Population: 63 million.

Major cities: London (capital) 8.615 million; Birmingham, Manchester, West Yorkshire, Glasgow.

Top exports: Pharmaceuticals, automotive, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, tobacco, beverages.

Top sports: Soccer, cycling, boxing, rowing, swimming, track, equestrian, sailing.

Olympic history: Great Britain definitely holds home-court advantage at these Summer Games and hopes to improve on a fourth-place finish in Beijing four years ago. In 2008, Great Britain won 19 gold medals and 47 overall.

Who to watch: Bradley Wiggins has had a busy month as he became the first Briton to win the Tour de France; he’ll be trying to win Gold on his home turf. … Andy Murray returns to the All England Club for men’s tennis, where he will try and win gold rather than Wimbledon. Of course, the guy who beat him in the Wimbledon final (Roger Federer of Switzerland) will likely be in the way again. … Alistair Brownlee is a two-time world champ in the triathlon and will be challenged by his younger brother (by two years) Jonny. … Rebecca Adlington won two swimming golds in Beijing, taking the 400 and 800 freestyle events.

George Richards