Relay
'Blade Runner' Amputee Athlete to run in Olympics: South Africa's Relay Runner Oscar Pistorius
South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is set to make history by running in the London Olympics. By doing so, he will be the first ever double amputee to compete in the Olympics, marking a triumphant high in a difficult journey. Making the cut of the 125 names on South Africa’s team, as the final name, he is expected to compete in the individual 400 meter and 4x400 meter relay. The 25-year-old from Johannesburg, faces the biggest test yet of his athletics career, starting on August 4th, the opening day of the 400-meter heats. The “Blade Runner”, as he is known, runs with carbon fiber blades that often cause blisters and rub his stumps raw. Pistorius was born without fibula bones due to a congenital defect, and lost his legs at 11 months. Already a Paralympic gold medalist, he was initially banned from competing against able-bodied peers. In 2008, he was cleared to compete, and now he comes to London looking for gold.
Jewish Food Festival in North London: Jews Gather for Gefiltefest's Cooking Competitions and Events
Despite the bitterly cold temperatures, more than 500 of London’s Jewish community turned up last weekend for this year’s Gefiltefest, the city’s annual Jewish Food Festival. Based around the tireless efforts of Michael Leventhal and ultimately organised in conjunction with the LJCC and Jewish Community Centre for London, Gefiltefest’s day-long programme at Anna Pavlova’s former home in North London filled the Golders Green air with the smell of delicious food. Empty stomachs were filled by grabbing chefs’ selections from over 50 demonstrations and workshops. They were being treated by the great and the good of the culinary and Jewish world. Michael Leventhal, founder and director of Gefiltefest, explained that “Jews eat more than most. It’s central to Judaism and inspiring to see so many people sharing and celebrating together.” While Rabbi Eiran Davies showed off his knife sharpening skills, Gefiltefest founding patron Claudia Roden was interviewed by food blogger Anthony Silverman. Guest chefs shared their fabulous food skills, including making your own kiddish wine, challah baking, chocolate truffle making, Tunisian cookery with Denise Phillips and the Art of Filo Pastry with Sula Leon. The kids ran wild in the kitchen too, creating ‘disgusting dishes’, edible art and a massive marshmallow and ice cream cone Mount Sinai as part of an edible Shavuot landscape. The original Goodies’ trandem three-seater bike also made a surprise appearance. It was ridden, with varying …