Join us for a live London Olympics chat today at noon

By Mike James

July 27, 2012 12 AM PT

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Join us for a live chat at noon Pacific time Friday as Times Sports Editor Mike James in Los Angeles chats with Deputy Sports editor and Olympic coordinator John Cherwa and sportswriter Lisa Dillman in London an hour before the opening ceremony officially kicks off the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”EVSPR000227”&amp;gt;2012 Summer Olympics&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;There are obvious superstars in these Games — sprinter &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT00015970”&amp;gt;Usain Bolt&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; and swimmer &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT008491”&amp;gt;Michael Phelps&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; top the list — but there are nearly 10,500 athletes competing in London.&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;And, as is the case almost every Olympics, there will be unexpected names that burst into the spotlight once competition gets underway in full on Saturday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;Some competition has already started, with the U.S. women’s soccer team already showing that it has its own star power. &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT0011963”&amp;gt;Alex Morgan&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;’s two goals helped the U.S. team bounce back from a two-goal deficit against France on Wednesday to win, 4-2.&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Times has a team of 21 reporters, editors, photographers and videographers on site in London and other venues and will bring you coverage from Friday’s opening ceremony through the closing ceremony on Aug. 12.&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;ALSO:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://graphics.latimes.com/storyboard-london-olympics-key-moments-watch/”&amp;gt;Your Olympics guide, from A-Z&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-olympic-ad-20120726,0,7030787.story”&amp;gt;USOC fires back at Olympic political ad&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-will-queen-light-torch-20120727,0,6566042.story”&amp;gt;Will the Queen light the London Olympics torch?&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Join us for a live London Olympics chat today at noon

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