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Football4Profit: News- Olympics

Following Usain Bolt’s announcement that he will participate in both the 100 metre dash, as well as the 200 metre dash, Ladbrokes has offered up 6/4 odds that he will indeed come away with gold medals in both categories. As the current world record holder, it’s not unforeseen that Bolt is expected to do well in this year’s Olympics: he is 11/8 for the shorter of the two events, and you may even be able to find odds as short as 1/10 in his favourite event- the 200. Specials being offered include his chances to break the world record in the 100 metre event (at 5/1 odds) as well as the 200 metre (currently at 25/1.) Second favourite is currently comrade Asafe Powell, also of Jamaica, who is sitting at 7/4 odds to win the 100 metre; he recently ran 9.82 seconds in Monaco and stands a decent chance- or would, if Bolt weren’t competing. Tyson Gay follows up in the event at 9/4 odds. The 200-metre race has odds for American Wallace Spearmon to win at 12/1, or Walter Dix- also of the USA- at the same rate. The team from China is down from 1/2 to 4/9 for the special of winning the most golds in the Olympics, following a bulk of bets taken on the country’s chances. The United States are 13/8 odds for the same bet.

Though they are close at hand, it seems that headway is being made that will allow the Iraqis to participate at the Olympic Games, being held in Beijing. According to reports, the International Olympic Committee and the Iraqi government have reached an agreement. The agreement follows an announcement made just last week by the IOC that Iraq would not be permitted to participate, mainly due to interference in the Iraq Olympic Committee. The decision was then followed by a meeting in Lausanne at IOC headquarters, wherein a series of steps were agreed upon by the Iraqi government that would allow for the development of an independent and functioning National Olympic Committee in Iraq. This agreement will reinstate an independent NOC in the country, one of the requirements to participate in the worldwide games. The International Olympic Committee’s president, Jacques Rogge had the following to say about the compromise: “I commend the government of Iraq for reaching an agreement that serves the long-term interest of Iraqi athletes. We have said all along that we want to see Iraqi athletes in Beijing. We look forward to seeing the Iraqi flag in Beijing.” As most of the deadlines have already passes for events, the only part of the Games the Iraqis will be able to take part in are the athletics. Doubly unfortunately, they will not have a full team available for the event, including track and field, as three out of the five slots being held for the country have already been redistributed.

This summer’s Olympics will see Mark Cavendish showing to compete in the Madison at an odds of 5/6 to win the gold medal. The British cyclist, with comrade Bradley Wiggins, stands at 1/6 chances he’ll earn a medal at the team event. Mark Cavendish has won the Tour de France stage four times. Nick Weinberg, speaking as representative for Ladbrokes, said, “If Cavendish can transfer his Tour de France form to the track, the British team will be a force to be reckoned with.” The USA currently stands at 5/4 odds, as the Chinese, acting as hosts, hold at 4/7.

Ladbrokes recently heightened Phillips Idowu’s odds of breaking the world record for the triple jump at the Olympics in Beijing from 50/1 to 100/1. The 29-year old is looking good for a strong year, as the world leader in the sporting event for 2008. He performed well at the recent UK Championships and at the Olympic trials held in Birmingham, making a 17.58 metre jump look easy and taking a strong lead against fellow competitors Nathan Douglas and Larry Achike. Skybet has odds listed as 13/8 for him to win the Olympic Gold, as Ladbrokes gives him 6/4- both changes being made after champion Christian Olsson pulled out of the contest following an injury. Olsson had comeback from his groin injury after the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Stockholm, but pulled up on his third try. He’s been quoted as saying he’s definitely done for the season and is considering his options for his future. The mark to beat remains as Jonathan Edwards’ at 18.29 metres, but Ladbrokes seems to have great confidence in the self-assured Idowu, and his goal of gold. “Idowu is beginning to show why he has been spoken about in the same breathe as Edwards. He goes to Beijing as one of the country's leading gold medal hopefuls,” said Nick Weinbery, acting as spokesperson on behalf of Ladbrokes. The firm, based out of Harrows, will open up bets in over 3,000 Olympic markets.

After the line-up for the Beijing Games was announced for the 100m dash, Ladbrokes released their odds offers for the chances that a British Olympic medal will be won in the event at 25/1. Individual odds are as follows: Simeon Williamson is at 100/1 odds to win Gold, 50/1 to win a medal, and 4/1 to make the finals. Contrarily, Tyrone Edgar’s and Craig Pickering’s odds are at 500/1, 80/1 and 6/1 for the same bets. Nick Weinberg, speaking on behalf of Ladbrokes Firm, was heard to say, “ Dwain Chambers’ exclusion without question weakens Team Great Britain.” He went on, “We quoted 14/1 about a medal for Chambers in Beijing, and now we go 25/1 that any of the three can deliver.” For Dwain, Ladbrokes has offered 1/2 odds that he will participate in next year’s World Athletics Championships.

Ladbrokes has put out their odds that Michael Phelps will break Mark Spitz’s Olympic Gold Medal record in Bejing at 11/8. On the flipside, they’ve rated the 23 year old at 8/15 odds he will not earn more than Spitz’s seven gold metals. Commentary offered by Nick Weinberg on behalf of Ladbrokes, “There can be no doubt that Phelps is a class act, but we think eight golds may just be beyond him.”

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