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It is hard to believe that we are already a week into the Olympics. Today sees the start of the Athletics, with some big British hopes in action. There are some exciting finals elsewhere, too. Richard O'Hagan previews it all.


This time last week we were still looking forward to the opening ceremony and wondering if, well, it was going to be a bit rubbish. The only competitors to have seen any action at all were footballers and archers. So much has happened since then that it is hard to remember that it was only seven days ago. And yet there is the sense that things are only just getting started.

For the daddy of all events, the athletics, it all begins today, albeit with a reduced programme. Only two gold medals - the men's hammer and the women's 10,000m, will be decided, but some British medal hopes begin their competition. Jessica Ennis has the hurdles, high jump, shot putt and 200m elements of the heptathlon to get through and will be looking to lead the event by some distance, knowing that her second day is much weaker than her first. She's currently at 1.81 but faces some stiff competition, with reigning indoor champion Nataliya Dobrynska looking a particularly good bet at 7.0.

GB captain Dai Greene also gets underway, with the heats of the men's 400m hurdles. He looks a good bet at 4.0 for an event which he has been dominant in for the last couple of years.

Over in the Velodrome there are chances for Britain to add to their gold medal tally as the men's pursuit team go for victory. After breaking the world record in qualification they are a mere 1.11 but after the disqualification dramas of day one of the track cycling it might be worth considering second favourites Australia at 11.0 as well. Victoria Pendleton will hope to put the events of yesterday behind her as she goes for gold in the Women's Keirin (the slightly bonkers event where the entire field chases a motorcycle for all but the last couple of laps). She's currently 4.6 for that event but after missing out in the team sprint she'll be a lot fresher than she would have been and is therefore a serious candidate for gold.

You can tell how busy a day it is going to be when Katherine Grainger's attempt to finally win a gold medal on the water is relegated to the end of a column. Great Britain are 1.2 favourites to win that double sculls.

Last of all, at around 1925hrs, Becky Adlington will hope to retain her 800m freestyle crown in the pool. She's the fastest qualifier and a huge favourite at odds of 1.44

Recommended Bet: Victoria Pendleton to win the women's keirin at odds of 4.6


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