Topic: 2012 Summer Olympics

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Sports in 2012: here are some Monitor highlights

It’s impossible to list all the records set in 2012, but here’s a short rundown of some heralded highlights, plus 20 of our favorites, including some you might have missed.
2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.

The year 2012 brought no shortage of significant news, from scheduled political transitions in the US and China to unexpected tragedies, moments of human triumph, and more record-setting in the realm of social media.It's gone by quickly. Were the London Olympics really just a few months ago? Test your knowledge of these events with the Monitor's 2012 news quiz.
Five ways big banks' Libor scandal affects you

London, this year's host of the Olympics, is also home to a bank scandal that threatens to rock the financial world as much as the Games influence the world of sports. Here's why: Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) is a global benchmark for interest rates that reaches deep into the international financial system. Allegations that banks rigged those rates means that everyone from mortgage-holders and indebted students to cities and mutual funds may have had their interest rates unnaturally altered. Already tainted by other scandals, banks are under investigation because of charges that they profited illegally from their rate-rigging scheme. The mess further taints big banks and puts more strain on the credibility of the global financial system. Here are five ways the Libor scandal could affect you:
In Pictures: Paralympic Games 2012
Four ways the Olympics can inspire global business

The Olympics embody the ideal of globalization. High-performance competitors push each other to do their best in an arena where everyone follows the same rules. An Olympian's dream is to stand out – not only in his or her own country but around the world. Global companies aim to do the same. There's one key and fortunate difference between sports and economics. In any sporting contest, there's only one winner. In a global economy, the number of winners is potentially unlimited, as I point out in my book, "Globalization." So what can businesses learn from these Games? Here are four ways international sport can inspire a better global economy:

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London 2012 synchronized swimming duet competition kicks off with Americans

London 2012 synchronized swimming: Americans Mary Killman and Mariya Koroleva have only swam together for a year and today they were the first duet to perform in preliminary competition.
Michael Phelps: Will his Olympic medal records ever be broken?

Sure, everyone loves a bit of Michael Phelps hyperbole, but it is almost inconceivable that his Olympic career gold and total-medal marks could be broken in any foreseeable future.
More than a game: when North Korea meets S. Korea at Olympic ping-pong

South Korea prevailed over North Korea in Olympic ping-pong today. It's one of the few contests between the bitter rivals where they're fairly evenly matched.
For one Saudi woman athlete, participation is a victory

Wojdan Shaherkani lost in an 82-second judo match, but as the first Saudi woman athlete ever to participate in the Olympics, she made history nonetheless.
2012 Olympic quiz, Part II: Are you a gold medalist?

The second installment of our Monitor 2012 London Olympics quiz.
London 2012 shot put signals weekend packed with track and field

London 2012 shot put: American Christian Cantwell finished fifth in the qualifying rounds for men's shot put Friday. The finals will be Friday at 3:30 p.m.
In Gear The MINI Olympics: Meet the games' tiny auto helpers

BMW is the official car sponsor of the Olympic games, and tiny electric MINIS have been helping out by picking up javelins, discuses, hammers and other throwable items from the field events, saving time for athletes during the competition.
Olympic medal count: Women shine as US surges past China

It was a day worth celebrating as the US passed China in total medal count and caught them in gold, with gold medal performances by American women in four events.
Boris! Mayor of London is biggest winner at London Olympics.

Boris Johnson's cheerleading of the Games has earned him legions of fans among the British public and made him the Conservative Party's favorite to replace Prime Minister David Cameron.
Stephen Colbert offers a tip of the hat to NASA's Mars Rover (+video)

NASA administrator and veteran astronaut John Grunsfeld appeared on the Colbert Report on Wednesday, where he discussed the planned landing of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, which is scheduled to land on the Red Planet on Sunday night.
Olympics: Why booting the badminton teams was the right call

Badminton's governing body kicked four women's doubles teams out of the Olympics for trying to lose. Our sports reporter argues they broke the golden rule of sport.
Olympics medal count: China edges back out in front of US Wednesday

The US scored big Tuesday at the London Olympics when Michael Phelps and the women's gymnastics team brought home historic wins. But the Chinese climbed back on top of the medal chart Wednesday.
London 2012 field hockey: In surprise upset, US takes down No. 2 Argentina

London 2012 field hockey: Ranked No. 10, the US women's field hockey team is considered an underdog by most. But on Tuesday, they kept their dream of a Olympic medal alive, defeating Argentina and one of the best players in the world.
Badminton players banished from London Olympics (+video)

Eight women from three countries were thrown out of the badminton doubles competition on Wednesday.
2012 London Olympics: Don’t blink or you’ll miss the speeding objects

At the London Games, a radar gun might be more valuable than a program in enjoying how fast things are traveling.
Mitt Romney's foreign trip ends. Good thing for him these are the dog days.

Mitt Romney may be glad his less-than-perfect trip to London, Israel, and Poland has wrapped up – ending with his press secretary cursing at pushy reporters. But the good news for him is that few voters are paying attention.
Global News Blog London Olympics: To foreign eyes, NBC is all about U-S-A, U-S-A

I am a German following the London Olympics from Boston. Or trying to, anyway.
Olympics medal count: Missy Franklin and US swimmers lead the medal haul

Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, and Matt Grevers have multiple medals, including a gold medal each. American swimmers have been scooping up medals and smashing records at the London 2012 Olympics. So far, swimming is the only sport where multiple US athletes have won multiple medals.
How Twitter is shaping the London Olympics, for better or worse (+video)

The London Olympics is awash in Twitter. Already, tweets have led to arrests and athletes getting kicked out of their events.
Ye Shiwen: Furor over 'unbelievable' gold brings cold war to London Olympics (+video)

An American coach raises the specter of doping in questioning the gold-medal performance by Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen in the women's 400 IM Saturday at the London Olympics.
The Circle Bastiat Empty seats at the Olympics: Bad price control to blame?

British Olympic organizers restricted ticket prices and rewarded bulk corporate purchases (but not use). They shouldn't be surprised to see so many empty seats.
Olympics track & field: 5 athletes to watch

With 49 different events from the women's 3000-meter steeplechase to the men's shot put, track and field has far more than five athletes to watch, but here are some of the most-watched.
London 2012 fencing: Tearful appeal by South Korean delays finals

London 2012 fencing: After A Lam Shin of South Korea was defeated in overtime by German Britta Heidemann, she tearfully refused to leave the arena for 15 minutes, awaiting an appeal,
Saving Money National Cheesecake Day. Possible Olympic link. Real cheesecake deals.

National Cheesecake Day kicks off with discounts from The Cheesecake Factory and free cheesecake elsewhere. A possible cheesecake tie to the first Olympics garners extra attention for National Cheesecake Day.
An Olympic-sized flap over Taiwan's flag

Taiwan’s flag has not been shown at the London Games and the island government suspects that China bullied the Olympic committee into pulling the flag from display.