Team spirit | Faces of Olympics fans

Tennis fan Kate Martin bears a version of the Union Flag painted on her face as she watches the men’s singles bronze medal match during the 2012 London Olympics last Sunday. (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)

Aug. 5, 2012 1:21 PM PT

Fans show off their national pride at the 2012 Summer Olympics, often going to great lengths to get noticed.

A supporter of Thailand entertains spectators at the entrance to the ExCel Centre venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Aug. 1. (Ng Han Guan / Associated Press)

French fans smile during a women’s basketball game against Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics last Sunday. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

Team USA fans cheer during the U.S. women’s soccer team’s semifinal match against Canada on Tuesday. (Stanley Chou / Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s soccer team enjoyed a cadre of die-hard fans like this one during the semifinal game against Canada at the London 2012 Olympics on Tuesday. (Stanley Chou / Getty Images)

Disguised as Spanish fans, members of Spain’s men’s handball team found time to clown around before their preliminary group B handball match against Hungary at the London 2012 Olympics Games. (Javier Soriano / AFP / Getty Images)

British fans wearing full-body leotards caused quite a spectacle for fellow spectators inside Olympic Park at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Ben Curtis / Associated Press)

A German fan shows her support during the kayak single (K1) men’s canoe slalom competition finals at the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Diego Azubel / EPA)

A small pair of binoculars gives a spectator a better view inside the Olympic Stadium at the London 2012 Olympics. (Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images)

A Hungarian supporter with a painted face attends a handball match between Hungary and South Korea at the London 2012 Olympics Games. (Srdjan Suki / EPA)

A Mexico fan awaits the start of the Mexican men’s quarterfinal soccer match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

A painted Brazilian flag adorns the face of a young fan at a men’s soccer match between Brazil and Egypt at the London 2012 Olympics. (Glen Kirk / AFP / Getty Images)

Korean fans wait for the start of the men’s semifinal soccer match between Brazil and South Korea at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Andrew Yates / AFP / Getty Images)