NEW YORK (AP) — Soccer and balance beam gymnastics on the desktop. Swimming and badminton on the laptop. Boxing on the iPhone. Gymnasts’ floor exercises on the iPad. Vault routines on an Android phone. And rowing on TiVo.

Welcome to the Olympics of the digital age.

For the first time, NBC Sports is showing all competition and medal ceremonies live over the Internet in the U.S. The unprecedented online coverage addresses one of my biggest gripes with Olympics coverage in past years: NBC used to withhold the popular sports for prime-time television and show them on a delayed basis.

At one point, I had seven live streams going at once, plus NBC’s TV broadcast recorded on my digital-video recorder. I got flustered with all the choices in no time but I appreciate having the choice to view any event live. Tape delay doesn’t work anymore. It’s especially compounded by the five-hour time difference between New York and London.

Although the coverage at NBCOlympics.com isn’t flawless, it’s the network’s best effort yet and comes a long way from 2000, when “video” meant still images grabbed from television footage. It’s also the first time live video is extending to mobile devices, through apps for Apple and Android phones and tablet computers.

So get up at 4 a.m. EDT this Thursday to watch an elimination round in women’s archery. Or watch the woman’s marathon in its entirety this Sunday at 6 a.m. Some sports offer multiple feeds, so you can keep watching the javelin throw even if everyone else turns to Usain Bolt on the track.

All this is free, but there’s a big catch: You must have a TV subscription with a cable, satellite or phone company at a service level that comes with CNBC and MSNBC.

I was able to watch live video once I verified my cable account (for Time Warner Cable, I simply had to enter the same username and password used to access bills). It’s something I’m supposed to have to do only once per computer or mobile device, though I ran into a few hiccups because of cookie settings on my browser. If you have trouble, you can get a one-time, four-hour pass for free while you figure it out.

If you still get television over the air or don’t even own a TV set, you’ll be able to access non-video features, including a prime-time companion app with trivia and quizzes. But videos will be limited to highlights, previews and other clips. Full-length video won’t be available until two days after an event takes place.

Dare I say I’d gladly pay $25, $50 or even $100 to watch the streams if I didn’t have the required TV subscription. I get most of what I watch through Hulu, iTunes or Netflix, and all I need cable for is the occasional big event such as the Olympics. I’d rather pay a one-time fee for that than a recurring cable bill.

That mentality is precisely the reason NBC isn’t making live video available for non-subscribers. NBC paid nearly $1.2 billion for U.S. rights to the London Games. Increasingly, it makes money from fees that cable and satellite companies pay to carry channels on their lineups. NBC and other networks get a good chunk of your cable bill each and every month and don’t want to jeopardize that for a fee you pay just once.

Of course, when NBC chose not to show the opening ceremonies live, even online, links to unauthorized video feeds quickly circulated. I was able to watch a feed from British television — briefly, until my conscience and work demands got to me.

For the majority of Americans who do pay for TV, you’re in for a treat.

Most of the video steams allow you to rewind the action. Start from any point if you are joining late or after an event is over, or hit a replay button to go back several seconds.

The exceptions are with high-profile sports such as swimming and gymnastics. If you missed it, you typically must wait for television — or the next day online.

That limit didn’t annoy me as much as I would have thought. The video streams are broadcast-quality and they include multiple camera angles, graphics and instant replays, as chosen by the producers. So as long as I’m online when the event is taking place, I can re-watch the key moments. Plus, it’s better than not having high-profile events live at all, as was the case in the past.

Some videos offer commentary in English or Spanish, while others provide only natural sound from the venue. These are typically the world feeds produced for countries that don’t have their own broadcasters, so you have a better chance of seeing non-Americans online than on U.S. television.

Because griping has become an Olympic sport, though, let me offer a few:

— Gold Gripe: In 2008, I had access to four simultaneous feeds per computer — one on the main screen and three to the side. I could easily switch back and forth depending on the action. This time, I’m limited to the main screen and a smaller one on my browser, and just one feed on the mobile app. To get around that, I need multiple devices, or at least multiple browsers. It seems to be a regression, when NBC made progress in so many other areas.

— Silver Gripe: I wish I could just type in the name of an athlete or a country and get not just the full-length video but the portion where that person is competing. A search for Thai weightlifter Sirivimon Pramongkhol produced no video at all because the video for that event hadn’t been indexed with her name.

— Bronze Gripe: Since I’m required to sign in to watch video on my various computers and devices, it shouldn’t be difficult to have reminder requests move with me. If I happen to notice an upcoming fencing event on an iPad, I can request to get an iPad alert just before the event starts, but it won’t appear on the iPhone or in email. It would also be nice to have a playlist all queued up, based on these alerts, so I can watch the events one by one as I have time.

All of these complaints are minor. Video was sharp and smooth, with a few exceptions when watching a high-interest sport such as swimming. I was willing to overlook that when so much else worked glitch-free. On computers, I can even choose HD-quality video. I also didn’t mind the ad interruptions; TV-like commercials typically appear when you start a video or when there’s a break in the action.

One of the big questions many people have is whether online streaming will cut into television audiences. NBC and its owner, Comcast Corp., are gambling that it won’t.

I have to agree. I found myself re-watching many of the events that I had already seen online, as the broadcast comes with extras such as profiles, interviews and cutaways to parents cheering in the stands.

NBC is also a pro when it comes to dramatizing the Olympics. Prime-time TV had cameras glued to gymnast Jordyn Wieber crying after she failed to advance to the all-around finals. The online stream had some of that, but it also cut to the British team and the crowds and didn’t feel as voyeuristic.

I welcome all the Internet coverage, but there’s room for both. And confounded with all that choice online, I sometimes found it nice to just sit back and let the producers take over.

___

Anick Jesdanun, deputy technology and media editor for The Associated Press, has been following the Olympics online since 2000 and on television since 1980. He can be reached at njesdanun(at)ap.org.

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• Opening Ceremony

  The five Olympic rings rise above a scene depicting the era of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  An artist performs as huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict a view of the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A drummer performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artistic Director of the Opening Ceremony Danny Boyle speaks whilst standing next to the Olympic Bell during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Chimneys erupt from the centre of the field during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  An artist performs as a chimney emerges from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  An actor climbs a giant chimney during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  A performer climbs along a chimney emerging from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Drummers drum during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict a view from the change of the English countryside to the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform around chimneys during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Freshly ‘forged’ Olympic Rings fly above the chimneys during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view of the the set depicting the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform in the scene The Age of Industry during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform as the Olympic rings are pictured above the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  An actor dressed to resemble Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic rings float above artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Aerial view shows the Olympic rings being raised in the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict the industrial revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict the industrial revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  General view of the Olympic Stadium as the Olympic rings float above artists during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A young performer holds a balloon during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict a view of the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Drummers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors and dancers play Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital staff and patients during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Dancers playing Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital staff perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Dancers perform in the Gosh and NHS scene during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Dancers perform in the Gosh and NHS scene during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict a view of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view of the interior of the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers depict a view of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A performer in the role of Daniel Craig as James Bond parachutes out of a helicopter with a Union Jack parachute during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Union Flag is presented during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view is seen while performers depict a view from the change of the English countryside to the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors playing nurses stand around children in hospital beds during the Great Ormond Street Hospital scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors playing nurses stand around children in hospital beds during the Great Ormond Street Hospital scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  General view taken as actors perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  A view of the London skyline during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at Olympic Park in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view shows the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view shows the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Britain Queen Elizabeth II (C) takes place next to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (L), the Spokesman for London 2012 Don Foster (2D-L), the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (2D-R) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A giant picture depicting villains of British literature including Captin Hook from Peter Pan is pictured during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Members of the Royal Army, Navy and Airforce raise the Union Flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A large Voldemort from the Harry Potter book series looms over performers during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Giants puppets depicting villains from British literature including Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter books and the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang swirl around the stage during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Britain Queen Elizabeth II (C) takes place next to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (L), the Spokesman for London 2012 Don Foster (2D-L), and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Giant puppets depicting villains of British literature including Captin Hook from Peter Pan (l) and the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are pictured during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  British conductor Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  An actress playing Mary Poppins flies into the children’s literature scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  An actress playing Mary Poppins flies into the children’s literature scene during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  British actor Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr Bean takes part in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  A giant puppet is seen as performers pay tribute to British children’s literature during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  British actor Rowan Atkinson acknowledges the crowd after performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  An actor takes flight during a performance at the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers play drums during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors representing Mary Poppins perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors dressed as Mary Poppins perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Puppets enacting characters from British literature perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform in a sequence meant to represent Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Smoke rises from the Olympic rings as they are suspended over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers dance as videos are projected onto a structure during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors take flight during a performance at the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Actors perfrom during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  British singer Dizzee Rascal performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers dance in a scene depicting the struggle between life and death during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  An inflatable house representing a typical British house and family is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perfrom during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

• Opening Ceremony

  Rockets propelled artists perfrom during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Greece’s Alexandros Nikolaidis carries his national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Argentina’s Luciana Aymar carries her national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Austria’s Markus Rogan carries his country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Australian team walks in the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Bahamas’ Chris Brown leads his team carrying the national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Bolivia’s Karen Milenka Torrez Guzman carries her national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Argentina’s athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Bermuda’s Alexander Kirkland carries his national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Belgium’s Tia Hellebaut carries her country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Belgium parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa carries his country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

• Opening Ceremony

  Members of Canada’s Olympic team enter the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Canada’s Simon Whitfield carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Austria’s Markus Rogan carries the national flag as he parades with his fellow athletes during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Bhutan’s Sherab Zam carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Bulgaria’s Iordan Iovtchev carries the flag carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  China’s Jianlian Yi carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Austria’s Markus Rogan carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Croatia’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  China’s Olympic team enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Egypt’s Hesham Mesbah carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Egypt’s Hesham Mesbah carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Czech Republic athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Cooke Islands athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Cameroon’s Annabel Laure Ali carries her country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Belarus’ Max Miryni carries his country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Afghanistan’s Nesar Ahmad Bahawi carries his national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Cuba’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Barbados’s Ryan Brathwaite carries his country’s national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Tennis player Maria Sharapova, center, leads the Russian delegation during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Italy’s Valentina Vezzali carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Jamaica’s Usain Bolt carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Germany’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  France’s Laura Flessel-Colovic carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Italian athletes walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  German athletes march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Czech Republic’s Petr Koukal carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Cuba’s Mijain Lopez Nunez carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  India’s Sushil Kumar carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Israel’s Shahar Zubari carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Israel carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Estonia’s Aleksander Tammert carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Iran’s Ali Mazaheri carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Canada pose for photographers during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Czech Republic parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Japan’s Saori Yoshida carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Japan’s Saori Yoshida carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Japanese athletes march during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Japanese athletes march during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Germany’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  North Korean athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  A member of the Mexican team sports a shirt reading in Spanish ” I love you parents, grandparents, brothers and oly ” during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  New Zealand’s Nick Willis carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  South Korea’s Kyung Shin Yoon carries the flag the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Sudan runner Ismail Ahmed Ismail takes a photo during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Italy’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Netherlands’ Dorian van Rijsselberghe carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Spainish water polo player Ivan Perez Vargas speaks on the phone while Spain’s Olympic team prepares for the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Russia’s Maria Sharapova carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Dominican Republic’s Yulis Mercedes Reyes carries the national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Palestinians athletes during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Russia’s Maria Sharapova carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Portugal’s Telma Monteiro carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Iraq’s Olympic team circle the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Spain’s Pau Gasol carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  South Africa’s Caster Semenya carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Slovakia’s Jozef Gonci carries the national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Senegal athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Serbia’s Novak Djokovic carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Serbia’s Novak Djokovic carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Saudi Arabia’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The flag of Maldives is carried to it’s place during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Australia’s Olympic team walks to the Olympic Stadium to participate in the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Hungary’s Peter Biros carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Indian athletes march during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  South Africa’s Olympic team circles the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

• Opening Ceremony

  Iraq’s Dana Abdul Razak carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Ukraine march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Ukraine’s Roman Gontiuk carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  United States’s Mariel Zagunis carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Turkey march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Great Britain’s Chris Hoy carries the national flag as confetti surrounds the team during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Professional basketball player LeBron James takes pictures with members of the the United States’ Olympic team during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The United States team parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Syria’s Olympic team arrives during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Kuwait’s Fehaid Aldeehani carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes from Malaysia march in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Poland team parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Portugal’s Telma Monteiro carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Libya’s El-Gadi Sofyan carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Mexican athletes walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Mexican athletes walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Montenegro’s Srdjan Mrvaljevic carries the national flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Myanmar’s Zan Win Thet carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  New Zealand athletes walk in a parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Sweden’s athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Turkey’s Neslihan Demir Darnel carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  United States’s Mariel Zagunis carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  North Korea’s Song-Choi Pak carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Saudi Arabia’s athletes parade during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Paraguay’s Benjamin Hockin Brusquetti carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Ecuador’s Cesar de Cesare carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Boxer Muhammad Ali, foreground third right, is led by his wife Yolonda Williams towards the Olympic flag during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Boxer Muhammad Ali, left, and his wife Yolonda Williams participate in the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Fireworks ignite over the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Seb Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, delivers his speech during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games at the Olympic Stadium in London, Friday, July 27, 2012.

• Opening Ceremony

  Fireworks explode over the stadium during the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic Games Saturday, July 28, 2012 in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Fireworks light up over the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organizing Committee speaks during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Steve Redgrave, right, holds the Olympic torch after entering the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Steve Redgrave enters the Olympic Stadium with the Olympic flame during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Torchbearers run during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic torch is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes gather around the Olympic cauldron after it was lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Athletes and performers surround the Olympic cauldron after it was lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Sir Steve Redgrave carries the torch into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the London Olympic Games, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  The Olympic cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Queen Elizabeth II, left, makes a speech at the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Fireworks light up the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Steve Redgrave holds the torch during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 27, 2012, in London.

• Opening Ceremony

  Fireworks illuminate the sky during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London.

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