• 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.

  • With a tip of the hat, Romney's horse, Rafalca, is out of the Olympics

    Mike Hutchings / Reuters

    Jan Ebeling of the U.S. riding Rafalca laughs after competing in the equestrian dressage individual grand prix special at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich Park August 7.

    Mike Hutchings / Reuters

    Ann Romney, right, wife of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, applauds as her horse, Rafalca, competes in the equestrian dressage at the Olympics in London on August 7. Co-owners Beth Meyer and Amy applaud along side.

    Alex Livesey / Getty Images

    Jan Ebeling of the United States riding Rafalca competes in the Team Dressage Grand Prix Special on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park on August 7.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    The three owners Beth Meyer, Amy Ebeling and Ann Romney watched from the stands as their horse, Rafalca, made her final appearance at the 2012 London Olympic Games.  Ridden by Amy’s husband, Jan Ebeling, Rafalca’s score wasn’t enough to make the cut for Thursday’s dressage medal event. Only the top 18 move on to the freestyle portion of the competition.  They all seemed to enjoy the ride  – with Jan tipping his top hat at the end and the three women cheering from the stands.

    "It was wonderful. She was elegant and consistent again. We just love her," said Ann Romney.

    Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has received some criticism for his wife’s participation in a sport that many view as only for the wealthy and well-to-do.  Ann Romney began riding as therapy to relieve symptoms from multiple sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with in 1998. But the scrutiny has only been positive for the sport of dressage, or “horse ballet” as it is sometimes described. The attention also brought some humor and parody to a sport that may have been too serious in the past. Perhaps the attention on Rafalca will also help those who could benefit from horse riding therapy which is used for people with physical and mental disabilities.

    Full coverage on NBCOlympics.com

    David Goldman / AP

    Jan Ebeling, of the United States, raises his hat after competing in the equestrian dressage competition with his horse Rafalca at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7.

    Slideshow: Olympic Emotional Moments

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     More Olympics on PhotoBlog:

    Alexandra Raisman's gravity-defying floor routine gets her Olympic gold medal

    Britain's Alistair Brownlee swims, cycles and runs to Olympic gold in triathlon

    Huge blow for China as hurdler Liu Xiang crashes out of Olympics

    A moment of true sportsmanship, as Japan consoles a defeated France

    If horses could fly... equestrian jumping at London 2012 Olympics

  • Huge blow for China as hurdler Liu Xiang crashes out of Olympics

    Lee Jin-Man / AP

    China's Liu Xiang, left, fails to clear the first hurdle in a men's 110-meter hurdles heat as he competes alongside Hungary's Balazs Baji at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on August 7, 2012.

    Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

    Liu Xiang, second left, and Barbados' Shane Brathwaite, right, both fell at the first hurdle. Poland's Artur Noga, left, pulled up with an injury as only five men finished the race.

    Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

    The Associated Press reports — Former world-record holder and 2004 champion Liu Xiang of China stumbled into the first hurdle and fell to the track in his opening heat Tuesday, his second consecutive first-round exit in the Olympic 110-meter hurdles.

    Four years ago in Beijing his Olympics ended after two full strides, when he withdrew from his preliminary heat with right foot and hamstring injuries, disappointing his country of more than 1 billion people.

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    This time, Liu made it only as far as the initial hurdle, knocking it down. He clutched his lower right leg and stayed down for a few moments. He eventually rose and hopped on his left foot along the outside of the race route.

    Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP

    When he got to the spot of the 10th and final hurdle, he hobbled over to kiss it, then continued hopping until he got to the finish line.

    Jewel Samad / AFP - Getty Images

    Another hurdler, Balazs Baji of Hungary, went over and raised Liu's hand in the air, as if to signify he was the winner. Then other competitors went over to offer handshakes of condolences. Eventually, Liu got into a wheelchair and was taken away from the track. Read the full story.

    Olivier Morin / AFP - Getty Images

    Previously on PhotoBlog: A moment of true sportsmanship, as Japan consoles a defeated France

    Slideshow: Olympic Emotional Moments

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  • Luke MacGregor / Reuters

    Full moon shines through Olympic rings in London

    Full moon rises through the Olympic Rings hanging beneath Tower Bridge during the London 2012 Olympic Games on Aug. 3.

  • Boris Johnson, London mayor, stuck on a zip line

    Rebecca Denton via @rebeccasbrain on Twitter

    Rebecca Denton (rebeccasbrain on Twitter) wrote "Boris Johnson stuck on a zip line in Victoria Park. I kid you not." in her Tweet with this photo.

    London Mayor Boris Johnson got stuck midair on a zip line Wednesday during a celebration for 2012 Olympic Games.

    ITV, the British partner of NBC News, reported that Johnson had to be pulled the remainder of the way by people on the ground.

    According to The Telegraph newspaper, Johnson was the first person to use the zip line, in Victoria Park, East London. "Get me a rope, get me a ladder," ITV quoted him as saying. "I think the brakes got stuck.”

    Britain's funniest politician taken very seriously

    The Telegraph said witnesses reported that Johnson spent the approximately five minutes suspended in the air waving two British flags and leading the audience in cheering the British Olympic team.

    The newspaper quoted a spokesman for Johnson as saying the mayor "remained unbowed" by the incident. "The judges will rightly be marking him down for artistic impression,” the spokesman said.

    The cause of the incident was not immediately clear.

    London mayor Boris Johnson attempts to make a dramatic entrance at an Olympic party—but gets stranded on a zip wire instead. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

    TODAY's Natalie Morales takes a look at how Internet users across the globe put their own spin on London mayor Boris Johnson's zip-line snag near the Olympic Park.

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  • Olympic flame travels aboard royal barge on final leg of epic journey

    LOCOG via Getty Images

    Torchbearer Akosua Scantlebury holds the Olympic flame on the Royal barge Gloriana as it makes it way down the River Thames towards Richmond Bridge on July 27, 2012 in London, England.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Crowds enter the water to watch the Queen's rowbarge Gloriana carry the Olympic flame along the river Thames from Hampton Court to City Hall on July 27, 2012 in London.

    Ben Birchall / LOCOG via AP

    The royal barge Gloriana carries the Olympic flame burning in a cauldron as it makes its way down the River Thames towards Richmond Bridge during the final day of the Olympic torch relay in London, July 27, 2012.

    Emilio Morenatti / AP

    People run from one side of Westminster bridge to the other to watch the royal barge carry the Olympic flame along the river Thames on July 27, 2012.

    Paul Hackett / Reuters

    Olympic torch bearer Amber Charles holds the Olympic flame on a floating pontoon in front of Tower Bridge in London on July 27, 2012, at the end of the torch's river journey.

    Justin Tallis / AFP - Getty Images

    Torch bearers laugh on board the Gloriana as it navigates away from a set of giant Olympic rings mounted on a barge floating on the River Thames on July 27, 2012.

    The Olympic torch is set to makes its grand entrance at tonight's opening ceremony celebration after a 70-day journey and racking up about 8,000 miles throughout its tour. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

    The Olympic flame is making its way down the River Thames on the final day of its journey around the United Kingdom before arriving in the Olympic Stadium tonight for the Games' opening ceremony. See more pictures of the torch relay in our slideshow:

    Slideshow: Olympic torch carries the flame to London 2012

    Lit by the sun's rays in Greece, the Olympic torch takes a 70-day, 8,000 mile trip to London for the 2012 summer games.

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  • London Olympic countdown enters final week

    Toby Melville / Reuters

    With a week to go to the opening ceremony, a worker mows grass near the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London on July 20, 2012.

    Reuters reports — The Olympic torch arrives in London on Friday a week before the Games begin, and organizers hope the media's focus will shift from security fiascos, travel disruptions, strike threats and poor weather to the thrill of the sporting contest.

     Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Olympic organizing committee and a gold medal winner, said people were "overwhelmingly positive" about the buildup to the greatest show on earth, while London Mayor Boris Johnson told critics to "put a sock in it, fast". Continue reading.

    Matt Dunham / AP

    London mayor Boris Johnson, in typical befuddled pose, looks down at a pamphlet whilst posing for photographers in the window of a new information "pod" set up to help Olympic visitors with information in Spitalfields, London, on July 20, 2012.

    John Stillwell / Pool via AP

    Members of the National Youth Theatre of Britain greet arriving athletes and officials at their Olympic Village with welcoming song and dance routines on July 20, 2012.

    Courtesy LOCOG

    The Olympic Rings are projected on the white cliffs of Dover on the south coast of England in May 2012. Photo released on July 19, 2012 to celebrate the Olympic Torch arriving in the region.

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  • Londoners express hopes, frustrations as Olympics come to town

    Reuters photographer Stefan Wermuth set out this month to talk to a cross-section of Londoners to gauge their feelings about the Olympic Games coming to their city this summer.

    Wandering the streets of Balham, Westminster, The City, Brixton, Wandsworth, Shoreditch, Battersea, Lambeth and Chelsea with his camera and a basic voice recorder, he met all kinds of different people and encountered a diverse range of opinions.

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    Charley Osborne, a 75 year-old ex-serviceman who has lived in London for fifteen years, stands outside a pub in central London. When asked what he felt about London hosting the Olympics, Osborne said "It's good for London and good for Londoners. I'm not worried about security. We have the best security in the world." 

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    Deborah Blackstock, a 34 year-old mother who has lived all her life in London, poses for a picture in Shoreditch. Asked about the city hosting the Games, Blackstock said "It's a brilliant idea but I'm worried about the traffic." 

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    "It's very nice. Business will be up," said Sadiq Mohammad, a 69 year-old stallholder in Brixton who has lived in the city for eight years. 

    Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

    Karina Zamarska, a 23 year-old actress who has lived in London for five years, was more skeptical. "For London it's obviously not good because so many people will be here" she said. "The tourists will be asking me questions all the time." 

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  • Olympic torch lit by sun's rays at birthplace of Games

    Orestis Panagiotou / EPA

    Actress Ino Menegaki, in the role of the High Priestess, lights the torch of the Olympic Flame in front of Hera Temple in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on May 10, 2012.

    The Associated Press reports — The flame that will burn during the London Games was lit at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics on Thursday, heralding the start of a torch relay that will culminate with the opening ceremony on July 27.

    Actress Ino Menegaki, dressed as a high priestess, stood before the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, and after an invocation to Apollo, the ancient Greeks' Sun God, used a mirror to focus the sun's rays and light a torch.

    The triangular torch is designed to highlight the fact that London is hosting the Olympics for the third time. It also staged the games in 1908 and 1948.

    Under bright sunny skies there was no need for the backup flame that was used during the final rehearsal for the Olympic torch lighting a day earlier. Read the full story.

    Related content:

    Orestis Panagiotou / EPA

    The flame will make a 1,800-mile journey through Greece using 490 torchbearers.

    John Kolesidis / Reuters

    Ino Menegaki holds up the cauldron with the Olympic flame during the torch lighting ceremony.

    John Kolesidis / Reuters

    Alexander Loukos, center, a British boxer of Greek descent, runs with the Olympic flame during the torch relay at the site of ancient Olympia on May 10, 2012. The torch will be handed to London organizers on May 17 in Athens' Panathiaic Stadium, where the first modern games were held in 1896.

    An actress playing high priestess kindles the torch of the 2012 Games, sparking the global relay to the Opening Ceremony cauldron in London on July 27.

    Slideshow: Venues for 2012 London Olympic Games

    Oda / Getty Images

    From Wimbledon to Wembley Stadium to The Dome, a look at the venues for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

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  • Rings around London: The Olympics are coming!

    Kevin Coombs / Reuters

    People pass by an artwork painted on a wall in East London depicting the Olympic rings which was created by a street art organisation called "The Toasters" April 18. The Toasters are releasing a limited edition screen print of the design to mark the 100 day point before the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

    Oli Scarff / Getty Images

    Olympic officials and the media admire a large set of Olympic Rings, created with at least 20,000 flowers and plants in Kew Gardens on April 18, in London, England. The event at Kew gardens was been held to mark 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 27 and to announce the official motto of the London Olympics as "Inspire a generation."

    Adrian Dennis / AFP - Getty Images

    Children wave from the top of a giant sandcastle adorned with the Olympic rings and flags built to celebrate 100 days to go to the 2012 London Olympic Games on the beach at Weymouth on April 13. London marked on April 18, 100 days to go until Queen Elizabeth II declares the 2012 London Olympics open, making the British captial the first city in the modern era to host the Games three times.

    Cathal Mcnaughton / Reuters

    Schoolchildren form the number 100 to mark to mark the 100 day point before the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games, on the lawn of Belfast City Hall April 18.

    Wednesday marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. TODAY's Matt Lauer reports.

    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.

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