Athletes take photographs and no doubt send tweets as they enter the arena during the closing ceremony for the 2012 Olympics in London on Sunday. Though NBC privately had expected a smaller audience than for the Beijing Olympics of 2008, the network’s prime-time audience averaged 31.1 million people a night through Saturday, up 12 percent from Beijing. Analysts found that sharing the experience through social media increased people’s interest in viewing the events. (Associated Press)
** FILE ** In a May 23, 2012 photo Phillip Phillips arrives at the American Idol finale in Los Angeles. Phillips says he wasn’t that excited about performing the song ‘Home’ when he won ‘American Idol’ this year. But now, the 21-year-old says he’s ‘starting to grow a connection’ to the song, thanks to its use in the 2012 Olympics. (Associated Press)
** FILE ** In a May 23, 2012 photo Phillip Phillips arrives at the American Idol finale in Los Angeles. Phillips says he wasn’t that excited about performing the song ‘Home’ when he won ‘American Idol’ this year. But now, the 21-year-old says he’s ‘starting to grow a connection’ to the song, thanks to its use in the 2012 Olympics. (Associated Press)
The closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics will be streamed live online. Here are fireworks illuminating the sky after the Olympic cauldron was lit during the opening ceremony Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Leon Neal, Pool)
Julie O'Grady watches the 2012 Olympics on Aug. 9, 2012, with her daughter Molly and dog Bosco in her home in Palo Alto, Calif. (Associated Press)
Julie O'Grady watches the 2012 Olympics on Aug. 9, 2012, with her daughter Molly and dog Bosco in her home in Palo Alto, Calif. (Associated Press)
The closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics will be streamed live online. Here are fireworks illuminating the sky after the Olympic cauldron was lit during the opening ceremony Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Leon Neal, Pool)
Bethesda, Md. native Julie Zetlin practices at the Katie Fitzgerald Youth Recreation Center in Darnestown, Md., on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 before heading to London to represent the United States in rythmic gymnastics in the 2012 Olympics. The 22-year-old has been doing rythmic gymastics for 18 years. She will compete Aug. 9 and 10. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)
Bethesda, Md. native Julie Zetlin practices at the Katie Fitzgerald Youth Recreation Center in Darnestown, Md., on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 before heading to London to represent the United States in rythmic gymnastics in the 2012 Olympics. The 22-year-old has been doing rythmic gymastics for 18 years. She will compete Aug. 9 and 10. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)
