The Student Pocket Guide - Summer 2012 Edition

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ocketGuide.com www.TheStudentP

12 SUMMER 20 tion with: in associa

LONDON 2012

SPECIAL FEATURING...

Jessica Ennis

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

WRETCH 32 Ben Howard + Lucy Rose

PLUS: OVER £2000 WORTH OF PRIZES TO BE WON, WORKING ABROAD TIPS, FESTIVAL PREVIEWS + MORE!

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Editor’s Letter I can see it now. The crimson sunset in the distance, crowds of people with eyes fixated on centre stage, the quiet yet resonating buzz of excitement, and of course, the extortionately overpriced pint of cider in hand, which, as a one off, doesn’t bother me. Why? Because I’m at a festival. And I’m loving every minute.

Yes, the long-awaited return of festival season is within touching distance, and even with the absence of Glastonbury, this year has more than enough firepower to make even the most pessimistic of people brim over with excitement. If you needed a little help choosing which one to grace with your presence, we have provided our pick of the bunch in this edition. What’s more, we also have tickets to giveaway to six of the best, which leaves me feeling confident that we have done our bit to stop you from missing out this summer!

To add further spice to the occasion, the biggest sporting event in the world is literally on our doorstep. Jessica Ennis and co will have the hopes of the nation behind them as they embark on their quest for Olympic glory. With the weeks of cultural festivity and historic sporting achievement taking place in our capital, and not to mention the fact England and Ireland are back in the European Championships, there is no other way to describe this summer as anything else but bumper-packed.

With this is mind, we simply had to produce a magazine befitting of the occasion. With a concise London 2012 guide, interviews with Wretch 32, Ben Howard and Lucy Rose, plus the usual fantastic student giveaways including a 7 night holiday in Ibiza, makes this summer edition your perfect start to the months which lay ahead.

Who said the world was going to end this year, hey?

Nathan Wadlow Editor

Festival Previews

Olympic Guide WI N KI A C T W AM OR ER TH A

ÂŁ4 29 Working Abroad

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The Student Pocket Guide Ltd, 5 Chalk Hill House, 19 Rosary Road, Norwich, NR1 1SZ Tel: 01603 610281 Email: info@thestudentpocketguide.com Web: www.thestudentpocketguide.com All Rights Reserved Š The Student Pocket Guide Ltd 2012. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any of the views or opinions expressed in this guide, errors or omissions which may have occurred, or accept liability for any services or facilities featured. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct, changes may and can occur. The Student Pocket Guide is a trading name of The Student Pocket Guide Ltd.

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Ben Howard is an artist whose growing stature in the music industry has seen him recruit an ever growing and loyal fan base. Following the release of his debut album, ‘Every Kingdom‘, the young folk singer has taken to the road this year, touring across much of Europe, the United States and back here in the UK. We caught up with him to discuss the influences of living in the country, his passion for travelling and the making of the ‘Keep Your Head Up’ music video.

Hi Ben, how are you?

Yeah, alright. I’ve had a lovely day, been swimming. So yeah, happy!

Must be nice being able to fit in a little swim whilst your touring?!

Yeah it’s been really nice actually, we’ve been on a bus for the first time so we get a whole day in each place we go to.

You’ve got quite a busy 2012 lined up; you’re halfway through your UK tour at the moment, then you’re off to the States, and Europe as well! You must be quite excited about what’s coming up...

Yeah, really excited. The whole year is pretty hectic, we’ve just announced dates in November for the UK as well, which is so far in the future. It’s amazing that tickets have nearly gone for a lot of those shows; it’s been a bizarre year to be honest, it’s been amazing. I can’t wait to get to America, I think we might be going to Australia at some point as well, so it’s going to be busy!

It won’t be the first time that you’ve played in America, I read somewhere you were travelling the road on your own a few years back, playing a few shows...

Yeah that was a while ago, never did that much to be honest, so these will be the first proper shows we’ll be doing over there. We’re hitting the east coast, then the west coast over summer. We’re really excited about the States. As a musician it’s definitely the holy grail to be able to go on tour there.

So, you were born in London and moved to Devon. Do you think the surroundings which you grew up in and being able to experience the quieter things in life, have helped you musically or helped your sound in any way?

Yeah, it’s that whole influence thing. I think subconsciously you’re always influenced by it. I don’t know if it’s had direct input on my music. We’ve banned tree references for the next record and stuff like that, I’m not allowed to talk about ‘hippy stuff ’ anymore and being in the countryside and in the sea. But I think it gives you a better outlook; a lot of my friends back home think about loads of stuff which most people don’t think about. We’re always in the same mindset and always have pretty interesting chats. There’s a ton of space down there, not with loads going on but you’re always surrounded by good people.

My songs are mostly about people rather than anything else, so that’s had a huge impact; the people who have been around me while I’ve been growing up.

I’ve got to talk about the music video for ‘Keep Your Head Up’. That looked like it was a hell of a lot of fun to film!

Yeah, it was! Really fun, they were a good few days. We had a really good time of it to be honest, although it was more hard work than it looked in the video. We went on tour afterwards, really tired, bruised and battered!

Shifted a lot of hay bales then?

Shifted a hell of a lot of hay bales! I think we got about 300 off the farmer in the end.

When he dropped them off, we were like, “Oh sh*t, that is a lot of hay”. But for me, it was nice to poke fun at ourselves as well because last year we got dropped in that whole singer-songwriter from Devon, acoustic, countryside, folk musician and all this sort of stuff. We tried to make the beginning as cheesy as possible and then go into a massive water slide and that was the whole point of it, to have fun. I think

too many people take themselves far too seriously in music and I’m definitely not one of them. It’s good to laugh at yourself sometimes and obviously to be able to build a massive waterslide and go down it was great fun.

You’ve been surfing for as long as you’ve played music. Has music started to get in the way of it?

Definitely yeah! I don’t get in the sea as much. But we got in the water the other day on the east coast. It’s a funny one, you spend a lot of time drinking and smoking on tour so it takes a while to get fit enough to go in the sea again. I always end up dropping in the sea when I’m so unfit and haven’t surfed for a month; all the boys are loving it and I’m just going, “Ahhhhh!” It has dragged me away a bit, but I still make excuses to get in there.

We’ve had a lot of interest on Facebook in regards to asking you questions.

Jonny asks, “What would your signature Ben & Jerry’s ice cream be if you could create one?”

That’s quite a tough one! Some sort of raspberry ice cream I reckon. I’ve never seen a Ben & Jerry’s raspberry one... It’s a tricky one, I’m only thinking of the ones that are already existing! I like honeycomb.

Maybe a twist on that...

Honeycomb and raspberry?

Yeah, let’s go with that! Might taste like absolute crap though!

Another question from Facebook.

Giordano asks, “Favourite moment of 2011?”

Wow, 2011 was pretty eclectic. We had a great tour of the Highlands, there were a couple of moments there which are in my favourites. It was like nearly being on the moon and wondering how on earth we got there! There were a couple of festivals as well, I’ve said it before but Green Man really stood out for me as a great moment

for all of us. Musically and vibe-wise it all seemed to come together for that show and we had a really good night. Actually, the first day of Bestival! We got absolutely annihilated and it was one of my funniest days of last year. Me, India (band member), India’s boyfriend and my girlfriend at the time went absolutely wild and did things we shouldn’t have done!

Finally, are there any plans for a new album or record that you’re working on at the moment?

We’re working on a few songs that I want to record soon, I don’t think it will be a full album but more like an extended EP. I don’t think the album will be until next year, with touring and everything. The EP though means we’ve got new tunes to play which keeps it fresh for us. So that’s what’s in the pipeline, a lot of electric guitar actually!

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Most of us would rather not fall into the stereotype of the obnoxious “Gap Yah� throng. The purpose of travelling goes far beyond a few artificial expeditions and eccentric showboating! Although the appeal of ultimate relaxation and distance from the normalities of life are clear to most, travelling can in fact boost your career prospects. Whilst seeing the world you can gain valuable experience in your chosen field; taking advantage of opportunities which in this country may not even exist! Who knows where your journey may lead, but what is certain is that paying your way on travels will prolong your stay and ensure you get the best out of both worlds.

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is all they’re after whilst For many students and young people, casual work ality and tourism hospit the in ul plentif are s tunitie Oppor . on their travels the best in terms always Not reps. y holida and work sectors, including bar up in enjoyment! of pay, but what’s lacking financially can be made g in pubs, clubs Making groups of friends often stem from workin oppor tunities world, the in are you where on ding Depen and bars. d and Zealan New In y. aplent lly norma in manual labour are also always readily Australia for example, seasonal fruit picking is available for those seeking quick money.

Creative Industry

Aspiring creatives can often find good opportunities abroad. Touring musicians and artists for example, can tap into new markets promoting and selling their work. The UK has a leading reputation in the creative industries abroad due in part to the various government initiatives that support the export of work from this sector. Bodies such as, Arts Council England, and the, European Commission Culture Programme, aim to bring greater cooperation between countries across Europe and also provide funding for various subjects that meet this objective.

TEFLs - Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a very popular way to work overseas. As no particular degree discipline is required, many students without specialist experience or skills can often find this a rewarding means to earn and travel. Teaching abroad is sure to open up many opportunities for you whilst also being incredibly rewarding. By becoming an active member of another community you will find yourself establishing meaningful and lasting friendships, not only with your pupils, but with other employees and citizens.

From a career perspective, your CV will instantly improve, with the recognisable real-world skills and international competency you will have gained.

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as part Many universities offer the opportunity for students to work abroad work of their course, ranging from a few weeks up to a year. The nature of for placements also varies depending on the subject. Environmental subjects of what example, are likely to present opportunities abroad due to the nature is being taught. However, most courses and universities will offer exchange projects which allow students to study at partner universities for a year.

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Why did you decide to work abroad?

I went travelling in Asia after finishing university with my boyfriend and met people who were teaching. After speaking to them about their experiences, I decided that teaching abroad would be a great way for me to see the world, earn money and experience different cultures. Depending on where you are in the world, you can earn quite a bit too. Accommodation in Mexico City for example is very cheap and the pay rate for teachers is very high; higher than other professions such as the police and lawyers, so you really can have a good life.

Where have you been working abroad?

I started off working in a little remote town called, Chachapoyas, in Peru. I was living in a mud hut whilst working at a local school teaching English to children and adults from basic to advanced levels. It was very remote with no foreigners, but it was very exciting. We visited many beautiful attractions such as Kuelap and other historical sites as well as going on some very scary cliff hikes!

After my time in Peru I moved to Mexico city and worked in a private bilingual school. After a year there, I moved to Barcelona in September 2011, which is where I am now!

Did you need any qualifications?

Before I left for Peru, I completed a weekend TEFL course with TEFL England.

They are very flexible and offer a variety of courses which suit you. What is required however depends on the country and what school you work for.

Most employers look for a degree and a TEFL or CELTA qualification. Some schools are lenient and value experience as opposed to specialist courses.

How did you find work?

After gaining my qualification, I quickly updated my CV and began to look for companies offering the chance to teach abroad. I managed to find work in Peru and Spain through online applications with Extreme English Alliance and The English Centre respectively. It was slightly different with my time in Mexico; I secured a job through applying directly to the school I worked for.

How did you find your experience?

It has been the best thing I have ever done. I’ve discovered new cultures, met amazing people, seen so many countries I never thought I would get the chance to visit and also helped people along the way. And I’ve learnt Spanish!

A really good thing about working while you travel is being able to take time off and see the world. After my first job in Peru, I took a month off and travelled to Iquitos, the start of the Amazon basin. We travelled on a boat for four days with many other Peruvians, with nothing but a shared shower from the river and a hammock! It was very exciting. I also travelled with a group of other teachers I met out there. We went on jungle tours, shared a room with a monkey and experienced a famous jungle root drink called, Ayahuasca. It’s a traditional Peruvian drink which is hallucinogenic, but it is also supposed to cleanse the body!

What are your future plans?

I love to teach but I don’t think I want to travel around the world forever!

Once I find a place that I love I will stay. Right now I am in Spain and I think I would like to move to the South to live there. I love to teach and will continue; maybe improve my Spanish and then I could even get a job doing something else. Who knows!

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Interview by Nathan Wadlow

Wretch 32 has deservedly stolen the limelight of late. After bursting into the mainstream last year, the North London maestro has since secured consecutive top five hits with ‘Traktor’, ‘Unorthodox’ and number one single ‘Don’t Go,’ featuring Swindon lad Josh Kumra. The four times MOBO nominated rapper recently took time out to speak to us about his new single with Ed Sheeran, an amazing prize he is offering budding artists and why he isn’t buying any more wellies for this year’s festival season!

Hi Wretch, how are you this morning?

I’m good man, I’m good. Just filming a video!

Oh yeah. What’s that for?

It’s for the last single off the ‘Black and White’ album, ‘Hush Little Baby’, with Ed Sheeran.

Wicked. How did the collaboration with Ed come about?

You know what, me and Ed have been working together for yonks! The great thing about working together now is that people are actually gonna hear it as we’re getting bigger with our careers. Working with Ed has always been fun, we get each other musically and we have a bit of a laugh, but actually get things done!

Your collaboration has been causing quite a stir. You’re two artists very much at the top of their game. Have you got your eyes on the number one spot?

I’m just hoping for people to like the record to be honest. And the video! Of course, it would be nice to get a number one though.

Has Ed taught you any tricks on guitar?

No! He tried to, but it’s not an instrument for me to learn man! I can play about on piano a little bit, but my fingers aren’t quick enough for that.

Rumour has it, you have already started working on a second album.

Can we get a little insight?

Bigger songs! I feel like I’ve progressed.

I’ve got more to say now, got better lyrics, the music’s got better with me as well. I think people will definitely enjoy it.

It’s definitely a progression from where

‘Black and White’ left off. I think it’s a continuation of my journey.

Moving on to this summer, you have a busy schedule ahead of you. What are you most looking forward to?

Yeah there’s quite a bit. I’m starting the Example tour on Friday which runs for two weeks and then I’ve got my own straight after for another two weeks, so we’re on the road for a month. That’s going to be fun, I’m excited about that; going up and down the country. That’s definitely going to be one of the highlights.

Any artists you’re looking forward to seeing on the festival circuit this summer?

Yeah, I want to see Example again, Tinie, Chipmunk, Pro Green, Jessie J, Plan B; it should be interesting times! The Stooshe girls; I’m interested in their show, I like what they’re doing at the moment. Ed as well of course. I’ve got my eyes on everyone!

Have you started shopping for festival welly boots?

I’ve got last year’s ones, they’re spotless!

Don’t ask me how I did it. I got through the whole circuit with the cleanest boots in the world. I could probably take them back to the shop and ask for my money back!

You’re running a wicked competition with Adidas at the moment. Can you tell us a little about it?

Yeah, basically aspiring musicians send in a clip of some work that’s passionate, and the winner will open up on one of my tour dates. We’ve been getting some good feedback and some good stuff sent in so far. I’m looking forward to it. >>

You’re also starring in the Adidas Olympic TV ad. How are you feeling about London 2012?

I’m thinking we’re shaping up good man.

I’ve spoken to a few of the competing athletes and think everyone is really enthusiastic. You know, it’s great to have it in our back yard. I think this year will be the year for good things. Fingers crossed man!

I used to try playing the records and holding the mic and stuff. It really made me wanna get with it and do what he had done. I look up to my Dad, I always wanted to emulate what he was doing.

Music was definitely instilled in me.

You made your name in the underground scene. Do you miss it at all?

You know what, no.

I’m one of those artists who is l u c k y enough to be number one in the charts and in the top ten MCs list. What I do, is at the same time as making music that commercially works, I still rap with all the underground artists anyway. A lot of them are talented and keep me on my toes, so I do mixtapes, verses, remixes, that sort of thing. I’m pretty much underground and overground! For me, there isn’t really a gap.

“I look up to my Dad, I always wanted to emulate what he was doing. Music was definitely instilled in me.”

Have you managed to get any tickets?

I haven’t, no! I’m trying to get down for some of the big ones. I want to see the long jump, 100metres, 400metres, the 4x4 relays. I’m just putting it out there, you know, just in case there’s any generous people who want to take me!

You’re very proud of where you live in London. Do you see yourself as a role model to kids in your area?

I hope so. A year ago they might have looked up to me for different things, but you know, it’s difficult. Definitely the kids are happy when they see me, they take pictures and stuff. But I just do what a normal guy would do, you know, go to the shops or whatever. It is nice to still be loved in the community.

If we roll back the years to when you were a kid, what was it that got you into music?

Definitely watching my Dad mixing records and talking on the mic. That stuff got me intrigued. When he left the house

If you weren’t involved in music, what would you be doing now?

Hopefully something on TV, like presenting. I seem to work well doing presenting stuff on radio. You know, TV might be a bit much actually, so yeah, radio!

Is there a Wretch 32 game plan for the future, or are you taking it as it comes?

I work better when there’s no ‘making things happen’, you know, going with the flow! I don’t go into the studio going, ‘Right, I need to make a song like this’.

I like going in with a clear head and making whatever feels right. We put out whatever we feel comfortable with. We do go with the flow, but there is a goal for me; to be a worldwide musician. It’s just finding the right way to get there without trying too hard. I don’t mean not working hard, but not forcing it. I’m just trying to make good music and go with the vibe.

Are you going to have a big party when you turn 32?

Ah, it’s going to be enormous! I think I might have one party but in three countries at the same time, but I’m only at one and you’ve got to guess which one I’m going to. The first party I’ve ever had was this year, so 32 is definitely going to be a big one!

Finally, we’ve had a few questions sent in through Facebook. Amy asks, ‘Are you a going out or staying in person?’

I’m out quite a lot, but at the same time when I’m in, I’m in! I probably go through stages, right now I’m in a going out stage.

We’ve got another sent in from Brad.

He asks, ‘How did you choose your performing name?’

It was kind of given to me. Everyone used to call me a wretch and it stuck, so I thought, that sounds cool. Then 3 and 2 are my lucky numbers which I thought would be cool to have at the end.

For more info on Wretch 32 visit:

www.wretch32.com

Keep up-to-date with SPG on Facebook for your opportunity to ask questions in our interviews!

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By now I am sure you are well aware of the financial strains that unfortunately come with being a student! There’ve been evenings out where you’ve been scraping together the pennies, pre-drinks where you’ve bought three litres of budget cider because you can’t afford anything else, a week of surviving on 10p instant noodles, you get the drift...

Even with your new and rather pitiable finances, chances are that whether at college, university or at home you will have money toxic friends, who quite simply are nothing but a sterling nightmare! (Oh the pun...)

Perhaps you have been chums for years, or maybe you are one of those people who simply cannot say no, but whatever happens, you are the one giving in and lending money, or forced to spend cash you don’t have. And if this doesn’t apply to you, then you my friend, are quite possibly one of those financial irritants! Of course lending money to your mates is not and should not be an issue; however, it soon becomes one when you don’t get it back! A fiver here and there may not seem like much at the time, but how would you feel dishing out £100 at the start of each year to your mates? If you wouldn’t mind then get in contact as I’d quite like to be your friend.

So, you’ve been warned, and here are those money toxins!

The Guilt Tripper We’ve all got one, a friend who really is quite useless with money. Nice enough mate, but perpetually plagued by financial issues. And ironically, even when they do have money, it’s gone within a second. They are the type of person who if you arranged a dinner out would only order a starter, but somehow ends up having a tasty three courser on the behalf of you and your mates!

The Borrower Who never pays it back Similar to the guilt tripper, this one openly admits they can’t afford things and will happily ‘borrow’. After agreeing a short-term loan it doesn’t take long before you realise that the money you lent to this person could take some time to make its way back into your wallet. The endless promises of how your friend is getting the money and when they are getting it are mere fabrications, and before you know it, you cannot be arsed to chase it up!

The Blagger A rare breed, but possibly the worst of the lot! This person is an unashamed scrounger who will seek to break you down and suck the pennies out of you. Even if they themselves have a pocket full of cash, they’ll catch you at the bar and blag a drink off you. Rarely will you ever get anything in return, and when that day finally comes around it feels like you have won the lottery!

The Big Spender The big spender is an indirect cause of you spending money you can’t afford. They are possibly the friend in the group who is a bit better off, or the one who really doesn’t care about how much money they fritter away. With this person you can’t help but feel you should match their outgoings as they are apparently having such a good time, and before you know it, you have been sucked in to spending your last £20 on clubbing and have nothing left to eat! Brilliant.

Mexican-Style Beans on Toast There are some recipes so synonymous with students that nobody can argue with their hero status in the kitchen...

Take beans on toast for example, a staple food that so many students simply couldn’t live without, but how about switching things up a bit?

Ingredients: 1 small onion 1 red pepper 1 tbsp fajita spice mix 1 tin of red kidney beans, drained few fresh coriander stalks

8 slices of fresh bread generous handful of Monterey Jack cheese 1 egg portion of guacamole

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preheat the oven to 200째C. peel and finely dice the onion, then de-seed and dice the pepper. sweat the onion off in a pan with a shot of oil for 3-4 minutes before adding the pepper and a pinch of salt and pepper. blitz half of the bread into fine crumbs in a food processor. tip the cooked onion and pepper mix, the beans, cheese, fajita mix, egg and coriander stalks into the processor with the breadcrumbs. blitz to a coarse but evenly distributed mix. smear the bean mixture onto the remaining slices of bread and lay flat on a baking tray. bake for 8-10 minutes until the bread is toasted underneath and the bean mix is golden on top. cut each slice in half and serve with a big dollop of fresh guacamole. serves 4

Get the know-how by watching the SORTED video @

www.sortedfood.com/beansontoast

Polenta Pizza

How many of you have the local pizza delivery on speed dial?

How about if SORTED could take the well known pizza and simplify a version to be made at home in under 20 minutes. Scrap any tricky bread making and dive straight into this polenta version, stacked high with as many of your favourite toppings as you like.

Ingredients: vegetable stock (400ml) polenta grain (100g) handful of Parmesan, grated ½ a red onion, peeled and sliced 12 sun-blushed tomatoes 8 small mozzarella balls, halved 6 slices of salami sausage few fresh basil leaves

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preheat the oven to 220°C. heat the vegetable stock up in a saucepan until it is boiling. tip in the polenta and keep stirring until it becomes the consistency of mashed potato. dump in the Parmesan cheese and stir to melt. line a cake tin with baking paper before tipping the cooked polenta in. spread evenly to the edges. scatter the onion, sun-blushed tomatoes, mozzarella and salami over the base making sure it is all well distributed. bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes until the cheese on top has turned golden. serve by lifting the baking paper from the tin and transferring it to a chopping board to portion and accompany with salad. feeds 2 as a main meal or 4 as light lunch.

Don’t believe it’s that fast?

Watch the recipe in action @

www.sortedfood.com/polentapizza

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GROUP A POLAND FIFA Ranking: 75 Odds: 50/1

Manager: Franciszek Smuda Key Player: Robert Lewandowksi

SPG Prediction - Quarter Finals The co-hosts could not have been happier given the group draw. Placed in by far the easiest group with added home advantage, Poland will feel this is their year to progress out of the group stages for the first time. The opening fixture with Greece will be key as to whether or not this can be achieved. If they win, avoiding defeats against Russia and the Czechs should be enough to see them through.

GREECE FIFA Ranking: 13 Odds: 66/1

Manager: Fernando Santos Key Player: Sotiris Ninis

SPG Prediction - Group Stages Although they won their group in qualifying, Croatia were the only other team with realistic hopes of progressing. In their manager, the Greeks have preserved their ethos of building from the defence and will prove to be a tough nut to crack. And obviously, who can forget their heroics in 2004 when they surpassed all expectation and won the tournament. Even so, firepower will be a problem and without losing too many, if not any, they will just fall short of the quarters.

RUSSIA FIFA Ranking: 12 Odds: 20/1

Manager: Dick Advocaat Key Player: Andrei Arshavin

SPG Prediction - Quarter Finals The Russians breezed to victory in their group, but as with the Greeks, there were few other teams that put in a serious challenge. They reached the semi-finals in 2008 however they will do very well to repeat such a feat, with a likely quarter final spot against either the Dutch or the Germans. As the highest ranked team in the group, progressing out of the early stages will be seen as paramount by their manager.

However, this will be where their journey will end.

CZECH REPUBLIC FIFA Ranking: 29 Odds: 50/1

Manager: Michal Bilek Key Player: Tomas Rosicky

SPG Prediction - Group Stages Having reached the finals with a relatively easy win against Montenegro in the play-offs, the Czechs would have felt relieved rather than elated. Their unconvincing form in the group stages nearly led to Scotland reviving their ambitions of qualifying. A tricky opener with Russia will be crucial to their hopes of making the quarters, however following that is an awkward meet with Greece. By the time they play Poland, it could well be too late.

GROUP B NETHERLANDS FIFA Ranking: 2 Odds: 7/1

Manager: Bert van Marwijk Key Player: Robin Van Persie

SPG Prediction - Semi Finals The Dutch are undoubtedly amongst the favourites to win the tournament and a repeat of the 2010 World Cup Final is not a remote possibility. Having scored 37 goals in 10 games in qualifying, Marwijk's men will fancy themselves to top the group, something the Germans will more than have a say in. The quarters are a certainty, and whoever they face from Group A they will beat. The semi's however may be a different tale.

DENMARK FIFA Ranking: 11 Odds: 80/1

Manager: Morten Olsen Key Player: Christian Eriksen

SPG Prediction - Group Stages The stomach of Denmark must have sunk when the countries of this group were announced. The only way it could be harder is if the Portuguese were replaced by Spain.

Having said that, they topped their group in qualifying which included Portugal, and if they throw a major spanner in the works and beat one of the big two, who knows? But, realistically, defeat is imminent in two of their three games.

GERMANY FIFA Ranking: 3 Odds: 3/1

Manager: Joachim Louw Key Player: Merzit Ozil

SPG Prediction - 2nd The Germans completed a clean sweep in qualifying and were equally impressive in South Africa two years ago, as much as that hurts to say. (Lampard's goal should have stood). The only question with the group stages is whether they win top spot which in all likelihood will be decided by a showdown with the Dutch. The quarters shouldn't be a problem and progression after that all depends on when they will face their nemesis of the last two major tournaments, Spain. Ideally they will wish to avoid them until the final.

PORTUGAL FIFA Ranking: 7 Odds: 18/1

Manager: Paulo Bento Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

SPG Prediction - Group Stages Portugal are a team most would want to avoid in the quarters if they had serious ambitions of making it further, as England of course found out in their last European outing. However, progressing from this group looks unlikely, with outright second and third favourites placed amongst them. By their standards, they were poor in qualifying but with a world superstar in Cristiano Ronaldo, it would be foolish to rule them out completely. I wouldn't want to put my mortgage on it though.

GROUP C SPAIN FIFA Ranking: 1 Odds: 5/2

Manager: Vincent del Bosque Key Player: Xavi

SPG Prediction - Winners Where to start. The current World and European champions enter the competition with an aura of invincibility about them. The team is studded with world class players who have dominated both the domestic and international scene for the last few years. Since their record matching 35 game unbeaten run came to end, there have been glimpses that they can be beaten, albeit in friendlies. Qualifying, however, was a different story, with a 100% record, scoring 26 goals in 8 games. Without doubt, the team to beat.

ITALY FIFA Ranking: 9 Odds: 14/1

Manager: Cesare Prandelli Key Player: Antonio Cassano

SPG Prediction - Quarter Finals Italy's recent form in major tournaments has left much to be desired. Defending their World Cup in 2010, they finished bottom of their group and left South Africa humiliated.

Their last European outing was also cut short after defeat to Spain in the quarters, but they qualified for this year's tournament in typical dogged Italian fashion. Conceding just two goals throughout their campaign, they will be expected to carry forward this sort of form into the finals. Progressing further than the quarters, however, will be a tricky task.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND FIFA Ranking: 19 Odds: 66/1

Manager: Giovanni Trapattoni Key Player: Shay Given

SPG Prediction - Group Stages After so much heartbreak in qualifying for major tournaments of late, Ireland finally have something to grasp a hold of. In true Irish fashion they will thrive on being the underdogs of Group C, and will fancy themselves to pick up points against Italy and Croatia. To add extra spice to the occasion, they will be fighting for a potential quarter final showdown with France, who controversially dumped them out of making the 2010 World Cup. That said, it will be tough, but you never know.

CROATIA FIFA Ranking: 10 Odds: 40/1

Manager: Slaven Bilic Key Player: Luka Modric

SPG Prediction - Group Stages Croatia are a side with individual pedigree, but like many there or thereabouts teams, lack the cutting edge. After an impressive 2008 in which they were convincing in qualifying and in the finals, many expected them to kick on and cement their place as a top European side. However, failing to make the last World Cup and struggling to reach this tournament, has damaged their credentials of making serious headway this time around.

GROUP D UKRAINE FIFA Ranking: 49 Odds: 40/1

Manager: Oleh Blokhin Key Player: Andriy Shevchenko

SPG Prediction - Group Stages As with co-hosts Poland, Ukraine will be fairly happy their group. In their eyes they have avoided potential winners of the tournament and with a raucous home crowd will believe they have a realistic chance of causing an upset. In Shevchenko, they have a world class striker who is capable of picking up a few goals and is key to how they perform. That said, each of their games in this group will be seen as a cup final and will require monumental efforts if they are to pick up any points.

SWEDEN FIFA Ranking: 14 Odds: 50/1

Manager: Erik Hamren Key Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

SPG Prediction - Group Stages The Swedes are never an easy team to play against, as England know firsthand having just ended their winless record against them which stood since 1968. For this reason, Sweden have often been considered one of the better teams in Europe, but only once in their last four European tournaments have they progressed out of the group stages. They will expect to start this one with victory against Ukraine but much tougher opposition lies ahead. Ibrahimovic will have to perform if they have any chance of making the quarters.

ENGLAND FIFA Ranking: 6 Odds: 9/1

Manager: Roy Hodgson Key Player: Wayne Rooney

SPG Prediction - Semi Finals Rarely justifying their FIFA ranking and theatrical hype of the press at the big stage, England will want to eradicate the shadow of failed expectation which has haunted them for years. With new injections of youth and less expectation heading into the tournament, the players may well feel a sense of breathing space. Having qualified as only one of five unbeaten teams, they are probably slight favourites to win the group. If England manage this, they will have a real shot at making it to the semis for the first time since 1996.

FRANCE FIFA Ranking: 16 Odds: 12/1

Manager: Laurent Blanc Key Player: Yann M’Vila

SPG Prediction - Quarter Finals France’s struggle to find form in recent years has seen them plummet down the rankings.

After serious disciplinary issues in South Africa, the ship seems to have steadied having recently recorded an impressive away win in Germany. Qualifying wasn't plain sailing with Bosnia-Herzegovina finishing just one point below them, however, making the quarter finals is expected with progression after that surely seen as a bonus.

“If you had to listen to one song for the res

Wham Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Laura Marling Ghosts

Aqua Barbie Girl

Michael Jackson Man in the Mirror

Celine Dion It’s All Coming Back to Me Now

Rage Against the Machine Killing in the Name

est of your life, what would it be?”

Christina Perri Jar of Hearts Cash Out Cashin’ Out

Rolling Stones Under My Thumb

Sam Cook A Change is Gonna Come

Pitbull and Neyo Give Me Everything

Illustration by www.stephenong.co.uk

WIN L A V I T S FE S T E K C I T

The summer is here which can only mean one thing, the return of festival season! Yes, the time has come for you to don the straw hat, sport the new sunglasses and trudge through the muddy plains in your cherished wellies, all in the good name of seeing your favourite artists and having a ruddy good time...

From the weird and wonderful to the secluded and serene, there are festivals galore which cater for people of all ages and interests. From the pulsating beats of Creamfields, to the gentle sounds of Latitude, there is sure to be a festival this summer which will stop you in your tracks and leave you mesmerised.

Here we have provided a festival preview to guide you through our pick of the bunch. Find out what’s on, when, who’s playing and why you should go to your chosen festival. So, pack your bags, remember the tent pegs, and set off on your way for a summer you won’t forget.

Sziget Fest

Monday 6th - Monday 13th August Budapest - 70,000 capacity www.szigetfest.co.uk LINE UP: The Stone Roses, Placebo, LMFAO, Vaccines, Friendly Fires, Crystal Fighters, Noah and the Whale, Glasvegas, Korn, Hurts, Paola Nutini, The Subways, Ting Tings, The XX, Two Door Cinema Club and more.

The 20th edition of the biggest party on the continent takes place on an island in the Danube, right in the centre of Budapest. This August, thousands of people from all over the world will see over 1000 bands and artists performing across 60 stages, covering pop, rock, metal, hip-hop, dance, world music, theatre, performance arts and everything in between. The combination of a star studded line-up, a beautiful setting and pints under ÂŁ2, makes this festival epic to say the least.

Beach Break Live

Friday 14th - Monday 18th June South Wales - 20,000 capacity www.beachbreaklive.com LINE UP: Dizzee Rascal, Chase & Status, The Maccabees, Friendly Fires, Nero, Maverick Sabre, Labrinth, Wretch 32, DJ Fresh, Ben Howard, Dry The River, Delilah, Ghostpoet, Jakwob, Mistajam, Skream, Benga, Netsky, Danny Byrd and more.

Beach Break Live is the UK’s largest student festival, located in the stunning Pembrey Country Park in South Wales. With a line-up full of chart toppers who are sure to send the crowd into pandemonium, festival goers can also expect a whole host of activities, other than having a bit of a rave on the coastline.

Shenanigans range from water zorbing to human bingo, making this a must for those seeking more than just a good time!

Bestival

Monday 6th - Thursday 9th August Isle of Wight - 50,000 capacity www.bestival.net LINE UP: Stevie Wonder, Sigur Rós, Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, Emeli Sande, Nero, De La Soul, Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Lianne La Havas, Bat For Lashes, SBTRKT, Gary Numan, The Horrors, Sub Focus and more.

Bestival has rapidly become the ‘must-do’ festival for many young people. Scooping up the ‘Fan’s Favourite Festival’, at the UK Festival Awards last year, along with winning four ‘Best Medium-Sized Festival’ awards, in the space of five years starting back in 2005, it is no surprise that we are seeing the likes of Stevie Wonder taking the limelight this summer. The creative vision of Bestival makes this a truly memorable, exciting and colourful occasion, with fancy dress en mass!

Boomtown Fair

Thursday 9th - Sunday 12th August Winchester - 15,000 capacity www.boomtownfair.co.uk LINE UP: Caravan Palace, Natty, Dirtyphonics, Jack Beats, Alborosie, Reel Big Fish, The Skatalites, Tanya Stephens, Asian Dub Foundation, Balkan Beat Box, Stanton Warriors and more.

Boomtown has sold out in each year of its existence and looks set to be doing the same again this summer.

Based in a huge mock town, festival goers are free to roam the sculptural extravaganza and bring as much of the entertainment to the occasion as the organisers!

Secret alleyways and hidden venues are scattered in this mini wonderland, with the element of surprise making this one hell of a unique experience. Expect this to be their biggest year yet.

Play Fest

Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd June Norfolk - 3,500 capacity www.playfest.co.uk LINE UP: Ash, Feeder, Pigeon Detectives, Delilah, Scroobius Pip, Natty, Reverend and the Makers, Roots Manuva, The Correspondents, The Big Pink, Spector, Ria Ritchie, Little Comets and more.

Fresh on the festival circuit, Play Fest is now heading into its second year. Unique in the sense that they prioritise local talent, they aim to fill 30% of the slots with unsigned acts in the area, whilst of course putting together big-name headliners. The result is a perfect balance of the recognised and the unknown, across a mix of all genres of music. Festival goers may well leave the Norfolk countryside having discovered an untouched gem to look out for in the future.

Creamfields

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th August Cheshire - 40,000 capacity www.creamfields.com LINE UP: Deadmau5, David Guetta, Avicii, Example, Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Steve Angello, Eric Prydz, Skrillex, Eddie Halliwell, Flux Pavilion, The Chemical Brothers, Annie Mac, Paul van Dyk, Wolfgang Gartner, Groove Armada, Sub Focus, Brookes Brothers and more.

Creamfields returns this summer to once again stamp its authority as the world’s best dance festival. On August Bank Holiday weekend, electronic music fans from each and every corner of the globe will embark on their holy music pilgrimage to the sunny fields of Daresbury, Chesire. Waiting in line will be the world’s greatest DJs and dance musicians, ready to blow the minds of all who attend. Creamfields is the only way to end your festival season.

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Lucy Rose is one of the artists we are proud to have recorded an acoustic session with. Performing hit singles, ‘Middle of the Bed’, and ‘Night Bus’ exclusively for The SPG, Lucy also shed light on the musical journey she has taken which saw her move to London at just the age of eighteen. After a series of successful EPs and sold-out venues, Lucy’s career is set to take another giant leap in the right direction with the release of her long awaited debut album. This one is certainly a star to look out for...

Hi Lucy. You’ve been all over the world recently, have there been any places that have stood out?

I enjoyed how many gingers there were in Ireland! Dublin was amazing, I really liked Cork and Belfast as well, they were all really nice. There were so many places that were good, but the stand out crowd had to be in Brussels. It was such a beautiful venue, in sort of like a botanical garden. We went out that night as well, I remember it being slightly Absinthey! I’ve been on tour a lot with Bombay Bicycle Club which has been amazing; some of the best support gigs I’ve ever done.

Your ‘Scar’ EP did really well whilst you were on tour. You sold out within five days?!

Yeah I took a load of CDs with me on tour, thinking that I’d taken too many and that I’d never

sell them. I was warned that people in Europe are very supportive and will buy a lot of merchandise. I remember taking about 500 CDs with me and within the first four or five gigs we had sold out which left us with two weeks empty handed. It was a shame, but obviously nice at the same time.

You’re now starting to piece together your first album, does it feel good to finally get to this stage?

I feel for the first time ever that I am very much ready to start recording the album and have the right musicians with me to start making it happen. I think I’m going to record some at my parents house back in Warwick, which I’m very excited about as I haven’t spent much time there recently because I’ve been so busy. It will be nice getting back to my countryside roots!

Have you missed your countryside roots since moving to London?

When I first moved to London I couldn’t wait to get there and be in the city. I think it’s one of the best places to live when you’re young and one of the best cities in the world, but I definitely enjoy the countryside air and the walks, I miss them a lot. Everyone loves a fire as well, a sensible one of course!

You obviously moved to London to pursue your music career.

What was it that made you decide, right, that’s it, this is what I want to do?

>

I didn’t move down until I was 18, but I think it was really important for myself, and to keep my parents happy, that I worked hard and finished my A levels.

You spend a lot of time in education and I didn’t want to throw it all to waste. I’m in no particular rush with my music, I’m just enjoying myself, which is hopefully a good thing but it could be a double-edged sword! I moved down when I felt I was old enough and ready to live in a city on my own; I think any younger would have been too young.

I’m really glad I’ve done it this way.

You had a place at UCL. What would you have studied?

Yeah I had place there to study geography. I actually had a meeting earlier and walked past UCL and all the students. I have to admit I got a little emotional, but in a good way!

I think everyone wants to fill their brains with as many interesting facts as possible, and physical geography was one thing I was really excited about and really enjoyed. But, obviously, nowhere near as much as I enjoy music, so it was just one of those things.

I’ve heard you have a really close relationship with your car!?

I do absolutely love my car! My Grandad is obsessed with old classic cars and stuff; on the front cover for ‘Middle of the Bed’, it’s just his old car and me. His love for cars has rubbed off on my Dad and now me.

I’ve got a Morris Minor 1000 which I love, but it doesn’t enjoy the cold that much!

You also have a love for tea...

Yes, I do love tea, it’s well documented that I love tea! I have a tattoo of a tea cup because I am that sad! We have our own brand but I think it’s running out; I need to get Trisha down at the tea factory to make some more tea bags!

So, you released a new single earlier this year, can you tell us a little about it?

Yeah I released, ‘Red Face’, earlier this year. It’s got a terrible title; it’s the worst song title of all time! When I first started singing it I used to get a red face so it’s kind of stuck with me. So that’s out now but the plan for this year is the album and other bits and bobs. I’m sure before we know it it’s going to be festival season!

Festivals or venues?

It changes. In the winter you are going to say festivals, and in the summer it will be venues! I think festivals are a little more stressful, especially with sound checking.

Last summer I did 23 festivals on my own and also with Bombay Bicycle Club.

They can be pretty stressful occasions when you’re trying to set things up in 20 minutes, line check and other things.

But, I don’t think you can beat a festival vibe when it comes to crowds, ever!

There’s something about them which makes people go a little more insane.

If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be?

If I could do a gig anywhere in the world it would be in Monkey Chews in Chalk Farm (London), but it’s closed down now. I used to work there promoting nights in a little room upstairs; it’s my favourite venue in the entire world. Someone sadly told me it was a squat now which I’m pretty upset about, so if I ever get enough money I’m buying that pub and starting it up again!

It was the beginning of my music and where I met all the people and musicians I’m friends with now. So, that would be it.

Finally, if you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?

Oh.. Guilty. It would be either Phil Collins or Justin Timberlake! (Laughs).

Photography by Dan Wilson

Watch Lucy Rose perform an acoustic version of ‘Middle of the Bed’ exclusively for SPG.

SUP ERM SAV ARKET SEC ING RET S

ey saving site, scounts and mon these handy tactics to help di t en ud st t lis ia ith Spec , have come up w e each tip is studentbeans.com cash at the supermarket. Alongsid entbeans.com you save a load of that you can look up on www.stud the article or offer rt. Happy shopping! to get the full repo Get huge savings by timing your food shop You can get massive reductions if you go to the supermarket at the right time. By shopping late at night, especially at weekends, you will soon discover an abundance of perfectly edible food with brightly coloured 'reduced' labels.

Supermarkets never sell food past the sell-by date, even if it is of a very high quality and void of any mould! For this reason, there are no excuses when you are hard up to snob off food which has been decorated with said labels! If you're buying meat with not long left on the use by, there is nothing wrong with freezing it.

Related studentbeans.com article - 'Get huge savings by timing your food shop'

Watch out for the bargains that could be a con The BBC's investigative programme, Panorama, recently exposed the dirty tactics deployed by UK supermarkets to make you think you're getting a bargain. Before you next jump into bed with the latest 2 for 1, take a minute to work out if the deal on offer is actually as good as it claims. Some supermarkets, (no names mentioned), have been caught out offering 'bargains' such as bigger 'value' products, which are actually more expensive than buying larger quantities of a smaller size.

Related studentbeans.com article - 'Supermarket bargains that could be a con'

Avoid travel expense Not only can you save money with free deliveries but also a lot of time and hassle.

Walking to the supermarket, only to leave an hour later with bags full of what feels like gym weights can be a waste of time, especially if you can get your items delivered for free. Most major supermarkets now offer free delivery over a certain value, so be sure to research your nearest local.

Related studentbeans.com offers - 'Over 250 essentials delivered to you for free with milk&more'

Get into using cheaper cuts of meat Cheaper cuts of meat are often bypassed by customers, simply because of the fact they are cheap and deemed of a lesser quality. This is often a huge misconception and more often than not, the cheaper cuts are actually far tastier and of course, better value for money. Chicken is a prime example of this, with breasts costing two sometimes three times as much as their tastier cousin, the thigh. It is FACT that chicken on the bone is greater in taste and moisture, and is probably one of the best value cuts of meat around.

Related studentbeans.com article - 'Get huge savings by timing your food shop'

Become unbranded Buying unbranded items is absolutely key if you are to make a substantial saving on your next shop. Basic labelling and branding can often put people off, however the product being sold is often no different than a branded version.

Millions of pounds are spent by branded companies for a reason; to make you feel familiar and safe with their products. Avoiding the psychological tricks of the brands will save you a pocket full. Take unbranded painkillers, they are required by law to have the same ingredients as branded, and are 80% cheaper.

Related studentbeans.com article - '6 worst money wasting DANGER ZONES!!!'

Buy in bulk and stock up when offers are on This is very much a case of, 'you do the maths'. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have overspent in a supermarket when in fact all you have done is bought more for your money. Even though your trolley could end up packed to the rafters and near impossible to control when turning the aisle corners, it’s seriously worth your while, especially if you pitch in with a couple of mates. A good way of spotting a saving is by comparing the prices by weight of smaller and larger products.

Related studentbeans.com article - 'Bulk buy - save money, save hassle'

d to com e Hea eans. e to th y b t re one den r f stu n up fodent min b tu ig to s gest s ing cluK r v a l sa the U

London 2012 This summer, London will play host to the greatest sporting event the world has to offer, the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

15,000 athletes representing 205 countries will entertain millions across the globe, culminating in a celebration of great sporting achievement and cultural festivity...

It feels like a lifetime ago when it was rst announced that London would make an official bid to host the games. Tony Blair was Prime Minister, David Beckham was on the verge of a move to Real Madrid and Will Ferrell had just enlightened the world as ‘Frank the Tank’ in cult classic ‘Old School’. Guessed the year? It was in fact 2003.

What followed, were two more years of round the clock campaigning, publicity and promotion, spearheaded by Lord Sebastian Coe. And few will forget the famous last minute ‘Beckham trump-card’ with David and Victoria joining the British campaigners in Singapore the day before the nal announcement. The eleventh hour stratagem unsurprisingly caused a stir, and on the 6th July 2005, at roughly 12:49 BST, IOC president Jacques Rogge made the dramatic announcement that London had won the right to host the 2012 games.

In the run up to this summer, London has undergone a huge transformation in its preparations for staging the historic event. 1.4 million square metres of site have been cleared, 200 buildings demolished, state-of-the-art arenas erected, with bridges, rail routes, and various other infrastructure put in place. 30,000 plus jobs were also created along the way, with tens of thousands more available during and after the games have been held, a key element of the lasting legacy which the Olympics will leave behind.

The countdown is now officially on.

The big build in numbers

• Over 200 buildings demolished • Nearly 1.4 million square metres of site cleared • 200 km of electrical cables installed • 30 new bridges • 30,000 new jobs created during construction • 2,818 new homes post games

Venue Guide Olympic and Paralympic Village Hosting: Accommodation for athletes and oďŹƒcials.

Capacity: 17,000 Info: This will be home for thousands of athletes and oďŹƒcials during the weeks of competitive action. Alongside residential apartments, the village will also boast shops, restaurants, and various other facilities for medical, media and leisure purposes.

Did you know? The village design was innuenced by London's tradition of communal squares and courtyards.

Post Games: This is a major part of the lasting legacy Olympic organisers value so highly. 2,800 homes will be built after the games, with new parks, transport links and other community projects set in place.

Olympic Stadium Hosting: Olympic and Paralympic Athletics.

Capacity: 80,000 Info: The Stadium was completely built from scratch with a 'reduce, reuse, recycle' approach to sustainability. The structure is 75% lighter than other stadiums in terms of steel framework, and also features low-carbon concrete, made from industrial waste that reduces the carbon footprint by 40%.

Did you know? The upper tier which holds 55,000 of the 80,000 capacity is removable.

Post Games: The future of the stadium is yet to be decided, with many sporting bodies stating their interest in potential ownership.

Velodrome Hosting: Olympic and Paralympic Track Cycling.

Capacity: 6,000 Info: This is another venue built from scratch. A glass window in-between the two tiers provides a fantastic 360-degree view of the Olympic Park. As sports venues go, this really is at the very peak of technical prowess and claims to be the fastest cycling track in the world.

Did you know? Sir Chris Hoy was involved in the design process.

Post Games: The legacy left behind by the Velodrome will help London become the cycling capital of the world. New mountain bike courses and a road cycle circuit will be added, along with cafes, clubs and workshop facilities.

Aquatics Centre Hosting: Diving, Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Paralympic Swimming, Modern Pentathlon.

Capacity: 17,500 Info: This iconic venue symbolises the great architectural work put into London 2012. The waved roof spans 160m in length and 80m in width, giving it a longer single span than Heathrow Terminal 5.

Did you know? Acting as a gateway into the Olympic Park, over two thirds of spectators are expected to enter London 2012 via a vast bridge that runs over the top of the venue.

Post Games: It will be transformed into a facility for the local community, clubs, schools and also elite swimmers, with the temporary seating wings set to be removed.

Ones to Watch Usain Bolt & Christophe Lemaitre Events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m Bolt is sure to send the Olympic Stadium into pandemonium, the question everyone wants answered however is, can he do it again? Having already claimed he can go faster, expectations and excitement on this scale will surely never be matched for generations to come, especially after his history defying performance in Beijing. Lemaitre, the rst white man to break the 10 second barrier, is an outside medal favourite whose performance will also be eagerly anticipated.

Key dates: (Finals) 100m - 5th Aug, 200m - 9th Aug, 4x100m - 11th Aug

Blanka Vlasic Event: High Jump Blanka Vlasic is Croatia’s star of track and eld. Her celebrity status and on eld antics have propelled her into the athletic limelight, and she has the records to back it up. The only medal missing from her acclaimed trophy cabinet is Olympic gold, after just falling short in Beijing. The former world and current European champion remains just 1cm away from Stefka Kostadinova’s 24-year-old world record, the only woman to have since come close.

Key date: High Jump nal - 11th Aug

Getty Images for Aviva

Jessica Ennis & Nataliya Dobrynska Event: Heptathlon The pin-up girl of Team GB will have monumental support at this year's games, after missing out on Beijing in 2008 with a broken foot which left her in tears. Jessica will have her sights set only on the medal Denise Lewis achieved in Sydney 2000, Olympic gold; the nal medal to add to her to World Indoor, Outdoor and European Championships. Standing in her way, however, will be Ukraine's reigning Olympic champion, Nataliya Dobrynska, who is in impressive form, breaking the Pentathlon world record earlier this year. This is set to be one of the clashes of the tournament.

Key dates: Events run 3rd-4th Aug

Oscar Pistorious Events: Paralympic (T44) 100m, 200m, 400m Otherwise known as 'Blade-Runner', Oscar Pistorious is the Paralympic equivalent of Usain Bolt. Leaving Beijing with three gold medals in 2008 after breaking world and Paralympic records, Pistorious is tipped to do much of the same in 2012. Having already run at last year's World Championships in Daegu, the 25 year old has also beaten the required 400m qualifying time for the London Games, which could see him make history by becoming the rst amputee to compete at the Olympics.

Key dates: (Finals) 100m - 6th Sep, 200m - 2nd Sep, 400m - 8th Sep

Michael Phelps Event: Swimming The most successful Olympian of all time set seven world records, one Olympic record and won gold in each of his eight events in Beijing, taking his total Olympic medal tally to an astounding 16 (14 of which are gold).

If he brings this sort of form to London, the world will witness yet another swimming master-class.

Key dates: Various nals 28th Jul - 4th Aug

Jessica Ennis Journey to London

She’s the glamour girl of British athletics who has been at the forefront of the build up to the London 2012 Games. The current world silver and former gold medallist, will have the hopes of the nation resting on her shoulders this summer, as she aims to achieve her sole ambition of Olympic glory.

The journey for Jessica hasn’t been easy. With the heartbreak of missing out in Beijing through devastating injury, Ennis faced months of emotional and physical pain on her road to recovery. The star from Sheffield shed light on her setback.

“When I got injured in 2008 it was obviously a really big blow as it was an Olympic year as well. It was really gutting and I’d not had any major injuries before then. It was a long time coming back and even just to jog again took a while. It does also knock your confidence when you get injured as you are thinking, ‘am I going to be the same athlete that I was before’?”

Jessica undoubtedly would have been amongst the medals in Beijing, which has given her extra drive and added support, with the British public witnessing the clear devastation she felt having missed out. Her following rehab programme resulted in quick and full recovery, which as Jessica explains, was largely down to expertise of her physio Alison Rose, who also helped Kelly Holmes on her path to Olympic gold.

“Without doubt, Ali is an amazing physio. The way she works, the way she looks at the body - taking the whole body into account as opposed to just the area that is giving trouble, is really incredible. I feel really lucky to able to work with her.”

“It was very difficult to deal with but I just had to refocus on the next best thing which was the World Championships.”

Just a year after her injury, Jessica’s perfect comeback to the big stage was complete when she triumphed at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. The ideal tonic to the setbacks suffered in previous months.

“Winning a World Championship is such a huge thing - it’s something that you dream of as a young athlete and to do that on the back of a horrible injury just made it that bit sweeter. It was brilliant and the highlight of my career.”

Since consolidating her place back in the big time in Germany, she has continued to rank amongst the elite of track and field, albeit narrowly missing out on retaining her World Championship gold medal in Daegu, South Korea, last year. The record breaking performance of Russia’s Tatyana Chernova forced GB’s star to settle for silver, and with the impressive form of current Olympic heptathlon champion, Nataliya Dobrynska, London 2012 is set to be a hotly contested three way battle.

“

The Olympics is going to be absolutely huge - nerve-racking, exciting and I am just really looking forward to being a part of it.

Getty Images for Aviva

”

“Once you win a World Championship and start winning major tournaments, people do expect you to win all the time so there was that bit of disappointment, but all in all it has given me extra drive and motivation as I don’t want to be in that position again.”

All that will matter now for Jessica is the imminent Olympics and the chance to emulate the achievements of her heroin, Denise Lewis, who valiantly won gold back in 2000. What will make Jessica’s quest even more special, however, is the opportunity to become the first British track and field female athlete to win Olympic gold on home soil.

“The Olympics is going to be absolutely huge - nerve-racking, exciting and I am just really looking forward to being a part of it.”

All eyes will rest on Jessica this summer. The nation’s best loved athlete could well be the main character in Britain’s fairytale Olympics.

Courtesy of Yorkshire Evening Post

Now, summer 2012 is going to be big! This means plenty of opportunity for students across the UK to find some great paid work, whether it’s full-time, part-time or temporary! Summer brings a variety of work across the UK, and with the hundreds of reccurring and new events that take place each year, there are sure to be plenty of options for you to choose from! Here we have provided our top 5 fun and exciting opportunities for you, this summer.

Top 5 Student Summer Jobs for 2012!

1. Olympics 2012!

This is the summer job of a lifetime! This is the arguably the biggest sporting event the UK has ever hosted, and what better way to experience it than by working in London this summer. Be sure to check out the hundreds of Olympic opportunities on offer at StudentJob, ranging from catering to stewarding.

2. Summer Camps If you are looking to do something a bit different this summer, why not try working at a summer camp? There are a host of opportunities across a range of activities, including sports, arts and adventure camps, with job roles varying from activity leaders to catering.

3. Summer Festivals!

As far as earning money and having fun over the summer goes, working at a festival couldn’t be a better combination! Our summer jobs includes e many tting, festivals across the UK. Jobs for students range getting In ancatering, age ofretail, tweeting and to statuses, from stewarding security, with s o m e SoundCloud is looking moretoand more feedback an added bonus of free entry the festival!

Space in the web is being filled by clouds

likely to win the online battle for your ears.

4. Bar Staff/Waitressing

from them, a n d having a The summer period sees an increase in restaurants, SoundCloud created 2007 StudentJob after bars and clubswas hiring for the in season. have sound engineer Alexjob Ljung and artist hundreds of well paid opportunities across the Eric Wahlforss became frustrated at a UK for work in fun and social environments. These lack are of an adequate to for share jobs flexible, casual platform and perfect students! their music online.

5. Tutoring It looked for a while that MySpace If you are for a casual to fit around your social would belooking the answer to the job question of conversation life, thenmusic why not look into StudentJob have sharing online, andtutoring. for a while it about that many–ofbut these opportunities available for all of your was over-cluttered profile pages, piece of favourite subjects and topics. jobs even an inflexible music playerWhat andmakes the these music.

In more fl exible is the many ways in which you can tutor. arrival of Facebook saw MySpace’s the same There are tumble opportunities not onlyand in person, also with numbers dramatically, with but way that Skype, email andinbyshaping phone; whatever suits you best! it, it’s influence online music

we’d be using Flickr for our photos, and Vimeo for our videos, we StudentJob can make your summer fun, exciting and affordable.

Unlike MySpace, SoundCloud allows 2012 didn’t have that kind of platform for our music beat embedded anywhere, Take a to look our other summer jobs music.” which include mystery with no file-size limit, lets fans comment shopping and promotional work! We also have many summer on specific parts of a recording, and Artists are finding internship opportunities across all industries, and which labels will provide allow bands to share songs publicly or SoundCloud attractive because it lets you withcertain great and valuable Be upload creative,music do something only with contacts — theexperience. sort of them and share it in new andwe’ve find your perfect Summer Job at: www.studentjob.co.uk. flexibility become accustomed minutes with a distinct URL. This makes to on your sharing and today! social network sites it a much better fit for the fast-paced Start search like Twitter and Facebook. world of Twitter, Facebook, and other sharing.

For more information, please contact Rebeccaplatforms Twohey: than an old-school MySpace r.twohey@studentjob.co.uk Co-founder Alex Ljung has commented page. The combination of SoundCloud in the past that, “We both came from backgrounds connected to music, and @ StudentJobUK it was just really, really annoying for us to collaborate with people on music — I mean simple collaboration, just sending tracks to StudentJob other people in a private

and Twitter allows bands to form a more direct connection with fans than they can achieve in association withby ‘friending’ them on MySpace. Not only is it good for uploading your own productions, but also for listening to your favourite artists

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