With the possible exception of the dude from the Solomon Islands who dyed the flag in his goatee, this year's Parade of Nations was stolen by the athletes without a nation.

A trio of athletes sauntered into the Olympic Stadium under the banner "Independent Olympic Athletes", dancing around as if they were on their way back to the dorms after closing time at the local pub.

These people were the life of the party, though their most appropriate entrance song surely would have been "Who Are You?"

Several Twitter jokesters speculated as to whether they might be from Mars. Clearly if that were the case they would have been walking in to "Life On Mars?"

The three dancers, as well as one other athlete performing as an Independent, are actually from Earth. Shocking, I know.

The ones we saw on TV are from the Netherlands Antilles, which apparently is no longer a thing.

In 2010, the five islands that previously shared a similar relationship with their parent nation as American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico do with the United States went in a new direction. Three of the islands are now considered a part of Netherlands proper while the other two elected to do their own thing but still be ruled by the Dutch kind of like Aruba does.

All that left three athletes who don't share much with the Dutch besides a language in a strange position, so the IOC permitted them to compete as Independents.

The three are Reginald De Windt (judo), Liemarvin Bonevacia (400m run) and Philipine van Aanholt (sailing).

They are joined by marathoner Guor Marial of South Sudan, a nation which just won its independence last summer. As is probably the case for most nations one year out of a war for independence, an Olympic Committee isn't the first thing on South Sudan's mind, so Marial isn't technically competing under their banner. (Considering he has a marathon to train for, we'll cut him some slack for not being at the dance party).

In the event any of these four should win gold -- and believe me, after that entrance I'm pretty sure most of the world is rooting for that to be the case — the Olympic Hymn will be played.

Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Pau Gasol is often criticized for being soft, but the Spanish forward says he's ready to flex his muscles and show some toughness at the Olympics.

"I'm a beast," Gasol told Reuters on Thursday. "Yeah, I feel pretty good. I feel strong."

Gasol was the flag bearer for Spain during the opening ceremony in London on Friday. He led his team with 19 points in 100-78 exhibition game loss to the US on Tuesday and is looking forward to redemption against the US after losing the gold medal game at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

Gasol will be a more integral part of the Spanish team than he is with the Lakers.

"My role is definitely different here," he said. "I'm the guy that everybody counts on and everything kind of revolves around my play and I take a lot of pride in leading this team in different ways.

"It's not about just scoring. I've been a part of this team for 11 years now. My role is definitely different than what it is with the Lakers."

Pau will need to be in beast mode to have Spain contend for the gold medal, especially after the motivation his brother provided the US with his disparaging comments earlier in the week.

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Photo: KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP

Believe it or not but prostitution is actually legal in the United Kingdom (or, as I guess we have to call it for the next two weeks, Great Britain). But, according to the AFP, there’s been a crackdown on the sex trade in London in an attempt to clean the streets in advance of the estimated 2 million visitors hailing upon the city for the Olympics.

East London, where the Olympic Park is situated, is the primary target of London’s Metropolitan Police, which has performed numerous raids on brothels in that segment of the city.

Still, Open Doors, a government advocacy group that supports East London sex workers (yes, apparently these groups exist), says the crackdown puts the prostitutes in harm’s way.

“They are already stigmatized, they are already vulnerable,” Georgina Perry, who runs Open Doors said. “All that’s happening to them is that they’re moving further away from services that can support them.”

One prostitute seems a little more worried about her financial situation than her safety.

“It’s going to be a complete nightmare, and I think we’re all going to lose masses of money,” she said.

Hey, I’m sure you’d be welcomed with open arms at the Olympic Village.

H/T Hot Clicks

Photo from Getty Images

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The Czech Republic came prepared for rain at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Games in London. As you can tell in the photo above, the country's athletes used umbrellas and wore rain boots to the opening ceremony. It certainly was an odd look, but in 2012, they may have just started a fashion trend.

Below is a close-up of the rain boots:

Maybe they were expecting rain to ruin the parade and didn't realize that a group of Native Americans performed a dance ritual to ensure good weather.

Still, when it comes to Olympics fashion, nothing compares to Azerbaijan's pants.

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Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports; Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Sport

Leading up to the London Olympics, Lolo Jones' virginity was one of the most widely discussed story lines, because apparently these are the things that matter these days.

While Jones undoubtedly continues to carry the reputation of being “That Virgin Athlete Not Named Tim Tebow,” she still has her share of admirers, particularly the New York Jets on behalf of Tebow. So far as we know, a Tebow-Jones link up has yet to happen.

Meanwhile, Jones, quite the comedienne on Twitter, is still looking for her Mr. Right. But perhaps she should get in touch with NBA free agent Morris Almond, who so romantically tweeted about his attraction to the Olympic hurdler on Friday:

He seems harmless.

Photo credits: @FreeMoAlmond; Robert Deutsch-USA Today Sports

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After a four-year wait, the London Olympics are officially here with the Opening Ceremony kicking things off Friday night. Filmmaker Danny Boyle was tasked with the directing the $41 million program titled "Green and Pleasant," which reportedly incorporated over 10,000 volunteers who went through over 150 rehearsals.

NBC is scheduled to broadcast the Ceremony on tape delay in the United States in its entirety Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET/PT). To whet your appetite, we've compiled some photo highlights from the glitzy event.

The SPOILER ALERT is in full effect here, so if you want to wait until the broadcast to see what happens, we suggest you head elsewhere or read some of the other fine posts on this fine website.

The Queen in in the house:

Will and Kate, too!

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named:

The Australians say hi, might already be drunk:

Usain Bolt was Jamaica's flag bearer:

Believe it or not, this is the German contingent:

'Merica:

The hosts:

Sir Steve Redgrave:

Check out more photos of the Opening Ceremony from Fox Sports here.

Photos: Getty Images

Kobe Bryant's long-lost twin was spotted at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics on Friday. Both Kevin Love and LeBron James shared pictures on Instagram and Twitter of Kobe and his "body double," as Love called it. The resemblance between the two men is strong. NBA player Brandon Jennings, who is not on the Olympic team, thought the twin picture was hilarious.

After a bit of research, we learned via Kansas State's Twitter the identity of Kobe's doppleganger. The young man's name is Erik Kynard, and he is a 21-year-old high jump specialist who attends Kansas State University.

While the two look really similar in the picture above, they look different in the photo snapped by LeBron James (seen below):

That first photo really got me, but the second one is less convincing. If anything, Kynard looks like a young Kobe.

Photos via Kevin Love, LeBron James

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Swimming will undoubtedly dominate the first few days of the 2012 London Olympics as the action will kick off quickly with three medals already set to be awarded on Saturday night.

But without the non-textile bodysuits that helped athletes break world records repeatedly at the 2008 Beijing Games, this year's races could be a bit slower. Luckily, the pool at the London Aquatics Centre is built for speed.

Britain's Devin Consulting designed the competition pool and according to the U.S. National Science Foundation, it is "one of the most technologically advanced pools ever built."

The pool at the London Games will be deeper than the two-meter depth required by FINA, the international swimming federation. The depth will help reduce the amount of turbulence in the water, as will overflow gutters that will help eliminate waves. Meanwhile, the circulation system will also be adjusted to help water levels remain as constant as possible, which will make the water faster.

Even the lane dividers are high-tech, as they are designed to spin faster, which should help prevent waves from invading other lanes.

Since bodysuits were banned by FINA starting on January 1, 2010, only two world records have fallen. While we don't know if any records will fall at the 2012 Games, if the swimmers get shut out, it won't be the fault of the pool.

Photo: Getty Images

LeBron James is an image-conscious player who tries not to hurt peoples' feelings. That's why when he said that the current Team USA basketball team could beat the 1992 Dream Team, which is considered by many to be one of the best teams of all time, he did so in a respectful manner.

“As a competitor you never want to say that you will lose no matter who you are going against,” James told “Nightline” anchor Cynthia McFadden.

“The ’92 Dream Team paved the way for all of us. They set a standard for the Olympics and basketball in general that's very high.

"We understand what they did for our game, but we also are big-time competitors as well so if we had the opportunity to play them in a game, we feel like we would win too," James said.

LeBron was defending his teammate Kobe Bryant when he said the current Team USA would win. Kobe said a few weeks ago that they could beat the Dream Team, and he reiterated his stance last weekend.

Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen have predicted an easy win for the Dream Team, while Michael Jordan laughed at Kobe.

Though I feel like the Dream Team would win a series between the two, I agree with Kobe that the current team could win on any given day. The one key would be LeBron and Kobe entering the game with confidence, not intimidation, which they seem to be feeling.

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A common concern, mutual mentor and a few years’ patience lead Dominique Dawes to the moment Friday when she found herself, microphone in hand, interviewing First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2012 London Olympics.

Dawes, holder of four Olympic medals (including a gold as part of the 1996 Magnificent Seven gymnastics team in Atlanta), knows pressure. And she was flawless as she bounced between questions and answers Friday morning at a training facility on the Olympic grounds.

“I have been pushing for this interview for about two years now,” Dawes explained afterward. “I would pitch it to her press secretary and would be politely declined.

“I guess it’s not that bad, though. I was watching Oprah the other day and she said it took her years to get an interview with the author of Harry Potter.”

Dawes may have had a slight advantage over others when it came to getting onto the First Lady’s schedule. Aside from her duties as an analyst at FOXSports.com, she just happens to co-chair the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. She actively supports the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” program as well.

Her history with the First Family goes back to before the president was even considering running for office. She credits three of her most important mentors—Janet Hill (Grant Hill’s mother) and Cliff and Adele Alexander (a prominent couple in Washington, DC)—for eventually helping form a bond between a gold medalist and a powerful political family. In a unique twist to the relationship, Dawes said she learned recently that Hill had mentored the First Lady as well.

She knew an offer to help the president would be coming. Still, co-chairing the 16-member council is an honor she didn’t take lightly when approached.

"I knew that I was being considered for the position and that I would be the co-chair,” she said. “I know a lot of the prior athletes who were on it. I knew I could make a big impact. But at the time I was in my early 30s and thinking about what things I would be committing my time to. I was only considering things that fit into my schedule.”

Then a call came from a number she instantly knew was the White House.

"I knew it was the White House because it was a 202 number," she said. “But it was just the area code. No other digits at all.”

It seemed like the perfect fit. Not only did she already know the Obamas, she also had dedicated her life after retiring from gymnastics to motivating others. As a motivational speaker, she focuses on leadership, teamwork, health, fitness and wellness.

"I’m very passionate about motivation,” she said. “It’s a lot of work to serve on this council. But I can have a big impact on the lives of children.”

The First Lady shares her passion for fitness and nutrition, starting the “Let’s Move” initiative in response to the growing issue of childhood obesity.

"(The Obamas) have resources,” Dawes said. “When she learned the number of families that have really limited resources for good health and nutrition, it really moved her,” Dawes explained.

Video courtesy FOXSports.com