > :18:16.ranges to ensure that activities here work side by side with some of
:18:16. > :18:21.the spectacular wildlife on these shores. That's it from me, back to
:18:21. > :18:25.Claire at the Millenium Stadium. At the last Olympics, five Welsh
:18:25. > :18:32.athletes won medals. Four of them hope to compete in London in a
:18:32. > :18:34.year's time, but not rower, Tom Lucy, from Monmouth. He turned his
:18:34. > :18:40.back on the chance to compete in London, deciding instead to join
:18:40. > :18:42.the Royal Marines. While his former crew-mates prepare for 2012,
:18:42. > :18:49.Lieutenant Lucy is now a troop commander serving in Afghanistan.
:18:49. > :18:53.Ashleigh Crowter has this exclusive report. He has handled the pressure
:18:53. > :19:00.of other Olympic final but now for Tom Brucie the stakes are even
:19:00. > :19:04.higher. Today he's leading his men on another patrol in Helmand
:19:04. > :19:09.province, the part of Afghanistan where the fighting has been
:19:09. > :19:15.fiercest. But he has no regrets about giving up his chance to roll
:19:15. > :19:25.at the Lamb -- at the London Olympics to serve with the Marines.
:19:25. > :19:28.
:19:28. > :19:32.It is what I have always wanted to do. It was time for a change.
:19:32. > :19:40.Losey was the youngest member of the Great Britain rowing squad in
:19:40. > :19:50.Beijing. He looked set to have a long Olympic career for a stop for
:19:50. > :19:51.
:19:51. > :19:59.me it was one of the best moments in my life. Just to win an Olympic
:19:59. > :20:07.medal was fantastic. Unknown as the Olympic loser, I get a lot of stick
:20:07. > :20:14.from the men! He keeps saying all the time, should have got gold.
:20:14. > :20:20.Blames the rest of his team, says he put in 110%! This is Tom's first
:20:20. > :20:26.tour of duty as a Royal Marine and the work is varied. Earning respect
:20:26. > :20:32.is vital. K company are hoping to run a veterinary clinic where
:20:32. > :20:36.locals can get their animals checked. It is the transition for
:20:36. > :20:46.them being able to look after their own animals as well, which is
:20:46. > :20:46.
:20:46. > :20:55.important. There is still a threat out there and high-security. We
:20:55. > :21:01.have a cordon placed down in local villages. We are providing
:21:01. > :21:06.protection for the locals. There are some of his similarities
:21:06. > :21:11.between life as a rower and as a marine. Staying fit is a necessity
:21:11. > :21:17.for both but so is teamwork. But living in a patrol base is a world
:21:17. > :21:27.away from the hype of a home for Olympics. I might have a little
:21:27. > :21:31.pang when it starts thinking, that would be quite good. But if I'd
:21:31. > :21:40.carried on growing up until 2012 it would have made the transition into
:21:40. > :21:44.this career a lot harder. On the race day there's no guarantee that
:21:44. > :21:51.you would achieve the goal that you want. I have happy to be where I am.
:21:51. > :21:56.But Tom is keeping his hand in in the gym. It will not be until long
:21:56. > :22:02.after the London 20 told regatta. might get back into rowing one day,
:22:02. > :22:12.we will see. Not in the near future. But I have not written it off at
:22:12. > :22:16.
:22:16. > :22:21.all. Well these are both Welsh gymnasts
:22:21. > :22:27.hoping to get to London next year. Just a cat and Lizzie. How are you
:22:27. > :22:33.feeling? It is quite nerve-racking at the moment but we will keep on
:22:33. > :22:39.training hard, six days a week. We will keep that up. It is a huge
:22:39. > :22:45.commitment. It is really hard but I enjoyed it and get a lot of support.
:22:45. > :22:52.Lisicki comic you finished 6th in the British championships. How was
:22:53. > :22:58.it? It was held in Liverpool this year and the gymnasium was on a
:22:58. > :23:04.podium which made it a bigger experience. And what does it feel
:23:04. > :23:08.like, the buzz and excitement, it does it make you eager to get their
:23:08. > :23:14.next year? It was very good, the crowd were great, so we know what
:23:14. > :23:20.to expect. I know you lost your mother and Europe grand mother and
:23:20. > :23:26.your grandad now looks after you. That has been really hard.
:23:26. > :23:32.grandad is a great support. He's getting into the whole routine of
:23:33. > :23:37.gymnastics. How is he at washing their leotards? He is very good, he
:23:37. > :23:42.knows what he's doing! And for both of you family and support are
:23:42. > :23:45.really important? Friends and family are great support and always
:23:45. > :23:50.come to watch our competitions for stock are at the Welsh fans the
:23:50. > :23:57.best for cheering you on? Definitely. Keep working hard and
:23:57. > :23:59.the best of luck. D'you like cycling? Yes? Well, Cardiff cyclist,
:23:59. > :24:04.Geraint Thomas, is taking a well- earned rest tonight after finishing
:24:04. > :24:07.the Tour de France as the best placed British rider. Thomas was
:24:07. > :24:15.31st in the overall race after three gruelling weeks on the road,
:24:15. > :24:21.as the final stage was completed in Paris yesterday.
:24:21. > :24:31.It has been agreed three weeks. It is tough, for sure. The biggest by
:24:31. > :24:33.
:24:33. > :24:36.grace in the world with the best riders. -- biggest bike race. In
:24:37. > :24:46.the mountains it was something I had never done before, so that was
:24:47. > :24:50.
:24:50. > :24:53.an encouraging. I have been in the action all the way through.
:24:53. > :24:55.And as we're here at the Millennium Stadium, in the last hour it's been
:24:55. > :24:58.announced that a one-off tribute concert to Michael Jackson will be
:24:58. > :25:03.held here on October 8th. A special message from members of the Jackson
:25:03. > :25:05.family was broadcast over the big screens a little earlier. The
:25:05. > :25:15.concert will be broadcast around the world, and we'll get more
:25:15. > :25:20.
:25:20. > :25:24.details about the tickets and acts over the next few days.
:25:24. > :25:34.I haven't a clue what the weather will be like next summer. If only I
:25:34. > :25:36.
:25:36. > :25:46.could predict that far ahead! But I can tell you that we're in for some
:25:46. > :25:50.
:25:50. > :25:58.fine and settled weather this week, thanks to high pressure. Tuesday
:25:58. > :26:02.and Wednesday looked like being the best days of the week. There has
:26:02. > :26:09.been some sunshine today but cloud been some sunshine today but cloud
:26:09. > :26:16.is spreading in front the West. We keep plenty of cloud tonight.
:26:16. > :26:26.Otherwise most places are dry and a mile Derek Whyte than recently. --
:26:26. > :26:27.
:26:27. > :26:32.a milder night than recently. Tomorrow, a dry day in prospect.
:26:32. > :26:42.Gradually brightening up through the date with some good spells of
:26:42. > :26:55.
:26:55. > :27:05.More fine and warm weather to come on Wednesday. Cloudy and damp on
:27:05. > :27:08.Thursday but the son returning again on Saturday.
:27:08. > :27:11.Claire, do you reckon I could make Team GB? I'm a dab hand at squash!
:27:11. > :27:14.Team GB? I'm a dab hand at squash! Or how about beach volley?
:27:14. > :27:17.Tomorrow night, we'll be meeting another one of our budding Welsh
:27:17. > :27:22.Olympians. Helen Warnes is setting her sights on London where she
:27:22. > :27:26.hopes to compete in the 10 metre air rifle event. And we'll be
:27:26. > :27:28.catching up with one of our current Olympic Champions. We spend the day