The 2016 Olympics are just around the corner, and almost everything coming out of Rio sounds bad. Olympians are getting robbed. The water is filled with feces. And that’s just to start.
So yeah, it might be harder to get excited for this Olympics than it was for previous ones, but that’s not going to stop us from trying. To help you get in the Olympic spirit, too, we pulled together some of our favorite Olympics-related pictures. Yes, the situation in Rio seems dismal. And yes, there are loads of legitimate criticisms of the IOC. But for many of the hard-working athletes heading to Rio, the next few weeks will serve as the climax after a lifetime of preparation. They deserve to be cheered and celebrated, so let’s try our best to do so.
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A Mongolian judoka celebrates his victory at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Team Canada competes in the women's 10 meter synchronized diving event at the 2004 Olympics.
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Britain's Mo Farah reacts as he wins gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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A Chinese gymnast at the 2016 rhythmic all-around final gymnastics qualifier.
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Team Ukraine compete in the men's synchronized 3m springboard diving at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Australian diver practices ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
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The Netherlands field hockey team celebrates after winning the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
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A Russian pole vaulter at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
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A Ukrainian weightlifter competes in the men's 105kg at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Tommie Smith wins the gold in the men's 200m at the Mexico 1968 Olympics.
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A wide view of the women's 100m hurdles final at the London 2012 Olympics.
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USA (L) vs. Germany (R) at the London 2012 Olympics.
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A Chinese badminton player smashes the shuttlecock at the London 2012 Olympics.
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A player serves in the men's indoor volleyball preliminary at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.
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Belarus performs at the London 2012 Olympics.
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DPR Korea (red) competes against Poland (blue) in women's wrestling at the London 2012 Olympics.
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A French gymnast competes on the parallel bars at the 2012 London Olympics.
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A Japanese Table Tennis player competes at the London 2012 Olympics.
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The finish of the women's 100m final at the 1948 London Olympics.
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A gymnast's hands as he prepares to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
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A Japanese gymnast competes on the trampoline at the London 2012 Olympics.
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A Russian runner celebrates as she wins gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
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An Italian runner on the verge of collapse at the London 1908 Olympics.
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An Australian swimmer competes in the backstroke event at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Great Britain competes in men's canoe double slalom at the London 2012 Olympics.
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Austria and Australia compete at the Rome 1960 Olympics.
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The USA's Walter Davis sets high jump record at the Helsinki 1952 Olympics.
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Michael Phelps swims the butterfly stroke at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
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Ashton Eaton (USA) competes in the men's decathlon shot put at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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