Betfair Official Blog

Olympics Day 12 Preview: Bolt the headline grabber on Olympic Wednesday

Andrew Hughes runs through the action on day 12...

Such was the brilliant ease of Usain Bolt's 100 metre triumph that it is no surprise to see him as short as [1.06] in the betting to win the 200 metres gold. This is, after all, his preferred event, in which his long stride will be even more to the fore. If you're not prepared to lump on at that price, take a look at some of the other markets on this event, including match bets between some of the leading contenders for the minor places.

Only two other golds will be won in the Bird's Nest Stadium tonight; in the women's hammer and women's 400 metres hurdles; but there are heats aplenty in the men's 800, 5,000 and 110 metre hurdles and pole vault, as well as the semi-finals of the women's 200 metres.

Elsewhere, a baseball competition that was verging on the soporific burst into life on Monday with the explosive encounter between China and the USA. However, today's final round of group matches is likely to be a mere formality, with the top four teams already untouchable, though the USA against Japan may be a reasonably tight affair.

We're already down to the last four teams in some of the other ball sports. In the men's beach volleyball there is an all-Brazilian contest in one semi-final whilst favourites Rogers and Dalhausser take on the Georgian duo of Geor and Gia in the other. In the women's hockey the semi between favourites Argentina and Holland looks particularly good and there will be a bronze medal play off in the softball competition after today's semis in which the undefeated USA play Japan and Australia take on Canada.

Golds will be handed out today in a host of water-related events, including the penultimate swimming event, the stamina-sapping women's 10 km marathon, the somewhat less demanding final of the duet free routine in the synchronised swimming and at the Qingdao Sailing Centre, its medal races in men's and women's RSX classes.

It's quarter-final time in a number of men's events, including handball, where France against Denmark and Russia taking on Croatia are the highlights; indoor volleyball where the match between Russia and Bulgaria is likely to be a close one and basketball, as the Dream Team continue their undefeated march to the gold.

There are also further heats in the flatwater canoeing and kayaking, the quarter-finals of the middleweight and flyweight boxing divisions, more singles action in the table tennis competition and the penultimate day's action in the wrestling with golds up for grabs in the men's freestyle 66kg and 74 kg divisions.

Finally, a couple of newer sports make their Beijing debut today. At the Laoshan Venue there are the quarter finals of the new BMX Cycling competition, in which a bunch of overgrown teenagers race down a course, presumably with their Ipods on. Indoors, in the rather more serious Taekwondo event, speed, agility and the capacity to kick like a mule will be to the fore as golds will be won in the women's 49kg and men's 58kg categories.