I’ve always been a fan of the Olympics—I sported a “Dream Team” t-shirt in 1992, worked for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and currently live in the home of the United States Olympic Committee…so I’m excited about the start of the Summer 2012 Olympics today in London.

In keeping up with the spirit of this major international event that involves approximately 200 countries, 7 million tickets, and over 3 billion television viewers…let’s celebrate this year’s host city (another one of my favorites) by taking a look at some of the “best” books and movies about the city…and the event that has been bringing together foreign countries for more than 100 years.

Books About London

Where better to look for ideas for books about London than The Guardian, one of the premier British newspapers?  Malcolm Burgess, publisher of the City-Lit section, shares his ideas for “10 of the best books set in London”.  I’m afraid I’ve only read one of the ten books he suggests (Mrs. Dalloway—it is a good one), so my “to-read” list is growing longer…

Movies about London

The Guardian’s film critic, Steve Rose, also created a list of “10 of the best films set in London”…ranging from the 2011 Oscar-darling that goes deep into history The King’s Speech to Shaun of the Dead, a British horror zombie comedy.  This time I’ve seen four of the ten, but that’s still not very good—especially for a city I love!

Books about the Olympics

ESPN’s Jermey Schaap created this list of “Five Best” books about Olympic Gold—books that profile athletes, the social impact of these events, and more.

Movies about the Olympics

Who doesn’t love an inspiring sports movies?  (Not many because they’re really popular!)   Neil Miller, the founder and publisher of Film School Rejects, collected a list of what he believes are “10 Great Films that Capture the Olympic Spirit.”  “Chariots of Fire?”  “Miracle?” “The Jesse Owens Story?”  How do you not be inspired by these movies?

Honorable Mention

Jonathan, founder of a “site for people who love Britan“, created a list of “The Top 11 London Based Movies – Best Movies Set in London” with some fun choices including Notting Hill (yup, I’ve visited that part of town just because of the movie) and Love Actually (one of my favorites).

As you watch the games, what books/movies will be you enjoying to further explore London and this historical event?