All eyes turn to London today for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, an exuberant journey from Britain’s idyllic pastures through the grime of the Industrial Revolution and ending in a contemporary world dominated by popular culture. The three-hour showcase created by Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle will be watched by a crowd of 60,000 in the main stadium built in a run-down area of London’s East End and a global audience of more than a billion. Read More

The comparisons to four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis started catching wind before Kristian Ipsen had blown out the candles on his 10th birthday cake. At age 9, the Walnut Creek native became the youngest diver to win a junior national title and he brought home at least one every year after that. Read More

Stanford’s Kristian Ipsen finished in third place Sunday in the 3-meter springboard at the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials in Federal Way, Wash., just missing his second 2012 Olympic berth by 1.25 points. Stanford diving will still send two first-time Olympians to London, Ipsen in the synchronized 3-meter springboard and alumna Cassidy Krug in the women’s 3-meter springboard. Stanford coach Rick Schavone will serve as one of Team USA’s coaches. Read More

LONDON — Any men’s competitor not named Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer might as well stay clear of the All England Club for the next six weeks as the tennis world gears up for a double blockbuster smash at Wimbledon. Read More