Know what to watch out for and when to take your lunch break with our guide to coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We start with the first week of 'the greatest show on earth'.
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By Graham Ruddick
Last Updated: 5:19PM BST 08 Aug 2008
The BBC will show live coverage of the Olympics across BBC One, Two and their interactive services from 2am each day. A highlights show, The Games Today, will air at 5.30pm on BBC One on Saturday and then at 7pm for the rest of the Beijing Games.
Day One, Friday August 8
The Olympics will officially start in Beijing at 8:08:08 on the 8/8/2008 because the number eight is considered lucky in China. The opening ceremony is live on BBC1 from 12.45pm BST and will last three hours. Over 90,000 people will be in the Bird's Nest stadium to watch what the organiser have promised will be a spectacular show.
The Chinese have gone to great lengths to keep the event as secret as possible, remaining tight-lipped about who will light the Olympic flame.
Day Two, Saturday August 9
The first full day of competition sees seven gold medals available and Great Britain's first gold could come from Craig Fallon in the men's judo 60kg class. The final starts at 11am our time and the 2005 world champion will be hoping to put a difficult 2004 Olympics behind him when he lost in the last four seconds of his second round match.
The other gold medals are in the men's cycling road race, fencing, shooting and weightlifting.
What to get out of bed for
Beach volleyball preliminaries begin at 2am.
When to take your lunch break
Craig Fallon goes for Britain's first gold from 11am in the judo finals.
Great Britain gold rating
5/10. Fallon is the only realistic hope but as a former world champion he is a serious contender for at least a medal.
Day Three, Sunday August 10
Michael Phelps' bid to win a historic eight gold medals will get underway in the first of the swimming finals at 3am, the men's 400m medley. Team GB has a medal chance in the women's medley at 3.39am through Hannah Miley. The Scottish teenager earned a world short course silver medal in April but gold medal winner Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe will be tough to beat in Beijing too.
At the more sensible hour of 9am the British women's archery team of Alison Williamson, Naomi Folkard and Charlotte Burgess, who are ranked second in the world, will compete in the team final and have a real opportunity to win. Britain has high expectations of its cycling team for the Olympics and Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley could win the team's first medal in the women's road race starting at seven in the morning.
What to get out of bed for
Michael Phelps will begin his bid to beat Mark Spitz's record of eight Olympic gold medals at 3am in the 400m medley.
When to take your lunch break
In the basketball the US dream team meet China at 3.15pm in what should be a fascinating clash. China are an up-and-coming force in the sport and, although they are unlikely to win a medal, will have Yao Ming in their starting line-up. 5Yao Ming, China's flag-bearer in the opening ceremony, has been voted into the NBA All-Stars team six times but will come up against a team including American stars Kobe Bryant, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, and LeBron James.
Great Britain gold rating
6/10. The female archers have the most potential but they will have to overcome a strong South Korean team to triumph.
Day Four, Monday August 11
Monday could be 14-year-old Tom Daley's day. He partners Blake Aldridge, 25, in the 10m synchronised diving and the final is at 7.30am. There are only eight teams in the event and the British pair won gold at the Diving World Series in Sheffield earlier this year. Britain's male archery team of Larry Godfrey, Alan Wills and Simon Terry were World silver medallists last year and at 9am will have the chance to claim an Olympic medal.
What to get out of bed for
Great Britain's male hockey team, Olympic winners in 1988, get their 2008 campaign under way against Pakistan at 3.30am.
When to take your lunch break:
The men's archery final will be reaching its climax at 11am and Great Britain should be in the mix.
Great Britain gold rating
5/10. Daley and Aldridge are considered outsiders for the gold but with only eight teams competing they cannot be ruled out. The archery team are ranked sixth in the world so will also have to pull off a bit of a surprise to claim gold.
Day Five, Tuesday August 12
Zara Phillips will not be there because of an injury to her horse but the eventing team will still be hoping to defend their 2004 gold medal in the jumping final from 12.15pm. Watch out for William Fox-Pitt from 3.45pm as well, he has given Madonna riding lessons in the past and is among the favourites for gold. Richard Faulds became a household name after winning a shooting gold at Sydney in 2000 and, after a disastrous 13th place in 2004, he is confident of victory again ahead of the double trap final at 8am. His toughest competition could come from Steve Scott, the Brit is the reigning European champion.
The canoe slalom is an Olympic event which generally provides excitement and through Campbell Walsh, Great Britain has a genuine medal hope. Walsh won silver in Athens and will aim to make the men's K1 final again, which starts at 10.17am. There is another judo hopeful for Team GB in the shape of Euan Burton in the -81kg class from 11am and, for the early risers, Britain has one of its best gold medal chances in the pool through world champion Liam Tancock in the 100m backstroke.
What to get out of bed for
Liam Tancock, a swimming world champion, should have a serious medal opportunity in the 100m backstroke at 3.28am.
When to take your lunch break
The canoe slalom is an entertaining time trial so it will not be settled until the last rower has finished. Campbell Walsh, a British medal hopeful, will be competing in the climax of the K1 from 10.17am to 10.42am.
Great Britain gold rating
8/10. World champions and previous Olympic gold medallists are in action for Britain today so the chance of glory for Team GB is high.
Day Six, Wednesday August 13
It could be a quiet day for Great Britain with Caitlin McClatchey in the women's 200m freestyle at 3.11am the only obvious medal contender. The gymnastics women's team final starts at 3.30am but the highlights will be worth watching because of the battle between the USA and China for gold. Cheng Fei was a triple gold medal winner for the Olympic hosts at the 2006 World Championships and will ensure that the Chinese are strong contenders. Britain, led by Beth Tweddle, will have to pull of a major surprise to claim a medal.
What to get out of bed for
Caitlin McClatchey will be racing in the pool at 3.11am in what is Britain's only realistic chance of a medal for the day. Michael Phelps will be seeking another gold medal in the 200m butterfly in the next race after McClatchey's at 3.21am.
When to take your lunch break
In the men's football at 12.45pm, Brazil, arguably the finest exponents of the beautiful game, meet the host nation China in the group stages. The atmosphere should be fantastic even though Brazil, seeking their first Olympic gold medal in the sport, are the overwhelming favourites to win.
Great Britain gold rating
3/10. It could be Great Britain's most barren day.
Day Seven, Thursday August 14
Peter Cousins won a silver medal at the World Judo Championships last year following his return from a three-month ban for missing three drug tests. He will be aiming for an Olympic medal in the -100kg class from 11am to 12.30pm. Britain's traditional strength in the equestrian events means they are among the favourites for a medal in the dressage as it draws to a close from 12.15pm. There's more early morning hopes for the swimmers too through Kris Gilchrist, a World short-course gold medallist in April, in the 200m breaststroke and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay team.
What to get out of bed for
Swimming takes early-morning centre stage again with British hopeful Kris Gilchrist racing at 3am. For gymnastic fans the men's all-round event is from 4am until 7am.
When to take your lunch break
The quarter-finals of the tennis will be running throughout the day and, if everything has gone to plan, Andy Murray will be facing Rafael Nadal.
Great Britain gold rating
4/10. The equestrian team look the likeliest but it could be another quiet day.
Day Eight, Friday August 15
The athletics gets under way with highlights including the first four events of the heptathlon. Kelly Sotherton is one of Britain's only hopes for track and field glory and without the defending champion Carolina Kluft she has a fantastic opportunity. The first event is the 100m hurdles from 2am and the last is the 200m from 2.15pm. The opening two rounds of the men's 100m will also take place at the Bird's Nest stadium with the first round at 2.45am and the second round starting from 12.45pm.
Today will also be the first day of track cycling action at the velodrome and in the men's team sprint Britain have a strong chance of Olympic gold through Jamie Staff, Ross Edgar, Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny from 11.40am. Other British hopefuls are Alan Wills in the individual archery at 10.37am, shooter Jon Hammond at 4.30am and Kirsty Balfour racing in the 200m breaststroke at 3.35am.
What to get out of bed for
The first glimpse of athletics in the Bird's Nest stadium will be worth seeing and Kelly Sotherton will be among the first to compete when she starts the heptathlon with the 100m hurdles from 2am.
When to take your lunch break
In cycling, the men’s team sprint starts at 9.30am and should reach a thrilling climax by 11.40am.
Great Britain gold rating
7/10. The British sprint team lost by half a second to defending Olympic champions France at the World Championships in March and will be among the favourites for Olympic glory.
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