If seeing all those toned bodies at this past summer’s London Games inspires you to go from spectator to contender, TIME has put together a list of equipment used in the Olympics and Paralympics. This way, even if you can’t compete like an elite athlete, you can at least look like one
Miscellany
After London 2012, Will Sponsors and Media Finally Embrace the Paralympics?
Long regarded as secondary to the Olympic Games, the Paralympics have reached new levels of esteem at London 2012.
British Aren’t Happy that Some Gold Medalists May Not Make the Royal Honor Roll
Winning a medal at the Olympics may not be enough to receive an honor from the Queen, and many Brits are not happy about it
Q&A: Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s Sports Minister, on Hosting the World Cup and Olympic Games
Critics have suggested that Rio de Janeiro won’t be ready to host the 2014 World Cup or the 2016 Olympics. Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s Sports Minister, begs to differ
Olympic Homophobia: Why Are There So Few Openly Gay Athletes?
In the high-profile world of Olympic competition, only a small (but growing) number of gay athletes have publicly acknowledged their sexual orientation.
Olympic Beauty Statements: Bold, Beautiful and Downright Bizarre
From Ryan Locthe’s patriotic grill to Venus Williams’s colorful ponytail, TIME looks at the competitors’ most memorable style choices.
The Olympic Manicure: Why Nail Art Has Gone Mainstream At London 2012
Female athletes have been dabbling with nail art as way of displaying national pride.
London in Full Bloom: Wildflowers Are Breakout Stars at Olympic Park
Olympic spectators can’t stop taking pictures of them. Passersby point when they see them. They’ve even generated fan mail. They’re British wildflowers, and they are earning golden reviews at Olympic Park.
London’s Family Affair: Olympic Parents Become Stars in Their Own Right
London 2012 is proving to be a family affair, with parents’ reactions to their children competing as big a spectacle as sports
Welcome to Switzerland: An Olympic PR Blitz at London 2012
The Swiss organizers, who have a budget of $4.6 million, opted to showcase the quirky.