Olympics day three preview

Aldridge and Daley are in confident mood ahead of their Games debut

Britain's 14-year-old diver Tom Daley gets his first shot at an Olympic medal on Monday when he competes in the 10m synchronised event with Blake Aldridge.

The Devon schoolboy is the youngest Olympian to represent his country for more than 40 years.

"I can't wait, I just want to go out and have fun," said Daley, who will be watched by millions at 0730 BST.

Ten golds are on offer with Britain hoping for medals in the 400m women's freestyle and the men's archery.

Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson qualified second and fourth fastest in Sunday's semi-finals for swimming's 400m event.

They are aiming to win British women's first medal in the pool for 24 years, with the race taking place at 0417 BST.

The British archery team consisting of Larry Godfrey, Alan Wills and Simon Terry are ranked sixth in the world and begin their competition at 0900 BST.

Daley, who also goes in the men's platform later in the week, is Britain's youngest Olympian since since Ken Lester in 1960.

He has attracted huge interest in China where diving is among the most popular Olympic sports.

"In China diving is quite a big sport so you do get some people recognising you," he said.

"When you are little you always dream of being the person up there more famous and it is kind of weird to start becoming that and being recognised because you don't expect that to happen to you."

The Chinese team will be favourites to win gold, while Russia - fielding the 2005 World Champions - are tipped to win silver.

More medals will be handed out in the pool with the finals of the women's 100 butterfly, the men's 100 breaststroke and the men's 4x100m freestyle.

Swimmer Michael Phelps claimed his first gold on Sunday and will be looking to add to his tally as he chases a record eight titles. He will be relying on team-mates in the final of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, 0423 BST.

As well as the men's relay, Phelps will also appear in the heats of the men's 200m freestyle having won the 400m individual medley on Sunday.

European record holder and world champion Liam Tancock continues his quest for swimming glory as he goes in the semi-finals of the men's 100m backstroke on day three.

Tancock is in confident mood ahead of his assault on glory in the Water Cube and is hopeful of returning home with a medal.

"Obviously breaking the world record in the 50m backstroke shows my speed but I'm just enjoying what I'm doing," said Tancock, another competitor from Devon.

Aldridge and Daley are in action on day three

"Holding the 50m world record, I'm going to be out there at the 50 and hopefully pushing the big guys."

Martina Emanuel was a late inclusion in Team GB's fencing squad, and she goes in the women's individual foil final at 0000 BST.

Britain's equestrian team lie in fourth spot as the three-day eventing continues, with the cross-country underway in Hong Kong from 0100 BST.

Australia lead the team event with Lucinda Fredericks starring in the dressage to top the individual rankings of the competition which culminates with the show jumping final on Tuesday.

Scot Campbell Walsh, who won silver in Athens four years ago, has his heat in the canoe slalom K1 heat.

Action at the Shunyi Olympic Park begin at 0800 BST with the heats of the men's C1 also getting underway on day three.

Team GB's Ben Ainslie continues his quest for a third successive sailing gold medal with the fifth and sixth race in the Finn class (from 0600 BST).

In badminton, the home fans will get their first glimpse of the men's top seed Lin Dan, who will play his first match of the Games against unseeded Ng Wei of Hong Kong.

China's defending Olympic women's doubles champions and number one seeds Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen will be action in the quarter-finals.

And the partisan crowd will be able to cheer on two of the country's finest women's players as world number one Xie Xingfang and defending Olympic champion Zhang Ning compete in the last 16 of the singles.

Britain's Andrew Smith begins his Olympic campaign in the men's singles. He faces Germany's Marc Zwiebler at 0320 BST.

Great Britain's Andy and Jamie Murray will play Canada's Daniel Nestor and Frederick Niemeyer at around 1300 BST in the doubles after rain interrupted Sunday's opening day of the tennis tournament.

Andy Murray will have to play twice in a day as his opening singles match against Chinese Taipei's Lu Yen-Hsun is scheduled for 1000 BST.

Switzerland's Roger Federer faces Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the first round, while Spain's Rafael Nadal begins his quest for gold against Potito Starace of Italy.

Elsewhere, the judo finals of the women's -57kg and the men's -73kg take place.