…check out the ideas for mascots

The Olympics are busy gathering attention for appalling pollution, dismal human rights records and ridiculous food bans, so it’s easy to lose focus on the fact that we will be hosting the event in 2012. But the genii at the BBC have stuck the Olympiad right back into the national consciousness by asking folks to submit their own ideas for Olympic mascots.

The very best entries have been published by the BBC, and most are at about the same standard as the God-awful Lisa-Simpson-performing-a-sex-act official logo. Above, for example, is the imaginatively-titled ‘Sock’ by Terry Scott.

‘Mr Belvedere’ is meant to be a Dickensian athlete, but he looks more like a man you wouldn’t like to see in the park late at night

See more mascots after the jump…

It’s all thanks to the unique way the Beeb is funded…

A cursory glance on the BBC Football homepage shows why their website is revered for ground-breaking exclusives and finger-on-the-pulse news stories.

What could possibly be the big story on the eve of another Euro 2008 semi-final? “Coach Low targets Euro final win.” Wow! We had literally no idea the Germans would actually want to win this thing now - thanks for opening our eyes, BBC!

(FYI: the manager’s surname is actually ‘Löw’ or ‘Loew’, and the picture accompanying the piece, well I’m fairly certain that’s Michael Ballack.)

In other breaking news, Guus Hiddink has said that he won’t be too disheartened if Russia win tonight and David Villa has stunned everyone by admitting he wouldn’t mind scoring another hat-trick tonight.

Big British Castle bonus: Do you want to relive the magical moment when the coverage blacked out last night? The Beeb have made a video of it right here, to be treasured by generations to come. Drink it in folks. Drink it in.

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Today’s links are brought to you in association with Parents Magazine. Best magazine cover ever? Yes, best magazine cover ever.

Every game of Euro 2008 is available in full on the brilliant BBC iPlayer. The only downside is you must listen to Shearer’s inane punditry
[BBC]

The definitive Euro 2008 London pub guide
[Sniffing the Touchline]

Steven Gerrard’s topless karaoke sesh
[Kickette]

Lewis Hamilton is slower than a Canadian Beaver
[Grid Crasher]

Manchester City offer Ronaldinho £200k a week - worst buy ever?
[Pies]

Tennis: make money on the Stella Artois Championship
[chickendinner]

Adebayor’s volley causes betting controversy

Blue Square has been forced to close their book on Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition, as a disproportionate amount of people were voting for Emmanuel Adebayor’s wonder strike against Spurs in September (2:40 in the video above). Ruling out the possibilities that this was the best goal and that’s why people voted for it, the bookies have pulled the market last night amid whispers of a leak at the Big British Castle.

The BBC claim there is ‘no evidence to suggest a leak’ of the result, yet punters placed

After all, you probably paid for it

The big brains in suits at the BBC have drawn up a clever graph demonstrating how sparse the English boot print is on the modern Premier League. Presumably, they’re doing this to quash any possible xenophobia it might incite.

The two biggest underachievers, Arsenal and Liverpool, look most patronisingly down their noses at young up-and-coming working class children, choosing instead to poach for the sunnier side of Europe. While Everton and Aston Villa are more likely to send their scouts to TK Maxx on a Saturday afternoon, looking for bored teenagers with strong thighs.

Also appearing on a computer near you…

BBC Producers kill off Ian Wright character in Christmas Special
[The Gaffer]

Formula One Grid Girls galore
[Grid Crasher]

Barcelona want £31.5m for lazy overweight layabout Ronaldinho
[Football 365]

Manchester Utd/ Barcelona first goalscorer betting
[chickendinner]

David Beckham adopts the ‘Uncle Albert’ look (more hair on the bottom of the head than the top)
[Kickette]

Barack Obama has mad basketball skills
[All Balls]

And on an unrelated note: here’s a leaked version of the trailer for The Dark Knight.
[WWTDD]

National broadcaster confuses unhappy pensioner with rowdy protest Following the announcement that Fabio Capello would be taking the reins at England HQ, I went and checked out the ‘fierce protests’ at Soho Square. When I arrived, the rowdy anti-Capello xenophobic yobs I had been promised turned out to be just one man. A retired policeman called Ray, whose main complaint was the price of his train fare.

His picture has crept up again today on the BBC website, in an article in which ancient Swiss bureaucrat Sepp Blatter voices concern for a foreign England manager. The caption ‘An England supporter protests against Capello’s appointment’ implies