Topic: 2012 Olympics

Year in Review

124 Things Worth Liking About 2012

Paul Sakuma/AP

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.

By Connor Simpson

Sep 6, 2012

NBC Didn't Win or Lose at the Olympics

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. 

Comments | 501 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 2, 2012

This Photo of a Headscarf-Wearing Runner Doesn't Mean What You Think

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.

Comments | 43,195 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 2, 2012

So, How Is Ann Romney's Dressage Horse, Rafalca, Doing at the Olympics?

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.

Comments | 4,644 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 2, 2012

The Men's Gymnastics All-Around Final: A GIF Guide

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.

Comments | 6,605 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 1, 2012

What to Watch For in the Women's Gymnastics All-Around Final, in GIFs

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.

Comments | 13,424 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Aug 1, 2012

How the U.S. Gymnastics Team Crushed the Russians: A GIF Guide

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.

Comments | 108,470 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 27, 2012

Olympics Open: London's All In

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.

Comments | 5,462 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 27, 2012

Ad Watch

Obama Hopes Some Olympic Spirit Rubs Off on Him

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.

Comments | 517 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

Blimey! London Mayor Mocks 'This Guy Called Mitt Romney'

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?"

Comments | 8,219 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

Romney Plays Loud American Tourist in London

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."

Comments | 8,978 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 26, 2012

There's a Romney Dressage Horse News Blackout

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.

Comments | 7,579 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 24, 2012

Get to Know the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Through GIFs

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.

Comments | 6,180 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 23, 2012

How the Campaigns Will Spend Their Very Short Summer Break

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.

Comments | 261 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 18, 2012

Ad Watch

Which Flavor of Capitalism Do You Prefer: Crony or Vulture?

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.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Adam Martin

Jul 13, 2012

Saudi Women Olympians Are a Big Deal Everywhere But Saudi Arabia

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.

Comments | 1,129 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 12, 2012

A GIF Guide to the U.S. Gymnastics Team's Biggest Rivals

You've met your American gymnastics heroines, now it's time to understand their mortal enemies. Through GIFs, of course.

Comments | 21,590 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jul 12, 2012

Women Take Over The Olympic Team; Is Michael Phelps Lazy?

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.

Comments | 770 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jul 11, 2012

America's Olympic Uniforms Are Still Made in China

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. 

Comments | 9,173 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jul 11, 2012

How Many Olympic Medals Will Your Country Win?

Today in Sports: London braces for an onslaught, economics meets medal counts, and the German blood doctor that athletes swear by.

Comments | 1,385 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jul 9, 2012

Lance Armstrong Fights Back; U.S. Men's Basketball Team Finalized

Today in Sports: A shady college football deal, two pitchers get the All-Star nod, and remembering the creator of a childhood classic.

Comments | 709 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 6, 2012

Olympic Gymnasts Overshadowed by Massive Olympic Oprah Portrait

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.

Comments | 1,161 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jul 2, 2012

Get to Know Your U.S. Gymnastics Team Through GIFs

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.

Comments | 37,433 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jun 27, 2012

NBC to Stream Olympics Live Online, Tape Delay in Prime Time

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. 

Comments | 2,278 Views

By Hannah Miet

Jun 25, 2012

Why No Saudi Women Qualify for the Olympic Games

The Saudi Arabian woman most likely to compete in this summer's Olympic Games, 20-year-old show jumper Dalma Malhas, does not qualify.

Comments | 2,382 Views

By Dino Grandoni

Apr 23, 2012

Five Best Green Stories

No Warm Feelings for 'Frozen Planet'; Fish Labels Are Fishy

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

Comments | 1,195 Views

By Ray Gustini

Apr 13, 2012

Sacramento's NBA Hopes Dim; Rick Santorum, Fantasy Baseball Savant

The NBA in Sacramento looks unlikely, Rick Santorum talks up his fantasy baseball team, and Londoners worry long airport lines will ruin the Olympics.

Comments | 442 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 27, 2012

U.S. Men's Soccer Team Won't Be Going to 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. 

Comments | 8,522 Views

By Seth Abramovitch

Jan 28, 2012

Danny Boyle Commissions Gigantic Bell for 2012 Olympics

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.

Comments | 2,049 Views

By Ray Gustini

Jan 27, 2012

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Sings Again; The Bell of the London Olympics

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. 

Comments | 1,623 Views

By Ray Gustini

Jan 19, 2012

Newt Gingrich Knows His Disney Parks; Get a Haircut, Cartoon Jon Hamm

Every day The Atlantic Wire highlights the video clips that truly earn your five minutes (or less) of attention.

Comments | 997 Views

By Ray Gustini

Jan 4, 2012

Anglophone Canadiens Coach Vows to Learn French; 'Basketbrawl' Revisited

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.

Comments | 625 Views

By Ray Gustini

Aug 30, 2011

Steven Soderbergh's Slow Descent into Goofiness

Plus: NBC picks a producer for the 2012 Olympics

Comments | 3,243 Views

By Uri Friedman

Jun 15, 2011

How Qaddafi's Son Lost 1,000 Olympics Tickets in 24 Hours

The perils of planning Olympics in wartime

Comments | 4,266 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 27, 2011

Dress Code Debate Corners Badminton Officials into Sexism

Officials want to require women to wear skirts; women want officials to be less sexist

Comments | 1,004 Views

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