The most awaited event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Athletics will get underway today. There are total of 47 gold medals at stake in the competition but only two will be given out today.
Team Fiji's Makelesi Bulikiobo will be in action tomorrow in the women's 400 metres heats. Her opponents are yet to be known but Bulikiobo's aim in this year's Games is to reach the semifinals.
But all eyes will be on the men's 100 metres heats today. World record holder Jamaica's Usain Bolt will be first one to take the tracks in Heat 1 at 1:45pm. His world record time in the 100 metres is 9.72 seconds. Asafa Powell, who is tipped to win the 100 metres gold will run in Heat 2 at 1:53pm. His current time stands at 9:74 seconds while America's Tyson Gay will run in Heat 5 at 2:17pm. His time is 9.77 seconds.
In an interview with Bolt, when asked he is going for gold or world record in Olympics, this what he had to say.
Bolt said his biggest rival will be his fellow countryman, Asafa Powell.
Bolt said he has also not ruled out America's Tyson Gay.
The Athletics event will start at 1pm today.
There have been a few upsets in the Tennis competition at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Top seed Roger Federer is out of the men's singles competition going down to America's James Blake 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
Also a bad day for sisters Serena and Venus Williams. Both are now out from the singles competition. Serena lost 6-4, 6-3 to Elena Demen-tieva while China's Li Na defeated Venus by 7-5, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.
The Williams sisters will now focus on winning the women's doubles.
Meanwhile the USA men's basketball team thrashed Greece 96-62 to gain some measure of revenge over the only team to beat them since the 2004 Athens Olympics. The US, trying to reclaim the global throne after third place in both Athens and the 2006 World Championships in Japan, dominated the match defensively.
Now looking at the medal tally, China still leads with 22 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze. USA remains in second place with 10 gold, 9 silver and 15 bronze while Germany jumped to third place with 7 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.
Most Awaited Events Get Underway in Olympics
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