London 2012: the weird world of the Olympics – in pictures

The Olympic pirate impersonations were coming along a treat Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Self-styled 'Mexico's Grand Warlock' Antonio Vazquez Alba 'Brujo Mayor', famous for his predictions, gestures during a ceremony in Mexico City to support Mexico's football team before their final against Brazil. He performed the ceremony to wish for Mexico's success, but did not make any predictions on the winner Photograph: Henry Romero/Reuters

Football lookalikes thousands of miles apart in more ways than one. On the left we have Neymar enjoying himself at Leme Beach, Brazil ahead of watching the Brazil v Mexico final and on the right we have Diego Maradona heading to Wembley to watch the same match Photograph: Antonio Scorz/AFP/Getty Images, Michael Regan/Getty Images

... seven, eight, nine, 10 – coming ready or not! Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

You'll never guess who I bumped into at the bus stop the other day. Really? Ooh well I know. Etc Photograph: Suhaib Salem/Reuters

That's not a bit of litter that's blown into the face of Ethiopia's Meseret Defar, it's a cloth adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary that she's placed there as she celebrates winning gold in the 5,000m Photograph: KERIM OKTEN/EPA

It would have been a lot easier if Bulgaria's Radoslav Marinov Velikov had got himself a bargain bucket Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

If any of the newly promoted Premier League sides need a new keeper before the start of the season, it looks like South Korea's Son Yeon-Jae might be able to do a job Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Qiu Bo of China regrets pigging out on beans on toast before taking a dive Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Dude with an enormous comb. He needs it for that quiff Photograph: Graham Stuart/AFP/Getty Images

Dudettes. But are they supporting GB or Brazil? Photograph: Marcelo Del Pozo/Reuters

China's Qin Kai has surely got gold sewn up in the Predator impression category Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

The contestants in the Poindexter final make their way into the arena Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Guardian

Christina Loukas takes inspiration from the Swedish handball team (see later) to tell the world that she hearts springboard diving Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Yelena Isinbayeva loved her London 2012 duvet so much she took it everywhere with her Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Navab Nasirshelal has confused his barbells with his babybels Photograph: Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters

After receiving presidential approval courtesy of George W Bush and Barack Obama, chest bumping makes its Olympic debut Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Guardian

If this is how excited Evgeniia Kolodko was after winning bronze in the shot put, imagine the celebrations if she had won gold Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Sara Labrousse and Chloe Willhelm have been told that superglue dissolves if it gets wet Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA

Weightlifter Whaseung Kim's room-mate has come to rue the decision to make Coca-Cola one of the official sponsors Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

The Italian synchronised Macarena team need a bit more practice if they're to stand a chance of a medal Photograph: Pat Semansky/AP

Is this a photo of German table tennis player Dimitrij Ovtcharov or a cutaway scene from Final Fantasy 7? Photograph: Grigory Dukor/Reuters

Even equines are susceptible to Wiggo-mania Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

You'd never guess from looking at him but Guam's Ricardo Blas Jr is overjoyed at beating Guinea's Facinet Keita (blue) in their +100kg judo bout Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

Big box, little box. Nice one. 'Ave it. Sorted etc Photograph: Laszlo Balogh/Reuters

Italy's Domenico Valentino auditions for the next Hulk movie Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

The simian Olympic team is ready for action Photograph: Quirky China News/Rex Features

The expression on the face of Russia's Aliya Mustafina looks like she's only just realised the beam she's about to land on is only four inches wide Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Reese Hoffa forgot his shot put so has to use a bar of soap instead Photograph: David J. Phillip/AP

Cough please Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Good hair Photograph: Suhaib Salem/Reuters

Better hair Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

No matter how hard he tried Britain's Peter Wilson couldn't master the Vulcan "live long and prosper" gesture Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images

After forgetting her swimming goggles Canada's Barbara Jardin has to improvise before her 200m freestyle semi-final Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

Sweden 'hearts' handball. No honestly, they love the sport and they want the world to know it Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Wooah! If you think I'm jumping down there you've got another think coming. I don't even get a medal! Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP

Great Britain's Zac Purchase gets in some practice for the Olympic towel throwing before competing in the lightweight double sculls heats Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

The winner of the most patriotic Team GB fan soaks up the applause Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP

But the winner of the award in 2008 can't believe she didn't retain her title Photograph: Vadim Ghirda/AP

The Olympics would be even more fun if competitors like Jennet Saryyeva of Turkmenistan were able to wear smiley swimming caps during the races Photograph: Daniel Ochoa De Olza/AP

The hand of Matthieu Peche emerges from the spray to power him and team-mate Gauthier Klausst through the water in the C2 canoeing race Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA

Jesse Smith's son Brook looks emotional after the US won their water polo Group B match against Montenegro Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

It's not a very close race; it's a multiple exposure of Lionel Guyon riding Nametis De Lalou in the equestrian eventing crosscountry stage Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

That's one way to make sure you get a seat on a train from London Bridge Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

I wonder if South Africa's Andrew Cronje is related to that person at London Bridge? Photograph: Bullit Marquez/AP

Last one in has to wear the silly cap all day Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Stop chewing my finger and I'll let go of your pyjamas … Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP

Obviously these youngsters didn't read the tweet about the Olympics being the Greatest Show on Earth Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

He may be the most successful Olympian ever but Michael Phelps's impression of Edvard Munch's The Scream leaves a lot to be desired Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images