The head of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, is praising London for just about everything, thrilled at what he called the "fusion" between the sports and the games and the city. But Rogge was almost giddy about an unusual phenomenon on the London Underground system: conversation among strangers.

Normally, the ever-so reserved average Londoner would never turn to a stranger and say anything, unless the fellow commuter is stepping on his or her foot or something. Spontaneous conversation never ever breaks out.

Until the Olympics.

In the last few weeks, chatter has happened. A lot. Even Rogge noticed.

"Now they (commuters) talk to each other," he said. "They comment (on) the games."

— Danica Kirka — Twitter http://twitter.com/danicakirka

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EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.