All tag results for '2012 olympics'

Even though some folks weren't too pleased that NBC decided to withhold the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony in London so they could air it for US primetime Friday night, it certainly paid off…and broke some RECORDS in the process!

That's right, 40.7 MILLION VIEWERS tuned in to watch the Danny Boyle-directed spectacle, marking it the MOST-WATCHED Summer Games opening EVER, and also the MOST-WATCHED NON-U.S. Olympics opener ever!

In fact, the only ceremony it falls behind was that of the 2002 Salt Like City Winter games!

Not too shabby!

And with the AH-MAZINGness that was the James Bond/Queen Elizabeth sketch, we honestly can't say we're too surprised!

If you haven't yet seen this, watch (above)!

And check out the full list of average Olympic viewers on record…AFTER THE JUMP!

Tags: 2012 olympics, danny boyle, director, james bond, opening ceremony, primetime, queen elizabeth, ratings, record breaking, viewership, withheld

Such an unbelievable shame.

After winning four medals with the U.S. team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Shawn Johnson has sadly been forced to announce her retirement only four days before four days before the start of the U.S. gymnastics championships, due to complications from a 2010 ski accident that left her ACL, MCL, meniscus and hamstring ravaged!

Tags: 2012 olympics, beijing, gymnastics, injury, london, retirement, sad, shawn johnson, skiing accident

Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, was recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

After a bit of a funny back and forth Jimmy asked if a story he heard was true.

He said that he heard that Keith Moon, the drummer of The Who, who's been dead for 32 years, was specifically invited to the 2012 Olympics.

Say whaaaat??

It turns out that that's actually

Tags: 2012 olympics, band, drummer, jimmy kimmel, jimmy kimmel live, keith moon, manager, olympic, roger daltrey, singer, tv

We didn't think it was possible for David Beckham to get any hotter in our book, but then we saw him rockin' this 60's chic look!

The Los Angeles Galaxy player posed with an old school pompadour for the Wall Street Journal Magazine to which he explains his latest fashion venture, his future in soccer, and the London riots.

Inspired by his wife's success in the fashion world, Beckham has branched out on his own and is working with H&M on an upcoming line of formfitting "body wear."

Much like his deal with Adidas, he's not just giving the clothing company the rights to use his name in advertisements — he's directly involved every step of the way. He explained to WSJ:

"I'm totally involved in everything that goes out there in stores,. I don't just sign with a company and give my name to do whatever they want. Everything that goes out there is something I would wear."

As for his athletic future, expect to see him playing soccer for a little while longer.

Despite growing a few more gray hairs on his head since his fourth child, Harper, was born, the 37-years-old is eager to join his English countrymen on the field during the 2012 summer Olympics, saying:

"I don't just want to be a coach or manager. I want to play."

The former Manchester United player wasn't thrilled to see the English youth rioting in the streets of London earlier this year either, as he groaned:

"We've got the Olympics next year and these pictures are being seen all around the world. It makes me feel physically sick."

The problem may be that kids today aren't respecting authority like other generations, as David elaborated:

"I think it's disgusting what's going on. The problem is, there is a minority of youth today in England who are not scared of authority. If they steal something, they are not worried about the consequences. When I was a kid growing up I respected elders, I respected the law. If I was on a bus and an elderly lady got on, I would stand up and let her sit down. That doesn't happen these days."

We wouldn't expect anything less from this English gent and perhaps he is living proof that chivalry is NOT dead!

[Image via Paul Wetherell/WSJ.]

Tags: 2012 olympics, chivalry, david beckham, el lay, english, london, magazine, riots, wall street journal, wsj

Very cool!

A new 110,000 square foot BMX center opened in Manchester, England, making it the first permanent indoor BMX track in Britain.

The manager of the new National Cycling Centre said the purpose of the track was "built for community and elite use to provide a quality facility."

It will be a training site for Britain's BMX racers riding in the London Olympic Games 2012.

Let's get our ride on!

For more pics of this rad looking indoor track, check out the gallery below.

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: 2012 olympics, bmx, indoor track, manchester

Sir Paul McCartney is set to headline the London 2012 Olympic Games' opening ceremony and we couldn't be more thrilled!

Organizers had hoped "to have the cream of British music all in the line-up", but after The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin took themselves out of the running, sources say "Paul will be joined on stage by some younger stars."

That's pretty cool! It will be nice to see some of Britain's biggest music stars of tomorrow joined by one of the biggest music stars of…EVER!

Maybe playing alongside the music icon at the largest sporting event in the world will help launch the next biggest British sensation since the Beatles themselves!

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: 2012 olympics, british, led zeppelin, london, music, opening ceremony, rolling stones, the beatles, uk

Peter Vidmar, who was appointed as chief of mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and immediately criticized for his anti-gay sentiments, resigned from the position on Friday.

After proponents of marriage equality, like Johnny Weir, found out the 1984 Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics supported Proposition 8, they spoke out against his representation of the U.S. team.

Vidmar resigned from the post on Friday evening and released a statement, saying:

“I have dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and the ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States. I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to the U.S. Olympic family. I hope that by stepping aside, the athletes and their stories will rightly take center stage.”

We're glad the outcry was heard and Mr. Vidmar respectfully stepped aside, but would like to remind him it was not his "religious beliefs" that have become a "distraction" from the Olympic movement.

Rather, it was what he chose to do with those beliefs, donating money to a cause that denied others the rights and happiness they deserve, that distracted from whatever good he intended to do in the Olympic community.

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: 2012 olympics, athlete, gymnastics, homophobic, marriage, peter vidmar, proposition 8