It wasn't quite the same as landing a rover the size of an SUV on a planet hundreds of millions of miles away, but the success of the London Games still managed to impress as a logistical and sporting feat.
From Usain Bolt's transcendent brilliance to Michael Phelps finishing his legendary career, and everything in between, the 2012 Olympics were an exemplar of athleticism and execution by the officials — especially given that the city faced numerous question regarding its readiness right up to the week the Games kicked off.
Of course, perfection is hard to attain, and these Olympics get knocked down a few pegs for things such as the match-throwing badminton players and the tape-delayed TV coverage that had many people scrambling to avoid spoilers.
But overall, the London Games were a smashing success — not least because Team USA won the medal count by a large margin.
