I received this just in time for the London Games and will keep it handy while watching. It's not really for the sports you know something about (e.g., there is a fairly involved didactic bit on what a "slam dunk" is in basketball, as well as the advice in the track and field section to keep an eye on those of West African descent in the sprints and East African in the distance races) but more for getting the rules, some tips, and some history on the rest.

Some very useful bits of info (e.g., apparently in 2001 someone slipped past me a rules change in table tennis such that games are now to 11, not 21), history (I hadn't realized lacrosse used to be in the Games, in 1904 and 1908 -- should be brought back IMO), and what a cynic might call trivia (did you know Sarah Michelle Gellar is a black belt in taekwondo?). Authors' British background is evident in some of the choices of examples to highlight, but they're mostly ecumenical.

Tone is always upbeat, acknowledging what some might find tedious about a particular sport but stressing what you can watch for to make it interesting or admirable. My favorite bit of positive spin was in their discussion of the beleaguered rhythmic gymnastics, specifically the "ball" accessory:

"Surprisingly 'street', the ball exercise combines elements of basketball, freestyle soccer and seal-like joie de vivre" (p. 184)

Continuing the French phrase meme, I'm not sure "street" is the mot juste here, but as that kid who tried to encourage the Miami Heat after a playoff loss would say, "Good job, good effort!"