Penn State fans have plenty of reason to watch the Summer Olympics this year. In all, 19 athletes with direct ties to Nittany Lion athletic programs are in London.
Fifteen of them are scheduled to compete while four are alternates. They will be representing seven different countries -- the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Of the 19, all but track star Ryan Whiting are former Penn State athletes. Whiting, who competes in the shot put, is an Arizona State graduate now serving as an assistant coach at PSU.
You can see a list of the 15 athletes in question below.
Also keep an eye on five Penn State student journalists who will be reporting from the Olympics as part of a program offered by the school's John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.
Virginia Harrison (24), Jeffrey Lowe (20), Emily Kaplan (20), Christine Newby (21) and Audrey Snyder (22) will all be in London. You can follow their work at pressbox.teamusa.org.
Finally, there are two Penn State ties in the men's basketball competition at the Olympics. Monte Shubik, a former team manager for the Nittany Lions, is serving as a performance analyst and scout for Great Britian's men's basketball team. Shubik has been video coordinator for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers since 2003.
Also, former Penn State and NBA center John Amaechi is serving as a color commentary for the BBC's coverage of the Olympic basketball (men's and women's).
Cycling (men's - July 28-Aug. 12)
Bobby Lea — Omnium — United States
Fencing (men's - July 29-Aug. 5)
Miles Chamley-Watson* — Foil — United States
Daniel Gomez-Tanamachi* — Foil — Mexico
Fencing (women's - July 29-Aug. 5)
Doris Willette — Foil (Alternate) — United States
Gymnastics (men's - July 29-Aug. 12)
Felix Aronovich* — All-Around — Israel
Tommy Ramos — Still Rings — Puerto Rico
Rowing (women's - July 28-Aug. 4)
Natalie Dell — Quadruple Skulls — United States
Soccer (women's - July 25-Aug. 9)
Erin McCloud — Goalkeeper — Canada
Carmelina Moscato — Midfielder — Canada
Track & Field (men's - Aug. 3-Aug. 12)
Ryan Whiting@ — Shot Put — United States
Track & Field (women's - Aug. 3-Aug. 12)
Shana Cox — 400 Meters — Great Britain
Dominique Blake — 400-Meter Relay — Jamaica
Bridget Franek — Steeplechase — United States
Volleyball (men's - July 28-Aug. 12)
Matt Anderson — Outside Hitter — United States
Max Holt — Alternate — United States
Volleyball (women's - July 28-Aug. 12)
Christa Harmotto — Middle Blocker — United States
Megan Hodge — Outside Hitter — United States
Nicole Fawcett — Alternate — United States
Alisha Glass — Alternate — United States
*Current Penn State athletes. @PSU assistant coach.