The hopes of many Australians were dashed when Ian Thorpe failed to qualify for the London Olympics in his best event, placing 12th in the 200 metres freestyle. Even in defeat, Thorpe managed to handle the media with his characteristic poise.

But not all Olympians have Thorpe's cool-headed reserve. Other Olympic athletes have given us tears and tantrums, fireworks and breakdowns. Emotions run high at the Games and these passionate outbursts form a central part of the entertainment.

The Olympic athletes' village is a hotbed of sexual energy.

But this year we may be in for more emotional outpouring and controversy than ever, with an increasing number of athletes and fans taking to social media to vent their elation and frustration.

During the Beijing Olympics in 2008 there were fewer than 1 million Twitter users. Today there are more than 300 million accounts, at least 100 million of which are considered "active". This means these will be the first ''Twittervised'' Summer Olympics and this will impact significantly on reporting - official and unofficial.