London 2012: 4 Sports That Get Biggest Boost from Olympic Games

Every four years, Olympic teams from around the world close in on one city for two weeks of magic.

During those two weeks, dreams will be made and hearts will be broken.

Of course, you've got the sports we see just about every day on TV—basketball and tennis—while there are other sports that get their moment to shine, capturing the imagination of the world once every four years.

Here's a look at four sports that captivate the world's audience for two weeks, as millions of people around the world hang onto its every moment.

4. Fencing

Although fencing has been a long-standing sport in the Olympics, in the three years after the Olympics, not much attention is really paid to it.

However, as it gets to be about a year before the Olympics, fencing starts coming on the radar for some people.

In the U.S., when you hear the name Mariel Zagunis, you think of her back-to-back gold medals in the individual sabre at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

In Italy, you can think of one of a number of fencers and spark a reaction.

Although fencing may not be as popular around the world as other sports, it definitely gets its share of the spotlight in the Olympics.

3. Diving

You ever watch the way divers twist and flip their body around?

If that's not poetry in motion, I don't know what is.

Every time I get an Olympic discussion started up with my wife, she always mentions diving and reminds me that we will be watching it when it comes on TV during the Olympics.

But, my wife isn't the only one who is enamored with this sport during this time.

Millions of other people around the world tune into the event, giving them a glimpse into unknown athletes who get their chance to shine once every four years.

2. Women's Gymnastics

I'll admit women's gymnastics is one of my favorite sports to watch.

The gracefulness and athletic ability that is shown through these women only make me glad that it's them and not me.

For most, they're at the top of their game in their late teens. After that, there's not much hope of performing at an elite Olympic level, although there are some exceptions.

These women start training around a toddler's age and hit their peak a little over a decade later.

They're just kids, and the world is watching them. How they handle themselves in the face of adversity is something millions of people around the world will remember about them.

Think how people view Kerri Strug (especially in the U.S.). Her performance in the vault to lift the U.S. to a team gold in the 1996 Olympics is one of the greatest Olympic moments of all time.

That captured the world's attention, as did Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 and Olga Korbut's backflip on the uneven bars, forever changing the sport of gymnastics.

What will happen in this year's competition that could possibly change the sport forever?

1. Swimming

Swimming gets its press a little between the Olympics, but it is the second-most popular sport behind track and field.

In 2008, it was Michael Phelps' chase towards eight gold medals, which he succeeded in doing.

In London, it's going to be the battle between Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the emergence of Missy Franklin on the world stage, James Magnussen possibly returning the Australians to prominence and Sun Yang showing that China is still a country to contend with in swimming.

No matter what happens, one thing is guaranteed—the world is going to tune in to watch.

Every event has the potential to be exciting, and nothing is a sure thing.