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Tweddle & The Beijing Olympics

Usain Bolt is back on odds as a contender to beat the world record for the men’s 200 metre. Saturday night marked his success in dominating the 100 metre world record as part of his ninth performance on the track of the Beijing Olympics. The start of the games two weeks ago showed Bolt with odds of 25/1 by Ladbrokes for him to break the 200m record, his favourite event. No one, it seemed, expected the Jamaican to smash into history in quite the way he has, and bookies have backed down to odds of 5/6 for him now, ready to pay out the tens of thousands of pounds if he follows through with similar flair. Robin Hutchinson was quotes as a rep for Ladbrokes, “It is one of the biggest liabilities of the tournament for us- if Bolt runs a record we’ll be running for the hills.” Bolt’s odds to win the race are currently at 1/25 and many bookmakers have created forums to bet on events without the Bolt; Ladbrokes is offering 7/4 odds for Walter Dix and Wallace Spearman joint favourites to win without him. In the women’s division, Christine Ohuruogu is set to win the 400 metre on Wednesday with odds of 5/1 at Ladbrokes.

Nicole Cooke may hold a special place in the heart of Brits for giving them the first taste of gold during these 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bookies are now offering up odds for her future as an Olympic athlete: she’s got 4/1 odds to earn the gold again here in London when the games return in 2012. The Swansea resident beat out both Tatiana Guderza from Italy and Sweden’s Emma Johansson for the lead at the very end of a tough 126.4 kilometre event, marking the 25-year old as an instant star in the eyes of Team GB. Prior to the race, William Hill had odds of 10/3 to win the race, and had at least one fan betting big on her- Hills reported a £500 bet for her win. She is at 25/2 chances to win the BBC Sports Personality Award. Bookies are fairly confident the BBC Award will go to an Olympian, offering 4/6 that it will be. Odds are long, at 11/10, that a non-Olympian will win. Ladbrokes, however, are relatively confident on Cooke’s chances of earning the honor, offering 16/1 odds with Nick Weinberg, spokesman for Ladbrokes saying, “Nicole Cooke has provided Team GB with a timely boost and she’s got to be in with a chance of picking up the Beeb gong.”

With the Olympics being so all-encompassing in terms of sporting events, and individual participants, it can be daunting to try to find your favourites among the excitement. Here’s an introduction to some of the hottest bets for the Olympics in Beijing.
            The Triple Jump Favourite is being held, nearly without contention by Phillips Odowu. Totesport is offering up 13/8 odds that he’ll win the gold in the event; Blue Square agrees. Odowu should be easy to spot among the men, having just dyed his hair a vibrant red.
            The infamous Paula Radcliffe is looking to add some additional achievements under her belt this Olympic season, and seems to be one of the strongest contenders for the Women’s Marathon. The only question seems to be whether she’ll be ready for it in time. Paddy Power is offering 8/1 odds that Radcliffe will win Gold in Beijing.
            For Britain, Kelly Sotheton is looking like our best chance at bringing home a gold medal for the Heptathlon; she currently stands at fourth favourite overall in the event. Though we’d like her to bring back the first place to GB, any medal would be a huge success in the division. Sportingbet is currently offering 13/2 odds for Sotheton to bring back gold.             In the world of cycling, sprinter Victoria Pendleton is looking as our best hope for gaining a medal. She was a triple world champion just last year, 2007. Because of her consistent performances, she’s the overall favourite for the event, with the best odds being found at Coral, at 5/6. Other odds can be found with other bookmakers, but they go even shorter from 5/6.
            Finally, we turn to the world of water and the 14-year old sensation named Tom Daley. Considering his age, winning a medal of any color would be a history making achievement, but if the diving king could bring back a gold medal, it would put him in a very strong position to win the BBC Sports Personality award. That being said, Stan James has him as a 8/1 second favourite, just behind racecar driver Lewis Hamilton at 6/4 odds with Paddy Power.

One of the most renowned bookmakers in the UK, William Hill, has suggested that punters do not seems to have much confidence in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland teams for the 2008 Summer Olympics, taking place in Beijing.  The bookie reports that some of the largest wagers have been made instead, against the squad coming back with at least 41 medals from the world competition. This bet seems to be one of the more attractive ones, despite the fact that just yesterday, BBC Sport reporting from Olympic Analyst Luciano Barra that Team GB could come back with as many as 48. One UK bettor found odds of 5/6 that the nation will not return home with 33 honours, and took the bet for £3,000.
            “Gambling interest on the Olympics is at an all time high - but it is a bold punter who would gamble big on the Brits bringing home 41 or more medals and finishing fourth in the overall medals table," said Graham Sharpe, a spokesperson for William Hill.
            Bet 365 is offering a bet that Team Great Britain will win at least 33 medals in Beijing at a rate of 5/8 odds; the lay bet is sitting at 6/5 odds that they do not make the goal of 33. PartyBets is offering a match bet special on whether Great Britain will win more medals than European neighbor Germany, the price sits at 2/1 for.

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