Cardiff High Street plays host to street Tarnished Earth exhibition

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 30, 2011

A striking exhibition that has been making an impact across the UK arrives in Cardiff on Friday, July 1 and will run until Friday 29 July.

Tarnished Earth is a unique street gallery that features striking images of Canada’s magnificent Boreal Forest. Photographs show the contrasts between the damaged caused to the forest by oil extraction, with the area’s pristine wilderness and the traditional way of life of the indigenous First Nation Cree.

The exhibition which features large boards showcasing the photographs will be on display at the newly regenerated High Street throughout July.

The exhibition is one of the events featured in this year’s Cardiff Festival. The festival will run from June 30 until September 3, and will feature a diverse range of events including the Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend, Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival and the Cardiff Mardi Gras.

Before arriving in Cardiff the exhibition has toured the UK, including London, Birmingham and Leeds. The images where also displayed outside the EU parliament in Brussels.

Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “Tarnished Earth is the first street gallery to feature at the newly pedestranised High Street, and I am pleased that the area is able to host this important exhibition.

“The powerful images are incredibly eye catching and will make people think about how our actions affect the earth in which we live.”

Further information on the Cardiff Festival can be found at www.cardiff-festival.com

Tickets available for Olympic football at the Millennium Stadium

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 23, 2011

More tickets for London 2012 Olympic football matches at the Millennium Stadium will be available from tomorrow for fans who missed out on the first draft.

The second round of tickets sales will start tomorrow at 6.00am and finish at 6.00pm on 17 July and London 2012 organisers have announced that availability is highest for football, which makes up 1.7 million of the remaining 2.3 million tickets.

Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is set host 11 world-class football games across both the women’s and men’s tournaments, including the prestigious men’s quarter-final on 4 August and the Bronze Medal match on 10 August.

And the eyes of the world will be on Wales for the very first events of the 2012 Olympic Games on July 25, with two women’s football matches set for Cardiff ahead of the opening ceremony in London.

“The Millennium Stadium is an excellent choice for sports fans wanting to be part of the greatest sporting show on earth, with organisers announcing special prices and larger availability across Olympic football events,” said Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms.

“Our city-centre stadium can hold crowds of up to 74,500 per event and has attracted a total of 11 football events, including the first Olympic event of London 2012 and the men’s quarter final and Bronze medal match.

“I urge all sports fans to take advantage of this second opportunity to get hold of tickets for world-class football at the Millennium Stadium and apply to be part of the London 2012 action in Wales.”

From tomorrow, tickets will be on sale at a range of price categories, and across a range of sports and LOCOG have confirmed that the first 10 days (until 6pm on 3 July) will be open exclusively to the people who applied in the initial application phase but were not allocated any tickets.

Applicants who received tickets in the first round of sales will also get another chance to purchase tickets in the second round from 6.00am on 8 July to 6.00pm on 17 July.

The second round of sales will use a ‘first come first served’ application system. Applicants will be notified whether their request for tickets has been successful between 24 and 48 hours after the request is submitted. Payment will be taken after the 10 day process, over a period of up to four days – and applicants will then be notified that the transaction and ticket purchase is complete.

Football fans will find more information, special prices and larger limits via the official website www.tickets.london2012.com

Speculation over David Young increases

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 22, 2011

Despite Cardiff Blues issuing a firm statement confirming they have “had no approach from London Wasps regarding Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby David Young”, speculation has increased with the BBC today claiming “Wasps are aiming to name Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young as their new director of rugby”.

The 43 year old former Wales, Lions and Cardiff prop has contractual obligations at Cardiff and any move by Wasps to secure his services would be subject to Young negotiating a release from the Blues. The statement from the Blues is unequivocal in that respect: “David Young is still in contract at the Blues and has one year to run on that contract, which we expect him to honour.”

Regional chairman, Peter Thomas says: “I have always said that I think Dai’s next port of call after the Cardiff Blues should be with the Wales national set up…” This indicates he expect Young to stay and move up to the Welsh National scene once his tenure at Cardiff comes to an end. Young may have other ideas, his ambitions to coach Wales are real, but he believes he needs experience of running an English Premiership team and Wasps would be a suitable challenge for his talents.

Despite a relatively successful few years, in which Young has led the Blues to victories in the EDF trophy, the Amlin cup and to within a single kick of the Heineken European Cup final, losing to Leicester in the much maligned penalty shoot-out, which was subsequently dropped from the competition, he has been under pressure with little or no resources in evidence at the cash strapped region.

His star has risen recently, coaching the Baa Baas at the tail end of last season, taking the scalps of England and Wales, but next season was always going to be a trial at Cardiff. With no prospect of improving the side and the potential for embarrassing early exits from competitions and a drain of players, Young could be on a hiding to nothing and a record which would inevitably tarnish his reputation. This makes the Wasps job look attractive and the prospect of linking up with Wales coach Sean Edwards may be enough to swing the pendulum in the direction of the London outfit. Ironically, it would see him taking charge of a team that next season will include ex-Cardiff number 10, Nicky Robinson who has also enhanced his reputation over the last couple of seasons, becoming arguably one of the best three outside-halves in the Aviva Premiership – a stark contrast with the Blues who have struggled at 10 since his departure.