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London 2012 Olympics: Day 7 Athletics begins / London 2012 Olympics News Video

The Olympic Stadium comes back to life on Friday as track and field events at London 2012 begin, with Jessica Ennis in action early on day one as she starts her heptathlon campaign.

The long anticipated track and field begins at the Olympic Stadium. By the close of day, athletes will have already been awarded medals in the men’s shot put, for which the qualifying is the stadium’s opening action, and the women’s 10,000m. The women’s 100m will begin with Team GB’s hopefuls, Abi Oyepitan and Anyika Onuora, taking part in the heats from 10.40am. Two events stand out on the first day: in round one of the women’s 400m Christine Ohuruogu will begin the defence of the Olympic title she won in 2008 (see below) and Jessica Ennis (also below) begins her quest for gold in the heptathlon after she missed Beijing through injury.

London 2012 Olympics News: Yohan Blake ready for team mate Usain Bolt

World champion Yohan Blake, nicknamed ‘The Beast’ by fellow sprint star Usain Bolt, admits he may be reduced to tears if he wins Olympic gold as Jamaica celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence.

‘To be on the podium is going to mean a lot,’ said Blake, who won the 100 metres title in Daegu last year after Bolt had been disqualified for a false start. ‘There will probably be some tears after all the work that I have put in. I have been working tirelessly.’

Blake revels in the nickname given to him by Bolt due to the intensity of his training regime, having it inscribed on his new spikes for London 2012, which manufacturers adidas say weigh just 99g – half the weight of the box they come in.

But the 22-year-old insists he and triple Olympic champion Bolt will remain friends no matter what happens on the track in London, where Blake will be aiming to deprive his compatriot of the titles he saw him win on television.

‘In 2008 I was watching the Olympics at home,’ added Blake, who has been strongly tipped to depose Bolt after beating him twice in the Jamaican trials, with Bolt also recently suffering from a back/hamstring injury.

I had just left school. I tried out for the Olympic team and did not make it because I was young and not that strong, but look at (me) four years down the road. I am confident, coach (Glen) Mills has been preparing me for this moment. I took confidence from Daegu, I know what I can do. I am bringing it to London.

When there are fast guys that are running wonderful times like me, Usain, Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell, great things can be experienced,” added Blake, who has started a foundation to help poor people in Jamaica and insists he treats everyone the same despite his new-found fame, even the ‘mad man in the road’.

‘We are not really looking at times. We are looking at the gold medal. It’s going to be good, great. In every race you always have surprises. Everyone is waiting for this for four years and I think it’s going to live up to expectations.’

London 2012 Olympics News:USA rip Nigeria apart with largest Olympic basketball score ever. Video

The United States scored an Olympic record 156 points as they routed the thoroughly overwhelmed Nigeria to remain unbeaten at the London Games.

The record fell when Andre Igoudala hit a three-point shot with 4:27 minutes left in the game to make it 139-68, surpassing the previous record of 138 scored by Brazil against Egypt in 1988.

The Americans scored 78 points in the first half alone, beating the previous Olympic record of 72 – which was set by that same Brazil team against China in the Seoul Games.

Several records had tumbled by the end.

Carmelo Anthony had 37 points, breaking Stephon Marbury’s record of 31 for an American player in an Olympic Games, and he managed all that while playing less than half the game, as he was on the court for just 14 and a half minutes.

Anthony also set new records for the number of three-pointers made, with 10, and attempted, with 12.

Nigeria coach Ayodele Bakare was in good humour after the game, pointing out defensive mistakes his team made and then adding with a chuckle: ‘Otherwise we could have won the game.’

But he did admit he was not quite sure what to say to his players as they prepare to face Argentina next.

‘My mind is still stunned,’ he said. ‘I counted, how many, 45 different records?

‘We have the dubious distinction of being part of those records. It’s tough to motivate players after this because we didn’t expect this sort of result.’

The United States bench players – including by then Bryant, James and Anthony – had stood and congratulated each other when the world record was announced in the arena, but that did not stop more points coming over the remaining four and a half minutes.

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