If you live in the UK, then I really don't need to tell you that the Olympics is heading our way, and it'll be here come the end of the week. If you don't live in the UK...lucky you, for you won't have had the press barrage that's led up to the games.
But, now it's here. In one weeks' time, the first medals will have been won (including in the Cycling Road Race, where Bradley Wiggins (first British winner of the Tour De France yesterday) and Mark Cavendish (first British winner of the Tour De France's Green Jersey last year, most stages won by a sprinter ever) will be looking to win), and the hype-o-meter will be in full swing.
Whose dreams will be realised, and for who will it turn into a nightmare? Would you be able to hold your nerve on the world's biggest stage? And, after the 3 weeks, which country will come out victorious? Only time will tell...
So let's turn the focus to the home nation, Team GB. In Athens, they won 9 Gold Medals, 9 Silver Medals and 12 Bronze Medals. In Beijing, they beat every single stat, winning 19 Gold, 13 Silver and 15 Bronze. So what about this year? Will the home support help, or hinder, the home nation?
And what about where they finish? In Beijing, they finished 4th, narrowly behind Russia, but a fair way behind the US and eventual winners, China. Can they go up a place overall this year, or even two, or three? Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour De France has no doubt encouraged the whole team, so it's certainly not impossible...
For reference, the medals table from the last olympics in Beijing:
So finally, we come to the events. A useful links to the full timetable of events can be found here, and a quick overview of each event can be found here.
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TODAY'S EVENTS
http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/day=30-july/list.html
Medal events - Women's Archery Final- 15:37
Men's C2 final- 15:18
Women's K1 final- 15:57
Men's and Women's Team Sprint- 17:59 and 18:15
Women's Team Foil final- 19:15
Women's All-Round gymnastics- 16:30
Men's 100kg and Women's 78kg Judo final- 16:00
Men's Double Sculls and Men's Lightweight Four Final: 10:00
Men's Double Trap final- 15:00
Women's and Men's 200m Backstroke final- 19:40 and 19:48
Men's 200m Individual Medley final- 20:19
Women's 100m Freestyle Final- 20:37
Men's Singles Table Tennis Final- 15:30
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If you missed the Opening Ceremony, it's summed up here with the aid of some pretty stunning pictures:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-19020830
