Once the games begin, America will probably be knocked off the top of the medal tables by China.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Zynga, which also makes Farmville and Mafia Wars, will begin promoting games from other developers within its own titles, taking a cut of any sales deriving from this promotion.

FORBES: Connect

And as the young people who grew up playing these games embark on their careers, they will begin to establish business and social connections through the same networks.

FORBES: Magazine Article

However, some of the most critical parts of the network will not be ready until just months before the Games begin.

BBC: Rio 2016: The race is on to revamp Brazil's party city

Three new lines will begin whisking passengers to and fro before the Games start in August and, by 2020, the route map will comprise 19 lines and 561 kilometers of tracks, making the network one of the world's largest.

CNN: Beijing commuters feel the squeeze

But its schedule is evolving: In 2014 Notre Dame will end its series with Michigan and begin playing five games annually against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

WSJ: Notre Dame: Irish Won't Rule Out Feeding on Cupcakes

Lionsgate filmed The Hunger Games in North Carolina last year and its sequel, Catching Fire, will begin filming late this summer in the state.

FORBES: Connect

But after the day, the football games and the dinner, when we're comforting ourselves with turkey sandwiches, the world will begin to creep back in.

NPR: Comfort Food

Benitez's record of his team not beating Birmingham extends to eight games but the Spaniard's thoughts will now move towards Benfica as hopes of qualifying for the Champions League perhaps begin to fade.

BBC: Birmingham 1-1 Liverpool

The seven-month relay will cover 190, 000 km before it reaches the home country in the weeks before the 20th games, which begin on 23 July 2014.

BBC: Scotland