With the Opening Ceremony and the parade of all the athletes is done, the Games begin full-bore. The Queen and James Bond. Rock stars. English legends. We're all interested viewers watching athletes from around the world who have worked for years for their time to compete. Millionaire basketball players are "honored" to be representing their countries. So many sports. So many countries where just going to the Olympics is a lifetime memory.

For those who wish to, here's a chance to post your favorite articles or make comments on the Games. For a Notre Dame background/flavor, here's the list - Notre Dame Olympians. Lee Kiefer is an incoming freshman who represented the U.S. in the women's foil competition, won two matches but was eliminated today in the foil competition, and missed the semifinals. Here's an article with background info on some of the Irish competitors.

After the Jump, I'll start this off with an article that caught my eye.

Pregnant Shooter Relieved not to go into Labor

But slow and steady are a shooter's calling card. The ability to stand still and fire at a bulls-eye the size of a coin 10 meters away puts Mohd Taibi in elite company, so her performance was all the more remarkable considering her baby was kicking her insides during the 75-minute morning qualifying shoot.

"Three or four times," Mohd Taibi said. "It didn't put me off. I told her, 'Behave yourself, be a good girl, be calm, and don't move so much.'"

Did she listen?

"Yep, she always listens to me."

She said she'll tell her daughter one day all about how she was with her at the London Games.

"I hope she'll take part in sports," Mohd Taibi said. "My blood is in her. Maybe she'll be better than me."

Just days after qualifying for the games, Mohd Taibi learned she was pregnant, but it never made her consider taking it easy.

"I did my best, but the range got the best of me today," she said. "My dream came true. I got to take part in the Olympics."