Olympic Games

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“Today” show executive producer Jim Bell is leaving and will become executive producer of NBC’s Olympics coverage.

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Joanna Garcia Swisher (left) and Justin Kirk star in “Animal Practice,” the show NBC cut away to Sunday night when it delayed the conclusion of the Olympics closing ceremony, drawing further criticism to the network’s coverage of the London Games. (NBC via Associated Press)

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Justin Kirk stars in “Animal Practice,” the show NBC cut away to Sunday night when it delayed the conclusion of the Olympics closing ceremony, drawing further criticism to the network’s coverage of the London Games. (NBC via Associated Press)

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Celebration erupted in Rio de Janeiro in 2009 when the city was chosen as the first place in South America to host the Olympics. Brazilians regard the 2016 Games as their grand entrance onto the world stage, and officials already are getting jitters as the city undertakes a massive infrastructure overhaul. (Associated Press)

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The Olympics flag is handed from London Mayor, Boris Johnson, second from left, to the International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, center, next to the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, right, during the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jeff J Mitchell, Pool)

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Bob Mathias goes over the bar during a pole-vault session during the Olympics in Helsinki in 1952. (Associated Press)

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associated press Taoufik Makhloufi celebrates his gold medal in the 1,500 meters Tuesday. The Algerian had been kicked out of the Olympics for not trying hard enough in another event, but he was reinstated when a doctor said he was injured.

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D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar returned to training Tuesday after representing Honduras in the Olympics. The 19-year-old started three matches as Los Catrachos made a surprise run to the quarterfinals. (The Washington Times)

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Megan Rapinoe, a midfielder for the U.S. soccer team playing in the Olympics, bounces a ball with her head during a training session. She has a pre-game ritual that involves listening to music on her headphones. (Associated Press)

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Douglas, who turned 16 in January, has been training for the Olympics with coach Liang Chow in West De Moines, Iowa, since October 2010. (Associated Press)

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associated press photographs Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony (below, battling France’s Kevin Seraphin) are two of only three U.S. men’s basketball players to take part in three Olympic Games. After having minimal playing time for the 2004 squad that took bronze in Athens, they were leaders on the ’08 team that won gold in Beijing.

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London 2012 swimming Olympics: United States' Missy Franklin reacts after winning the women's 100-meter backstroke swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park on Monday, July 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)