Day 6: Thurs 2nd August

 
 
 

Day 6: Thurs 2nd August

 

The Velodrome gets its first taste of Olympic action with the cycling team sprint events as Sir Chris Hoy bids to build on Bradley Wiggins's success on two wheels and draw level with Sir Steve Redgrave's record of five Olympic gold medals.

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Day 6 Sporting Events

Thursday 2nd August

 

Britain's famous rivalry with Australia will be the highlight of Day Six as the track cycling events get under way at the Velodrome. Both team sprint events take place with Sir Chris Hoy (with partner Jason Kenny) attempting to overhaul Sir Steve Redgrave's British record of five Olympic golds: the 36-year-old Scot picked up one in Athens and three last time round at Beijing. In the women's event, Victoria Pendleton and sprint partner Jess Varnish will do battle with their Australian rivals, most notably Pendleton's nemesis Anna Meares. At Royal Artillery Barracks, Peter Wilson is tipped to end Britain's search for a first Olympic shooting gold in the men's double trap, while in rowing at Eton Dorney GB's men's lightweight four – which include brothers Richard and Pete Chambers – hope to build on their winning performance in the recent World Cup event in Munich with a gold at the expense of – yes, you guess it – their Australian rivals. It's another big day for gymnastics and swimming too with four medal events at the Aquatics Centre (including US swim sensation Ryan Lochte in the men's 200m backstroke) plus the women's individual all-around at North Greenwich Arena, which will feature American favourite Jordyn Wieber and British hope Beth Tweddle.

Gold medals up for grabs: 18
Today's medal sports:
rowing, shooting, canoe slalom, table tennis, archery, judo, artistic gymnastics, road cycling, fencing, swimming

 
 
 

Non sporting events on Day 6 around London

Thursday 2nd August

 

The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow re-opens today following an extensive refurbishment and Turner Prize winning artist and local resident Grayson Perry - whose studio is nearby - is the subject of the opening exhibition. East London is also where Alexandra Burke takes to the BT London Live in Victoria Park at 4pm, just one of the many events going on in the park where a big wheel gives you views over the Olympic Park. The LEGO map of the world, part of the Southbank Centre's Festival of the World, is due to be finished on Friday 10th August - so get down there today and add your piece before it ends. While you're there you can see Watch This Space on the riverside terrace outside the National Theatre where there's an open rehearsal for One Man Two Guvnors at the Pop-up Workshop from 3pm to 5pm, it's free but you'll need a ticket. Also at the National, at the Cottesloe Theatre is the newly started Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time while Simon Russell Beale has received glowing reviews for his "compelling performance" (The Guardian) in Timon of Athens. From there it's a short walk to the Boom Boom Club who are promising "their most thrillingly theatrical experience yet" with Prospero's Tavern at the London Wonderground spiegeltent. Arrive early for the Thursday Night Live talk at the Serpentine Gallery - which sees host Robert Elms talking to Tony Parsons, explorer Justin Packshaw and Maxwell Hutchinson - and you'll also get to see the Yoko Ono exhibition. From there it's a short walk to the Africa Village and the Russia.Sochi Park opposite. Just across the road in the Royal Albert Hall, Baroque specialist Harry Bicket returns to the Proms to perform Bach's Mass in B minor. There's outdoor theatre tonight in Covent Garden with an open-air production of As You Like It in the gardens of St Paul's church. And, in the shadow of Tower Bridge and City Hall, Steam Industry Free Theatre present the Oresteia trilogy as part of a free festival at the Scoop amphitheatre at More London. The three part drama will be staged tonight from 6.30pm and every night until Sunday 5th August. And the Bouncy Stonehenge? It's on Clapham Common today.

Last chance: There's only one chance to see legendary folk singer Selda Bagcan who appears tonight at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the Meltdown festival.

 
 
 
 

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