London 2012 Olympics are Underway

By Reece & Nichols, July 27, 2012 3:27 pm

The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games is just minutes away from commencement. Over 10,000 athletes from around the world are projected to participate in its scheduled location, London, United Kingdom from July 27^th through August 12. The Games of the XXX Olympiad are watched around the world as the athletes from the 204 National Olympic Committees battle for the gold. Sporting events that are not normally under the more prevalent radar are watched in awe as the master of their crafts put forth an effort to bring pride to their countries. Not only are these games watched, they are celebrated in various forms of parties and reenactments around the nations. The intense participants that covet over the gold, silver and bronze will compete in over 30 different sporting events. To follow the London 2012 Olympics news, results and schedule, go to http://www.olympic.org/london-2012-summer-olympics

Some Olympics Trivia for all you Olympian enthusiasts:

When London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, the city will become the first to host the Games three times:1908, 1948 and 2012.
Did you know that all athletes competed in the nude at the ancient Olympics?
In the ancient Olympics, the philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) was a double winner of the Pankration. (see more about the Ancient Olympics).
Five countries have been represented at all Summer Olympic Games – Greece, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, and Australia, though not always all as part of official teams. Switzerland is on this list even though they boycotted the 1956 Olympics – they had competed in the equestrian events several months earlier in Stockholm. France did did not send a team to the 1904 Games but a lone Frenchman did compete for the US and a mixed team. Also in 1896 Great Britain competed as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, while Australia participated in 1908 and 1912 as part of a combined Australasia team with New Zealand. Therefore, Greece is the only nation to have participated under its own flag in all modern summer Olympic Games.
The only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain, who won the silver in the 1500-meter dash in 1920.
The first black athlete to compete at the Olympics was Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera, competing for France in 1900. (more Olympic Firsts)