The initiatives are featured on the IOC's Olympic Athletes' Hub, an online destination that collates tweets and Facebook posts from past and current Olympians and presents them all in one place.

According to IOC director of communications Mark Adams, the Olympic Athletes' Hub has already compiled "the Twitter and Facebook feeds of over 2,000 Olympians, and over 100,000 people have visited the site".

New content on the Hub includes Inside the Olympic Village and Faces of Olympians.

Inside the Olympic Village enables followers to direct questions live to their favourite Olympians while they are based at the Athletes' Village.

Prior to and during London 2012, a different athlete will take part each day.

In collaboration with Instagram – a free photo sharing app – Faces of Olympians shows photos taken by athletes taken throughout the Games, creating an entertaining online photographic chronicle of London 2012.

Screen grab from the Olympic Athletes' Hub

Coming soon is a game called Olympic Challenge, which enables fans to predict the outcome of events at London 2012.

Participants will be able to compete with their friends and other fans around the world in leagues with daily updates rankings.

Free tickets to Olympic events can also be won if fans 'check-in' to off-site venues using foursquare – a location-based social networking app – to unlock a special badge called the 'Olympic Ticket'.

South African 100 metre champion Oscar Pistorius, the four-time Paralympic champion who will also be competing at the Olympics this summer, said: "Social media has been a great way to connect with fans and share not just my stories, but the stories of other amazing people and athletes.

"I regularly use it to share my experiences and provide inspiration for those who are overcoming obstacles or just need an extra push to remember that hard work pays off.

"I am truly blessed and thrilled to be participating in the 2012 London Olympics, and look forward to sharing my Olympic experiences with the social media community and inspiring young athletes to do amazing things!"

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