The vibrant venues of the 2012 London Olympics have inspired rich, saturated photos. TIME’s photo editors bring you the most colorful moments of the Games.
History-Making High: How U.S. Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas Became the Olympic All-Around Champion
Douglas makes history twice: she’s the first African-American all-around Olympic champion and the first U.S. gymnast to win both that title and the team gold in the same Games
Kayla Harrison’s Winning Spirit: Takes First U.S. Gold in Judo, Speaks Out on Sexual Abuse
Kayla Harrison won the first judo gold in U.S. history. But she has a much bigger mission
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
Rafalca’s Horse Sense: What Dressage Can Teach Mitt Romney About Politics
If the Republican presidental candidate had watched his wife’s horse Rafalca going through her paces in the dressage competition, he’d have acquired valuable wisdom.
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.
US Women’s Gymnastics Wins Team Gold
A crushing personal defeat dissolves into a perfect team gold for the U.S.
Iceland’s Icons
A handball team rallies a broke nation
Unflagged and Unflagging
Guor Marial’s marathon
Twenty Gymnasts to Watch in the Women’s All-Around and Event Finals
The Americans won the team competition, but there are still 15 individual medals up for grabs. Meet the favorites.