2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Venue: Delhi, India Dates: 3-14 October 2010 Coverage: Comprehensive live coverage across BBC TV, radio, online, BBC Red Button, mobile and BBC iPlayer services. Full coverage details here.Full schedule of events here.
 Adlington won European gold in the 400m freestyle in August |
Eight gold medals are up for grabs in Delhi as the 2010 Commonwealth Games begin on Monday with swimming heats. England's double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, team-mate Jo Jackson and Wales' Jazz Carlin are in the 200m freestyle final at 1130 BST. Four other swimming golds, one artistic gymnastics and two weightlifting titles will also be won on the opening day. Nine other sports begin on Monday, including the women's hockey tournament where Scotland face hosts India. The Indians will be hoping to get off to a good start on day one as they take the first steps in their aim to win 100 medals and finish second in the table.  | It's a case of forgetting about everything, just kind of enjoying the race again England's Rebecca Adlington |
Wales, taking part in the women's hockey event for the first time since 1998, are also in action on day one with a Pool B contest against New Zealand. Archery, badminton, gymnastics, lawn bowls, netball, squash, table-tennis and tennis also all get under way on the first day of competitive action. Adlington, who missed out on qualification for the 2006 Games in Melbourne, makes her debut in international competition in the 200m freestyle on Monday, the first final to be held in the pool. The 21-year-old, who has struggled to maintain consistent form since her double triumph in Beijing two years ago, said: "It's just a case of forgetting about everything and enjoying the race again. It's such a tough event." | Karen Pickering column |
Scotland's Hannah Miley, David Carry and Robbie Renwick and Wales' David Davies and Jaz Carlin are also in action on the first day, while England's Fran Halsall and Liam Tancock begin their medal hunt. Meanwhile, Scotland's Willie Wood is set to compete in his eighth Commonwealth Games on Monday at the age of 72. He is targeting a fifth medal in the lawn bowls tournament, this time in the triples after winning a singles bronze in 1974, a silver in the pairs in 1978, individual gold in 1982 and a captain's role in the 1990 winning fours team. Wood was absent four years ago in Melbourne, but the former world champion is hopeful he can add to his haul in India and he refuses to rule out competing yet again on home turf when the Games are staged in Glasgow in four years' time. "I have said before that it was my last," said Wood. "It was as far back as 1988 when I got beaten in the world singles final by David Bryant, but since then I have won eight gold medals, so I'll never say never again. "This time I would love to win a gold, but I'll take a medal of any colour."
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