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Join TODAY at the 2012 London Summer Olympics and keep up with the athletes, culture and conversation surrounding the sports. Read our live blog, updated daily.

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    9
    Aug
    2012
    4:38pm, EDT

    Strangest Olympic sport?

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    Here at 30 Rock, we've been enjoying the Olympic Games, but also discussing some of the more eccentric Olympic sports. The other day as we were watching the trampoline events --which I’m sure is hard work-- it reminded me of being a child and jumping up and down on your bed, wishing it was a trampoline.

    Thomas Coex / AFP - Getty Images

    Gymnasts practice before the men's trampoline final of the artistic gymnastics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London on August 3, 2012.

    One of the picture editors watching it live thought it was particularly funny when the TV camera panned to the photographers covering the event and we saw bobbing heads going up and down, up and down, as they followed the athletes with their lens. Some sports are better in video than as still images.

    Julie Jacobson / AP

    Judges watch the trampoline performance of gold medallist Dong Dong of China at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in London.

    Another sport where a still photograph can make it look silly, is table tennis (don't call it Ping-Pong!).

    Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images

    Austria's Werner Schlager serves to China's Wang Hao in the table tennis men's singles round match at the Excel centre in London on July 30, 2012 during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

    Maybe because the photographers like to get the ball right in front of the player's nose or eye.

    Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images

    Ding Ning of China returns the ball during the Women's singles final round table tennis match of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Excel centre in London on July 31, 2012.

    Today we were watching synchronized swimming. It must be very difficult to do - requiring not only flexibility and strength, but the ability to hold your breath for a very long time.

    Mark J. Terrill / AP

    The team from China competes during the synchronized swimming team technical routine at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012.

    But something about it is strange. The views from under the water are really interesting, so maybe it's the excessive make-up they wear?

    Patrick B. Kraemer / EPA

    First placed Russia's Natalia Ishchenko and Russia's Svetlana Romashina compete in the Synchronized Swimming Duet Free Routine final at the London 2012 Olympic Games, London, Britain, August 7, 2012.

    Rhythmic gymnasts are incredible athletes, but also must be as graceful as a professional dancer.

    Julian Finney / Getty Images

    Julieta Cantaluppi of Italy performs with the hoop during the Rhythmic Gymnastics qualification on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at Wembley Arena on August 9, 2012 in London, England.

    Still, it does look a bit peculiar. It feels like watching a circus performance or Cirque du Soleil, instead of an athletic competition.

    Julian Finney / Getty Images

    Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia performs with the ball during the Rhythmic Gymnastics qualification on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympics Games at Wembley Arena on August 9, 2012 in London, England.

    What do you think the strangest olympic sport is? Take the poll or add your comments below.

    • View more photos of the Olympics on PhotoBlog
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    • Slideshow: Olympic Emotional Moments
    • Slideshow: Synchronized Beauty

    98 comments

    Trampoline, Sync Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics are NOT sports and should all be removed from the summer Olympics. The ONLY thing these "sports" do is pad the Chinese and Russian medal totals. As for Ping Pong being a "sport" that one is questionable too !!!

    Show more
    Explore related topics: sports, olympics, london, world-news, summer-games, table-tennis, trampoline, synchronized-swimming, rhythmic-gymnastics, strange-sport
  • 19
    Apr
    2012
    6:46pm, EDT

    Swimmers synchronize at Olympic qualification event in London

    Clive Rose / Getty Images

    The Japan team competes in the team technical routine during the FINA Olympic games synchronized swimming qualification event at the London Aquatics Centre on April 19 in London, England.

    Matt Dunham / AP

    Competitors from Mexico perform during the team technical routine at the synchronized swimming Olympic qualification event at the Aquatic Centre in the London on April 19.

    Toby Melville / Reuters

    Japan performs during the team technical routine at a synchronized swimming qualification event on April 19 at the Aquatic Centre at Olympic Park in London.

    Matt Dunham / AP

    Competitors from Russia perform April 19 during the team technical routine at the synchronized swimming Olympic qualification event at the Aquatic Centre in the Olympic Park in London.

    Team USA is in sixth place after the completion of the synchronized swimming technical routine on April 19 at the FINA Olympic Games Qualification Tournament. Scores from Saturday’s free routine will determine final team standings, with the top three countries advancing to the Olympic Games. Eight teams and 24 duets will compete at the London Olympics.  Five countries have already qualified teams - Canada, China, Australia, Egypt and Great Britain.

     

    Adrian Dennis / AFP - Getty Images

    The Unites States team practice before the team technical routine at the FINA Olympic games synchronized swimming qualification competition at the London Aquatics Centre on April 19.

    Slideshow: When the Olympics is your neighbor

    Gideon Mendel / Corbis for msnbc.com

    A diverse community in East London will welcome the world to Britain for the 2012 Olympic Games. Meet residents and hear how they feel about having a huge, world stage in their backyard.

    Launch slideshow

     

    Related stories on NBCOlympics.com

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    1 comment

    The Mexican women have on dramatic stage makeup to highlight beauty. The Americans look pale with really dark eyes almost like they're alien. weird.

    Show more
    Explore related topics: sports, olympics, london, swimming, synchronized-swimming

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Phaedra Singelis

is a Supervising Producer at NBC News.com Previously she worked as an editor at the New York Times and the Washington Post in addition to working as a photojournalist at numerous newspapers.

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