Don’t try to tell me there’s nothing to watch on TV in the summer! The 2012 Olympics run from July 27, 2012, to August 12, 2012, and there are plenty of apps worth checking out for one of the best sporting events around. From apps that help you find your way around London’s Olympic Village to games that let you live out your Olympic dreams virtually, there is plenty to sink your teeth into when it comes to the 2012 Olympic Games.
London 2012: Official Join In App
Those lucky enough to be attending the 2012 Olympics in person should absolutely, positively not be without the London 2012: Official Join In App. With detailed maps for all of the Olympic venues plus a spectator guide with a full listing of the various activities happening in and around the games, consider this app like Lonely Planet: Olympic Version. But even fans not attending the games in person might enjoy the app thanks to live updates filled with news, photos and analysis about the events. Users can even make a custom schedule of the events they want to check out!
NBC Olympics
NBC Olympics includes a wide range of basic Olympics coverage from the network that has the exclusive United States broadcast rights of the games. The app publishes news and information about all the events, plus athlete profiles, photo galleries and more. You can even use Twitter and Facebook to link up with other fans. The network also has the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, which includes live and replayed video streams of all the events.
London 2012: Official Results App
Of course, if you’re more concerned with the results of the events than the general hullabaloo surrounding the Olympics, the London 2012: Official Results App might prove more useful. Official Results covers all 36 events with a live schedule that notes which events are currently occurring, complete with live scoring and results, a calendar that shows each day’s events, and even an overall medal counter so you can hoot and holler as your country takes the first place spot on the podium. Official Results also has detailed information on each sport represented including the latest news, photos and background info. Serious fans can also track the performance of their favorite Olympic athletes right from the app.
Download the Appolicious Android app
2012 Team USA Road to London
One of the real joys of following the Olympics is throwing your full support behind your home country. If you call the USA home, you’ll want to keep the 2012 Team USA Road to London by your side. Users of this U.S.-focused app can get daily updates on who will be making the team, special editorial content focused on the USA athletes and even a special button that users can hit to send personal messages to Olympic athletes through Twitter and Facebook. 2012 Team USA Road to London also contains information on the athletes, photo galleries and video clips.
London 2012: Official Mobile Game (Premium)
For the Olympic fan who’s also a gamer there is London 2012: Official Mobile Game. The Official Mobile Game features nine events that players can compete in including the 100 meter dash, 110 meter hurdles, the triple jump, pole vault, kayaking and more. The game has an RPG focus as players can improve the stats of their virtual athlete by training them using over 200 in-game items. This premium version ($2.99) comes with bonus training points that would cost more to purchase in the free version.
London 2012 Game
Call yourself a trivia buff? Try out the London 2012 Game and see if you can answer the thousands of Olympic-focused trivia questions packed in the novel little app. The questions run the gamut of all the summer Olympic sports, and players can post their high scores to Facebook and Twitter and challenge their friends to top them if they dare. Fans of cartoon characters should also enjoy the numerous big-headed avatars that players can assume as they fight for their trivia lives.
There have been more and more apps released as the Games arrive. Sports Illustrated: Live from London was released on July 20 for the iPad. The free app is a daily tablet edition of Sports Illustrated featuring award-winning SI photography, the stories of the day and video wrap-ups, along with previews for upcoming events.
