There were concerns that if the lockout is still going on next summer (and there is a real chance of that happening) that the best NBA players would stay away because USA Basketball is seen as a David Stern production.

But if you think the best players are going to miss the chance to win a gold medal — and market themselves on the world’s biggest stage — you underestimate what really matters to players.

LeBron James is in for the 2012 London Olympics, he tells Hoopshype.

Kobe Bryant also has said he is in.

You can say it is about pride in their country. You can say it is about competitiveness. You can say it is about legacy. You can say it is all about marketing dollars. The truth is it is a recipe of all of those (you can decide for yourself what is the main ingredient, I tend to think it’s all about the Benjamins) but that makes a dish the best players cannot resist. The USA will send a monster team to London.

LONDON - They waited six decades for the biggest sporting event on the planet to return here. On Wednesday, thousands of Britons and Olympics supporters from various parts of the world gathered at Trafalgar Square to mark the 12-month countdown to the opening on July 27, 2012.

For some Londoners, it felt like yesterday when they gathered in the same spot six years ago to wait for the result of UK’s bid for the 2012 Olympics venue.

“Olympics does not come around the corner every day. I have not attended one in my lifetime. I have to be here,” said Natalie Dumont. 

The giant clock set on Trafalgar Square for the Olympics countdown is ticking away. In 363 days, the city will play host to the Olympic Games.  

“The clock still ticks on to remind us that nothing stops us (from) preparing London for the greatest event that has taken place in the city in the last 50 years,” said London Mayor Boris Johnson.

‘London is ready’

Johnson paid tribute to the "indomitability" of London and said the city is ready.

“The Olympics venues are ready, so ready that we might as well call a snap Olympics and catch the rest of the world napping,” he said light-heartedly.

Prime Minister David Cameron praised the people involved in the project. He said everything is on schedule "for the greatest show on earth" to come to "the greatest city on earth."

He also acknowledged that the Olympics will be a "fantastic advert for Britain."

And following tradition, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge invited the finest athletes in the world to come to London to join the various sporting events.

For the first time, the public had the view of the Olympics medals—gold, silver and bronze.

The medals designed by David Watkins were unveiled in the presence of the Princess Royal.

Some 2,100 medals will be presented during 302 victory ceremonies in more than 30 venues in the UK.

Pinoys excited to be part of history 

Just like many who attended the countdown in Trafalgar Square, Pinoys are also excited to be part of history. They joined the celebrations to support the event.

"You see my face? We want to represent the Philippines. We want to support Great Britain as well,” said Edward Manela who came with his wife Rosalie and had their faces painted with the flags of the Philippines and UK.

Victoriano Yumul, a nurse in London, graced the event with a friend. He also volunteered and was shortlisted to be a paramedic during the Olympics.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so you have to be here to see the celebrations,” said Yumul.

Dubbed as the "hatman of London," Chito Salarza-Grant was in the Square to take photos of the event. He will be using them for the hats he is making for the Olympics.

“Whatever I see and photographed, I will try to put them on my Olympics hats next year,” said Salarza-Grant.

source: Rose Eclarinal, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau