They are news stories and they are the people behind them, they are photos and videos and GIFs. They are, quite simply and in chronological order, the good things.
They broke even. Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group, announced tonight that NBC, somehow, didn't make any money off the Olympics. Well, we shouldn't say somehow. They didn't make anything off the Olympics because they paid way too much for them.
This image of Palestinian runner Woroud Sawalha has exploded on Tumblr as a feminist symbol, with Sawalha hailed for easily winning in a sporty abaya while the other runners wither despite conforming to fascist beauty standards at the 2012 London Olympics. The problem is this photo isn't from the Olympics—and Sawalha isn't winning, she's getting lapped.
The Atlantic Wire has conclusively proven that it is 100 percent okay to make fun of Ann Romney's fancy horse sport, dressage, but the time for mockery has passed. It's the first day of dressage at the Olympics, so we must now celebrate the beauty of Rafalca.
Danell Leyva crawled back from 18th place to win the bronze medal in the men's gymnastics all-around final Wednesday night, but he didn't get near the attention of certain other members of the U.S. Olympic team.
There are four women with a good chance of winning the all-around in gymnastics Thursday night: Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Viktoria Komova, and Aliya Mustafina.
If you watched NBC's prime time coverage of the women's gymnastics team final, you were deceived -- the U.S.'s crushing defeat of Russia was even more brutal than the network's packaged show.
Oh sure those big fancy opening ceremonies at Beijing in 2008 were impressive -- they had double the budget of this year's performance -- but it seemed like the British had a reply four years later: we invented all that stuff China is just now figuring out.
Today in Ad Watch: President Obama says "America is the greatest nation on earth" as we get set to demonstrate that by owning the Olympics, the Republican National Committee gives you permission to vote against Obama, and Democrats go for veterans.
London Mayor Boris Johnson mocked Mitt Romney as the Olympic torch was being lit Thursday, telling a crowd in Hyde Park, "There is a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we are ready. Are we ready?"
Mitt Romney's big foreign trip is not going so well. His problem Thursday is that he told NBC News of the London Olympics, "You know, it's hard to know just how well it will turn out," adding, "There are a few things that were disconcerting."
Reporters are not allowed to even see Ann Romney's fancy dancing horse Rafalca—much less whisper an interview to her—before she competes in dressage at the Olympic Games on August 2.
Track and field are some of the most exciting events in the Olympic Games, but after the weeks of hype, the events themselves are so short -- less than 10 seconds in the men's 100-meter dash -- that it seems like they're over before a casual fan has time to get a vicarious adrenaline rush.
After a couple weeks of talking about nothing but Bain Capital, the presidential campaign has hit a reset. Mitt Romney is getting ready for a trip abroad, while President Obama is in post-tragedy mode, visiting with the families of the victims of the Aurora shooting. The candidates have paused their harshest attacks on each other, but their campaigns haven't.
Today in Ad Watch: President Obama and Democrats continue attacking Mitt Romney on his taxes and his fancy horse, while Romney and Republicans attack Obama on wasted stimulus money.
So, did you hear the big news that Saudi Arabia is finally sending women to to the Olympics? If you live in Saudi Arabia, there's a good chance you didn't.
You've met your American gymnastics heroines, now it's time to understand their mortal enemies. Through GIFs, of course.
Today in Sports: A teammate isn't happy with America's Golden Boy, a star-spangled apology, and how not to celebrate an (almost) victory.
If the berets and double-breasted young Republican look that the U.S.'s Olympic athletes will be wearing during the opening ceremony in London aren't doing it for you sartorially, we'll give you one more reason to hate these things. Ralph Lauren had these duds made in China--just like four years ago.
Today in Sports: London braces for an onslaught, economics meets medal counts, and the German blood doctor that athletes swear by.
Today in Sports: A shady college football deal, two pitchers get the All-Star nod, and remembering the creator of a childhood classic.
Who has a hotter bod than Olympic champions? No one—except Oprah Winfrey, as rendered in a massive portrait in her own home seen looming in a photo of several medal-winners.
Gymnastics is one of those Olympics sports that lots of people watch every four years, meaning whatever happens during the competition is exciting and surprising but also confusing.
Remember way back in 2010 when you hated watching the Olympics on tape delay and you couldn't figure out why NBC wasn't streaming everything online as it happened? Consider your prayers answered. Everything is going to be streamed this year.
The Saudi Arabian woman most likely to compete in this summer's Olympic Games, 20-year-old show jumper Dalma Malhas, does not qualify.
The New York Times on Frozen Planet, The Daily Beast on climate change, The Guardian on the 2012 Olympics, The Washington Post on fish labels, and the BBC on a white orca
The NBA in Sacramento looks unlikely, Rick Santorum talks up his fantasy baseball team, and Londoners worry long airport lines will ruin the Olympics.
The United States won't be fielding a team in the men's soccer tournament at the 2012 Olympics after surrendering a goal in the final seconds of a qualifying match against El Salvador.
Now six months away, artistic director Danny Boyle reveals some of his plans for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. They include the ringing of the largest bell in Europe.
Every day The Atlantic Wire highlights the video clips that truly earn your five minutes (or less) of attention. Today: Danny Boyle's vision for the London Olympics opening ceremony, Joseph Gordon-Levitt reminds us again he's not James Franco, and a close reading of this cycle's worst campaign ad.
Every day The Atlantic Wire highlights the video clips that truly earn your five minutes (or less) of attention.
Today in sports: John Elway has some questionable advice for Tim Tebow, organizers for the London Olympics are still trying to get this whole ticket selling thing down, and the NCAA men's basketball selection committee is experimenting with radical transparency.
Plus: NBC picks a producer for the 2012 Olympics
The perils of planning Olympics in wartime
Officials want to require women to wear skirts; women want officials to be less sexist
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