First Car Rental's Guide to the London Olympics 2012

Online, July 23, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from 27 July to 12 August 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September.

London hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. It is expected that 205 nations will take part in 300 events at the London Olympics. 147 nations will take part in the Paralympic Games.

There are 53 African countries competing in the London Olympics 2012. They are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia

This is the final line-up of Team South Africa that will participate in the London Olympics 2012.

AQUATICS
Jean Basson, Charl Crous, Heerden Herman, Chad le Clos, Gideon Louw, Kathryn Meaklim, Graeme Moore, Darren Murray, Trudi Maree, Karin Prinsloo, Troy Prinsloo, Sebastien Rousseau, Jessica Roux, Riaan Schoeman, Roland Schoeman, Leith Shankland, Darian Townsend, Wendy Trott, Suzaan van Biljon, Cameron van der Burgh

Manager: Shawn Adriaanse, Coaches: Graham Hill, Igor Omeltchenko, Cedric Finch, Wayne Riddin.
Technical analyst: Ryan Hodierne

ARCHERY
Karen Hultzer
Coach/Manager: Johan Steyn

ATHLETICS
Marathon (men): Lusapho April, Stephen Mokoka, Coolboy Ngamole. Marathon (women): Rene Kalmer, Tanith Maxwell, Irvette van Blerk. Track and field: Willem Coertzen, Willie de Beer, Shaun de Jager, Cornel Fredericks, Lehann Fourie, Anaso Jobodwana, Ofentse Mogawane, Khotso Mokoena, Andre Olivier, Oscar Pistorius, Caster Semenya, Louis Jacobus van Zyl, Sunette Viljoen. 50km race walk: Marc Mundell

Manager: Hezekiel Sepeng.
Coaches: Terseus Liebenberg, Hennie Kotze, Gerrie Coetzee

BADMINTON
Michelle Edwards, Dorian James, Annari Viljoen, Willem Viljoen

Coach/manager: Stewart Carson

BOXING
Siphiwe Lusizi, Ayabonga Sonjica

Coach/manager: Andile Mofu
Coach: Nkosinathi Hlatshwayo

CANOEING
Bridgitte Hartley, Tiffany Kruger

Manager: Merrill King

CYCLING
Road: Darryl Impey, Robyn de Groot, Ashleigh Moolman, Joanna van de Winkel. Mountain bike: Phillip Buys, Candice Neethling, Burry Stander BMX: Sifiso Nhlapo Track: Bernard Esterhuizen

Coach/Manager: Barry Austin
Coach: Jean-Pierre van Zyl, Herve Krebs, Jeroen Swart

EQUESTRIAN
Paul Hart

Coach/Manager: Alison Abbey
Groom: Tamsyn Hutchins,
Vet: David Ellis

FOOTBALL (women)
Roxanne Barker, Zamandosi Cele, Amanda Dlamini, Judith Hlumbane, Refiloe Jane, Kylie-Ann Louw, Noko Matlou, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Philadelphia Mndaweni, Portia Modise, Sanah Mollo, Robyn Moodaly, Marry Ntsweng, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Amanda Sister, Leandra Smeda, Janine van Wyk, Nothando Vilakazi

Coach/Manager: Lydia Monyepao
Coaches: Joseph Mkhonza, Matsobane Laka
Technical Adviser: Ephraim Mashaba

HOCKEY (women)
Tarryn Bright, Dirkie Chamberlain, Pietie Coetzee, Bernadette Coston, Sulette Damons, Illse Davids, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs, Lesle-Ann George, Lenise Marais, Marsha Marescia, Mariette Rix, Shelley Russell, Kathleen Taylor, Nicolene Terblanche, Jennifer Wilson, Kate Woods

Coaches: Giles Bonnet, Fabian Gregory
Video analyst: Adrian Carolan

HOCKEY (men)
Andrew Cronje, Timothy Drummond, Ian Haley, Rhett Halkett, Marvin Harper, Julian Hykes, Lance Louw, Lloyd Madsen, Thornton McDade, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Taine Paton, Wade Paton, Erasmus Pieterse, Justin Reid-Ross, Jonathan Robinson, Austin Smith

Manager: Anton van Rooyen
Coaches: Gregg Clark, Kurt Cerfonteyn
Video analyst: Moabi Malebye

JUDO
Gideon van Zyl

Coach/Manager: Nikola Filipov

ROWING
Men's lightweight cox less four: Matthew Brittain, Lawrence Ndlovu, John Smith, James Thompson. Women's Pair: Lee-Ann Persse, Naydene Smith

Coach/Manager: Roger Barrow
Coach: Paul Jackson

SAILING
Asenathi Jim, Roger Hudson

Coach/Manager: David Hudson

SHOOTING
Alistair Davis

Coach/Manager: Frank Davis

TRIATHLON
Richard Murray, Kate Roberts, Gillian Sanders

Coach/Manager: Lindsey Parry

VOLLEYBALL (beach)
Freedom Chiya, Grant Goldschmidt

Coach/Manager: Gershon Rorich

WEIGHTLIFTING
Jean Greeff

Coach/Manager: Aveenash Pandoo

The Brand

The brand and vision for the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was launched in London on 4 June 2007 by Sebastian Coe and a team of London 2012 ambassadors. It replaced London's 'candidate city' logo, which was established in November 2003.

At the heart of the London 2012 brand is a bold Emblem. The Olympic Emblem is based on the number 2012 - the year of the Games - and includes the Olympic Rings, one of the world's most recognised brands, and the word 'London' - the world's most diverse city. For the first time for a Host City, the Emblems for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are based on the same core shape, reflecting London's commitment to hosting a truly integrated Paralympic Games.

The four original colours of the Olympics 2012 identity - pink, blue, green and orange - were inspired by the worlds of media, communications and fashion. The colours were carefully chosen to communicate the spirit of the London 2012 Olympic Games: energetic, spirited, bright and youthful.

The motto for London 2012 is 'Inspire a generation', reflecting the promise made when London bid for the Games.