The Olympics are coming, and you better be prepared. It should be as big of a publicity blitz as ever, especially with the influence of social media and worldwide coverage. Additionally, with the recent focus on Olympic athletes in the hobby, there are going to be that many more opportunities to get cards of the Olympians. Something that has rarely been offered in past situations.

The biggest draws this time around should be both Basketball and Swimming, with most of the top players in the game having cards available. Guys like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and the entire USA Basketball team should be easy to find, but hard to purchase, especially as Phelps and Lochte swim their way to all time records in the sport.

Here are where they are sitting currently:

2012 Topps Olympic Set Michael Phelps USA Auto

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter Michael Phelps Auto SSP

2012 Topps Olympic Set Ryan Lochte USA Auto

Since winning a record 9 medals in 2008, Phelps has earned national celebrity status, not only as a spokesperson for a number of products, but also as the face of US men’s sports. As a result of his popularity, his autographs have hit mountain peaks, especially now that the games are coming around again. He was even included in past Allen and Ginter sets, this year’s set, and also the Topps Olympic set, and as of right now, his autograph is basically unbuyable. Lochte is an up and comer, despite already having 3 golds under his belt. He has a legit shot to match production from the last time around, and that should put him in some elite company. As a result, his autograph has climbed steadily to the point where it is now worth more than just about any star in any sport.

On the basketball side, there has been a lot of focus on the new team, especially guys who were part of the 1992 Dream Team. Panini produced cards of USA basketball last year, but you have to go all the way back to 1992 Skybox to get a special commemorative set.

Here is one of those boxes, something I was shocked to go so high!

I would guess that Panini is going to go nuts with this in some of the later sets this year, and I am going to be pretty appalled if they don’t. USA basketball is something that has an in with two separate and very large markets, unlike just about every other Olympic sport.

In fact, the Olympic collectors out there are a sizable niche, a fact I wasn’t fully aware of until I visited the National Card Show last year. As a result, Topps’ Olympic set was probably more successful as I could have expected, and Olympic memorabilia has become something I am oddly intrigued by. I have to believe that when the games start, I will be as interested as ever, tracking the autographs of the athletes that shine during the games. Its really difficult not to get caught up in the fervor.