Billions of Reasons We're Fascinated by the 2012 Summer Olympics

The Olympics are here! To celebrate, T+L rounds up 22 fascinating facts and figures relating to everything London 2012. Behold our smashing pyramid of zany Olympic numbers.

• 1 Life-size inflatable replica of Stonehenge erected in London for the Games
• 4 Skeletons removed from the site under the Zaha Hadid–designed Aquatics Centre
• 37 Languages that the Bard’s plays will be performed in during the World Shakespeare Festival
• 71 Age of Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu, the oldest Olympian competing this summer
• 150 Bat boxes and artificial otter holts installed in the 500-acre Olympic Park
• 351 Average rate (in USD) of a hotel room in central London during the games
• 1,500 Seats in London's temporary McDonald's outpost, which will serve 50,000 Big Macs
• 4,000 Brand new BMWs ordered to escort dignities and officials to events
• 10,500 Olympic athletes from 205 participating countries
• 22,000 Pillows made available in Athletes Village
• 150,000 Condoms made available in Athletes Village (that's 30 per...couple)
• 203,000 Pieces of luggage to be handled at Heathrow on August 13, the busiest game day
• 1,000,000 Pieces of sporting equipment used during the Games
• 5,000,000 Brits who now regret signing up to receive Games-related emails
• 10,000,000 Free tickets available across thousands of events in the London 2012 Festival
• 14,000,000 Meals served during the Games across 40 different London locations
• 200,000,000 Viewers NBC expects to tune into the broadcasts (not counting Ann Curry)
• 777,000,000 Cost (in USD) of Olympic security for taxpayers...this covers only the venues
• 1,000,000,000 Expected visitors to London2012.com
• 4,000,000,000 Original expected cost (in USD) of the London 2012 Games
• 14,500,000,000 Current expected cost (in USD) of the London 2012 Games
• 40,000,000,000 Cost (in USD) of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing—the most expensive to date

Briana Fasone is a New York City–based freelance writer. You can follow her on Twitter @brifasone.

Photo courtesy of London 2012 Organising Committee