By Natasha Sharma
After four years, it is once again time to cheer for our favorite countries and watch our much-loved athletes bring home gold medals. Beyond our imagination, the London 2012 Olympics is now the most technological advanced games yet, especially in comparison to the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Keeping up with Olympic events and your favorite athletes has never been easier; now we don’t have to sit by the television all day and night to experience the live games and the breathtaking moments. Because of the rise of social media, following the Olympics through television will not be the only option. There will be an unparalleled number of people tracking and following live video streams of the Olympic games. Active participation throughout the spectacular games is what viewers strive for and with the rise of mobile applications for your phone; it is now easier to be a part of the Olympic Games.
Here are my favorite apps I have been using to follow the Olympics!
NBC Olympics Live Extra
The NBC Olympics Live Extra app is available for iOS and Android devices. This popular Olympic app streams live video and coverage of the events and medal ceremonies and replays taken from a variety of angles! A must-have for the Olympic fan, “it’s the app that allows you to take the games with you,” said Chris McCloskey, vice president of communications for NBC Sports Group in a statement.
Reuters Olympics London 2012
Don’t want to miss the magical moments of the Olympics? Download the Reuters app and you will be astonished by amazing photographs from the different events. Now you will not have to hear about these moments, you can witness them for yourself.
OPlanner
OPlanner makes it convenient for the Olympics lover to keep up to date with the games. The app is full of events and Oplanner makes it easy to search by sporting event, date, local time and gender. You can also set up reminders and share events with your friends on social media sites. The downfall, it costs 99 cents but looks to be worth every penny.
PlayUp
Participating in the social Olympics has never been easier with PlayU, an app that allows you to customize your feed by location and socialize with other fans. PlayUp is the first international engagement platform through which Olympics fans worldwide can socialize over the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
The Official London 2012 Mobile Game
There is also an official game for those who wish they could be a part of the Olympics! With the Official London 20120 mobile game, Users can design, train and improve their athlete just the way they want. There are three different modes: training mode, Olympics mode and Challenge mode. The app includes nine different games, including Swimming, 110m Hurdles, Double Trap Shooting and Archery all at the official London venues. I call It, The Sims- Olympics edition.
What apps are you using to enhance the Olympics experience this summer?
A little bit about me: I am a huge social media fan, when I wake up in my mornings I check my social media on my phone like the newspaper! I love being connected to everyone and social media is perfect for keeping in touch. I am interested in new ways social media is evolving and I can’t wait to see the transformations that will take place. I am not just a social media junkie, I also love real time with my friends, trying different places to eat, exploring different areas and long drives.
