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specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you? and now, bbc world news. >> we are overlooking the olympic park in london. coming up, britain gives more than $7 million in equipment to be syria rebels. >> it is important to help prepare for the day after president assad. this is a doomed regime. >> a stake in a vote is being held for ghanna's late for--

ghana's late president. open swimming is starting in london. the only world record so far has been set by the canyon. what makes the east african -- kenyan. what makes the east africans so dominant? >> hello and welcome to london live from the bbc. it is day 14 of the london olympic games. there earned just two games of competition left. the mint's open water swimming has just gotten underway. the-the men's open waters women open water's

swimming has gotten underway. but first, britain has announced $7 million in non- legal aid to the syrian opposition. the foreign secretary described syria's government as doomed and denied suggestions that britain was bypassing the authority of the united nations. >> our assistance does not include legal assistance. we will be careful to whom we provide be practical help i have mentioned. all of the support we provide will be consistent with our laws and values. it will be based on rigorous analysis.

it is the right thing to do while not pausing for a second in all efforts to secure diplomatic action which crisis demands. our security correspondent joins us. does this change the balance in its fight for syria in any way? >> it is too small for that. we are talking about a relatively small amount of money. it will feed into the narrative that the assad regime has been saying, which is that britain and other countries are aiding and helping terrorists undermine syria. to drill down into what britain is announcing that it is surprising, it is non-legal aid. it is surgical -- what it is supplying, it is non-lethal aid.

surgical equipment, and other equipment to ebay the communications blockade imposed on rebels and opposition -- equipment to evade the communications blockade imposed on rebels and opposition. the british government is wary of being left behind in the fast-moving express train that the syrian conflict is symbolized by. britain worries that if they cannot do anything, if the international community does not do more, anarchy is going to take over in large parts of syria. this will have repercussions nationally. -- internationally. >> this can be used by serious propaganda effect by the syrian government.

>> i am sure it will. we will not say there are angels on both sides. i spoke with the foreign office earlier today. they are concerned about stuff falling into the wrong hands. we have seen reports about a photographer who kidnapped by a group that was not consisting of syrians. they were international jihadists. the group that kidnapped them shot them, but they managed to escape. there are people whose agenda seems to be not necessarily a syrian nationalist one. let's not forget that syria has got some lethal chemical weapons, nerve gas weaponize into missiles. these are largely secured at the

moment. if the president assad regime does crumble and fall, who is going to look after it? how was it going to be secure. how you stop it from falling into the wrong hands. if you look at libya last year, the amount of weaponry that was loosened from libyan arsenals has ended up in the hands of groups in west africa that has changed the power balance in mali. >> thanks. the second look at some of the other stories making news. soldiers have been shot dead by a man wearing an afghan uniform. the americans were special forces and were killed while attending a meeting. egyptian state television says the army has arrested nine people as it intensified operations to contain militants in area bordering the gaza strip

and israel. they say they will be a status control of the area after hiking on sunday that killed 16. he south korean president is making a visit to disputed islands claimed by japan. the visit could raise diplomatic tension with japan. >> tens of thousands of mourners had gathered in the ghanian capital. the president of the country died just over 8 weeks ago. we are joined live from the ghanian capital. give us a sense of the mood right now.

>> the president is about to like being a perpetual flame. they sound you hear in the background is his was being played out, some of the liberal things -- memorable things he said. there is music, bamboo flutes, mournful and sorrowful music. moments ago, the cortege carrying his body marched into the square to the accompaniment of military band music. his coffin was surrounded by lilly's. -- lillies.

there was an unusual quiet. the moment the ministry been entered and slowly made its way into the square, there was a hush in the square. the horses standing guard were bawling down their heads in respect. -- bowing down their heads in respect. it is a sad and dramatic day in the country. >> the president and successor is their liking the perpetual flame for the president hu guide two weeks ago. joining me is my colleague -- the president died of the two weeks ago. joining me is my colleague. you have a situation where the death of the president seems to

have brought the country together in morning. but it really has. the sense of grief and the sorrow and the pain with the funeral has been held and across the country -- that sense of grief is palpable. people have been morning. it does not matter what side of the political divide it belonged to or whether they support the president or his government or the opposition party. they have all come together as one people to mourn the unfortunate passing of the former president. at the time the news broke of his death a few weeks ago, the opposition called off the political campaigns. one opposition member was in another part of the country

campaigning. the country has cried together, consoled themselves, held hands, had and prayed for the soul of the president. for those who continue still had hope that it was a hoax, the pictures we are looking at on television today bring a finality to the event. it makes it a reality for a lot of people today in the crowd. there are at least 60,000 people who have traveled from across donna -- ghana to witness this event. it hurts for so many people. does not matter if you work for or against the ruling government. >> our colleagues watching events at the funeral of the late ghanian president.

a sad day. you are watching bbc world news ." we are focusing on the london 2012 olympics. we have the latest london olympic news. men's 10k -- the open water swimming is underway. a greek is among the favorites to win gold. there is a champion from beijing. we will keep you updated on that. bolt set a world record on the olympic track. he broke his own previous best

set two years ago. he one day to do the light of the crowd in the stadium. -- he won to the delights of the crowd in the stadium. all seven of the 8 finalists keep their -- be to their own personal best. that years ago, he won his country's first ever olympic middle. he beat the home favorite in the -- bronze medal. that is all the sport for now. >> we will get more later on in the program. you are watching bbc news.

the host of the next olympics are preparing for this year's closing ceremonies in london. we will have a preview. >> back to the olympics now. the moment usain bolt seal to be medal in the olympics, he was held -- hailed in jamaica. if bolt couldo see f make it two in a row. >> one, two, three. >> this is a fantastic moment

for jamaica. we want to move to make a fool with. all we have to say is to make a, 1, two, three. -- jamaica, 1 2, 3 in jamaica, the party has just begun. >> the delaware -- the volume have been cranked up. focus is on jamaica's upcoming stars. >> we have high school champions. >> it is important.

>> jamaica has taken nine medals so far. they hope to continue the gold rush in the next few days. >> this is bbc use in london. here are the latest headlines. britain will supply $7 million to the syrian rebels. the 10k men's open water swim has just gotten under bank. now for our look back at the past olympics -- te men -- the men open water swim has just

gotten underway. >> 16 days of sportsmanship, fund, records, and glory. it was here in the -- sportsmanship, fun, birds and glory. 100 -- sportsmanship, fun, records, and glory. major anniversaries of the games. she was not the only australian to captivate the home crowd. the aquatics center was the scene of some of australia's greatest triumphs. winning two gold on the opening day. one was won by a man called the

torpedo. he was in lane 5. no wonder they were called the best ever games. the 27 olympiad here in sydney was a triumph for australia. 58 medals and 16 gold. the $16 billion games and will never be forgotten. >> great stuff from sydney. a number of the great performances of the games came you willitish rower. \ see him if you stay here on bbc world news. a kenyan set a blistering pace in his race. seven of the 8 finalists beat

their personal best. we want to talk live to a former kenyan international athlete. is it that you drink warm beer instead of cold? what makes people -- the kenyan s so dominant? benjamin, can you hear me? we are asking what makes the kenyans so dominant? >> hello. i cannot hear you. >> we are not getting a perfect line. i will try one more time. can you tell us what makes kenyan runners so dominant in their field? >> what makes them dominate

these events, especially the long and the middle distance, we have got a lot of role models. it is the training for the 1,500 meters. we come from generations of modest means. canyons -- kenyans are choosing to do the middle and long distance running. the physical activities they are doing on the things that lead them to dominate. >> benjamin, a quick question.

how much of this is from natural talents? a lot of people believe kenyans are born with it. how much is talent and how much is hard work? >> the work we are doing -- we are known for winning the olympics and breaking world records in the championships or in the medal events. the younger generation is following in the footsteps of the older athletes. >> we will leave it there. benjamin joining us from where the kenyans train and continue

to be dominant. believe it or not, there are just 2 1/2 days remaining for these london olympics. they were lauded as a success. the enthusiasm of the crowd has exceeded expectations. the baton will be handed to the next site of the olympics, rio day janeiro. we have bill g.p.s. to join us to talk about that. the-we have two -- we have two join us to talk about that. we walked in, everyone was simply amazed. you were in the opening ceremony. what was that experience like?

>> it was the most amazing experience ever. to be in that stadium and to see that amount of people, it was incredible. >> what do we have to look forward to on sunday? >> you will see a snippet of what brazil represents. a lot of people associate the color and the cultures that brazil has. you are going to see a real sense of the sort of atmosphere you can expect in 2016. >> you are british and you run a samba school. what i wonder italy's how much of a transition isn't going to be from the london -- i wonder how much of a transition it is going to be from the london olympics to brazil.

>> there is a huge brazilian community in the u.k. the resources available to the next host is different from the resources available in beijing, for example. these individuals are extremely proud of their culture. as an english person, i love samba and have a passion for the brazilian culture. i can take a part in this ceremony. it will say to the whole world -- the whole world, if you want to see a vibrant country, this is what you can expect. >> you have been participating in london 2012. what will we see in real that we will not see here? what will be different -- rio day janeiro that we will not see here? rio de janeiro that we will not

see here? >> every little thing becomes huge with the brazilians. you will see the conable. you will see even more about brazil, about our culture -- you will see the carnival. you will see a lot about brazil, about our culture. >> is there anything you can learn from london 2012 that you will take back to brazil? >> yes. british people are well organized. they know how to handle a crowd of people. we need to learn that definitely. we are a little bit messy. what i learned as well is davis that the volunteers. >> with those who will be traveling to rio, what can they expect? you are our guide. >> rio is a city, they called

it the wonderful city. it is a place that people fall in love with. it is a sensual city. as soon as you step off of the plane, it is and then to let you have never had before. >> it is going to be a fantastic show. we have sunday to look forward to. you are watching bbc news. there is more on our website. >> makes sense of international news>> funding was made possible by -- york, stowe, vermont, and newman's own foundation, and union bank.

>> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you operate in, working to nurture new ventures and helping provide capital for key strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solutions in a wide range of industries. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles. >> "bbc world news" was