LONDON (MCT) — The Olympic Games don’t formally kick off until Friday night’s opening ceremonies, and already there seem to be as many non-sports story lines as security contractors (more on that in a moment).

North Korean players were introduced with the South Korean flag. Mitt Romney questioned whether organizers were adequately prepared. Iran said it would end a ban on competing against Israel, then the only Iranian athlete who might have faced an Israeli stayed home, citing a sudden stomach infection.