England v West Indies: Rampant hosts sense series victory

England blew away the West Indies top order in the late Sunday sunshine to take an unshakeable stranglehold on the second Test and the series. James Anderson bowled Kieran Powell for just one in his second over and had Adrian Barath lbw in his third to leave the tourists reeling. Stuart Broad then took the key wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 11 before Tim Bresnan trapped Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Kirk Edwards lbw as West Indies crashed to 61-6 by the close of day three, a lead of just three. It was a desperate display of batting after hard work and perseverance from the bowlers had given West Indies a real chance in the match. But their dramatic collapse in the last session means England are almost certain to wrap up the win on Monday, and with it the three-match series. The West Indies top four has looked dreadfully vulnerable throughout the tour but this was wasteful in the extreme, undoing all the good work of Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul earlier in the day. On a pitch showing little sign of deterioration, the underdogs would have been delighted to take England's remaining eight wickets for 169 runs after Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen resumed on 102 and 72 respectively. Pietersen was the first to go, lbw for 80 playing around a full one from Rampaul that reversed a little. The crowd's disappointment was alleviated by some brisk strokeplay from Ian Bell before he was beaten for pace by a skiddy, snaking delivery from Roach and given out lbw on referral for 22. Roach, plagued by no-balls on Saturday, was working up a genuine head of steam, roughing up new batsman Jonny Bairstow and finding bounce and pace to keep Strauss watchful. Bairstow never looked comfortable against the short ball and it was no surprise when he fended another rapid one to mid-on off the leading edge to depart for just four. The young Yorkshireman had come into the Test team with a burgeoning reputation and glowing references from several sage judges, and England will hope these early frailties against short-pitched bowling can be eliminated by batting coach Graham Gooch. Darren Sammy had already enjoyed one of his better Tests after his maiden century in the first innings. It got even better before lunch when he bowled a cavalier Matt Prior via inside edge for 16 to leave England 336-6, still 34 in arrears, and after Strauss had crashed away a series of meaty drives, had his opposite number caught behind for 141. Once again England's tail came good. Bresnan cut and drove with relish - Broad by comparison was more watchful - and 53 precious runs were added for the eighth wicket. England's lead was up to 46 when Broad, on 25, top-edged a sweep from off-spinner Shane Shillingford to Sammy at slip. Although Swann and Anderson went soon after to Marlon Samuels, the West Indies capitulation began almost immediately. If the bowling was tight and aggressive, the shot selection was awful and the footwork poor. Powell aimed an expansive drive at one that he should have left to be bowled off the inside edge, Barath barely moved from his crease and Bravo for some reason threw away a referral on a lbw that was taking out middle stump. Ramdin was pinned in front by another unerring off-cutter from the rampant Bresnan, and Kirk Edwards - absent from the ground for much of the day with flu - lasted just two hapless balls before falling the same way. Bresnan will resume on Monday with 3-10 from six overs and Anderson 2-12 off seven, and it will take another near-miraculous partnership from first-innings centurions Samuels and Sammy to deny England the win that will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

French Open: Elena Baltacha falls to Sam Stosur in Paris

Elena Baltacha is out of the French Open after suffering a straight-sets defeat by US Open champion Samantha Stosur on day one at Roland Garros. "

The British number one fought well in the first set but was outclassed in the second, with sixth seed Stosur winning 6-4 6-0 in just over an hour. Baltacha, who made round two in 2011, was the first player eliminated. British hopes in the women's draw now rest with Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Keothavong faces Melinda Czink of Hungary, Watson takes on Elena Vesnina and Robson plays Anabel Medina Garrigues. But the campaign is over for Baltacha and the world number 68's ranking will drop ahead of the Olympic cut-off on 11 June. "To be honest, it was not the draw I wanted - she is one of the best players in the world on clay, it was a big ask," said the Scot. "She played very well. I managed to get back at 5-4. It would have been interesting to see if I had made it 5-5. "In the second set she went two levels up and that was it. She was too good. It was a good lesson for me today." Baltacha, who made round two in 2011, was the first player eliminated. British hopes in the women's draw now rest with Anne Keothavong, Heather Watson and Laura Robson. Keothavong faces Melinda Czink of Hungary, Watson takes on Elena Vesnina and Robson plays Anabel Medina Garrigues. But the campaign is over for Baltacha and the world number 68's ranking will drop ahead of the Olympic cut-off on 11 June. "To be honest, it was not the draw I wanted - she is one of the best players in the world on clay, it was a big ask," said the Scot. "She played very well. I managed to get back at 5-4. It would have been interesting to see if I had made it 5-5. "In the second set she went two levels up and that was it. She was too good. It was a good lesson for me today.

Jessica Ennis sets a new British heptathlon record in Gotzis win

Jessica Ennis set a new British heptathlon record as she won the Hypo event in Austria with 6,906 points. "

Her score beat the old British best of 6,831, set by former Olympic champion Denise Lewis in 2000. Russia's Tatyana Chernova, who last year took the world title previously held by Ennis, was 132 points behind in second, with Lyudmyla Yosypenko third. "I knew I was capable of doing it. It was just a case of putting it together on the day," said Ennis. "It's something that's been at the back of my mind and I wanted to achieve, but I didn't want to put too much pressure on it." It was Ennis's third successive win at the Gotzis event, her last heptathlon before the London Olympics. The 26-year-old from Sheffield had led by more than 200 points after a first day in which she set a new personal best of 22.88secs in the 200m and produced strong performances in the shot and 100m hurdles. She finished the first day with a score of 4,113 points, 33 better than her overnight total at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona, when she set her previous best of 6,823 points. Her second-day performance had cost her the world title in Daegu last year, but in Gotzis she began by equalling her personal best of 6.51m in the long jump. She then threw a new personal best of 47.11m in the javelin, improving her previous mark by 40cm. "I brought the long jump back and proved my javelin's in a better state. I'm over the moon," added Ennis. Her efforts left her needing to complete the final event, the 800m, in two minutes and 14 seconds in order to beat Lewis's mark. She led from the gun and, despite being passed by Chernova just short of the line, finished in 2mins 9secs to set the new mark and gain a psychological edge over her leading rivals in the run-up to the Olympics. Ennis said she believes losing at the World Championships helped her refocus on the heptathlon. "I've learned from those times," she commented. "I learned what I need to do in the long jump, what I needed to do in the javelin and I've been able to rectify those events. It's been a bit of a learning curve, which is good.

Heather Watson & Laura Robson win French Open qualifiers

British number three Heather Watson and world number 126 Laura Robson both advanced to the second round of French Open qualifying on Wednesday.

Watson's 6-1 6-2 win over Canada's Sharon Fichman sets up a meeting with Tunisia's Ons Jabeur on Thursday. Robson overcame Spanish opponent Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-2 7-6 (7-4). Jamie Baker lost 6-4 6-3 to Spain's Daniel Munoz-De La Nava in round two to follow James Ward, Josh Goodall and Naomi Broady in being knocked out. Guernsey's Watson, 20, is aiming to make the main draw at Roland Garros for the second successive year. In 2011 Watson beat Stephanie Foretz Gacon to become the first British woman to win a main draw match at Roland Garros since 1994. Ranked 109th in the world, Watson needs a strong performance in Paris to come into contention for Olympic qualification. Robson, meanwhile, is seeking to make the main draw at a fourth successive Grand Slam having been given a wildcard at Wimbledon and come through qualifying at both the US Open and the Australian Open. Broady, ranked 195 in the world, was beaten in the first round, going down 6-0 6-1 to Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan.

Two Saudi Olympic horsemen banned for eight months

Two members of Saudi Arabia's Olympic equestrian team have been banned from competing for eight months, and are now likely to miss the London Games. Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid and Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly were punished after their horses tested positive for prohibited medical substances. Mr Eid won bronze in Sydney in 2000, while Mr Sharbatly finished second at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. The two riders have until 22 June to appeal against the ban. It was announced on Wednesday by a three-member tribunal of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Their statement said Mr Eid's horse Vanhoeve tested positive for phenylbutazone during an event in Riyadh in December, while Mr Sharbatly's Lobster 43 was found to contain oxyphenbutazone during an event in the United Arab Emirates. It said Mr Eid had failed to prove that his horse was exposed to an allegedly contaminated stable environment. Mr Sharbatly, the FEI ruled, had failed to explain how the prohibited substance "entered the horse's system". Anti-inflammatory substances phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone are prohibited in competition, but are allowed for treatment use outside sporting events.

Olympics: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid to compete for 2020

Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid will compete to host the 2020 Olympics after Qatar's Doha and Azerbaijan's Baku were cut from the list on Wednesday. The shortlist was announced at the International Olympic Committee's executive meeting in Quebec City. Doha and Baku were rejected for a second time in a row after failing to make the final list for the 2016 Games. The remaining cities will now embark on a lobbying period with the winner named on 7 September 2014 in Buenos Aires. The 15-member executive board, headed by IOC president Jacques Rogge, chose the finalists after examining a technical evaluation report compiled by a panel of Olympic experts. Japan's Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964, while neither Istanbul in Turkey nor Spain's Madrid have held the Games. Madrid is bidding for a third consecutive time, Tokyo a second time in a row and Istanbul a fifth time overall. Doha, which was proposing to hold the 2020 Olympics in October rather than the usual July/August schedule to avoid the Gulf Arab state's searing summer heat, is already hosting the 2022 World Cup football tournament. "This is a great disappointment for the Doha team," said Noora Al Mannai, chief executive of Doha 2020. "With so many sports venues already in place and budgeted for, we felt that we offered the IOC great certainty and a low cost Games plan as well as an exciting legacy vision, especially around developing women's sport in the Middle East. "However for Doha, it will always be a question of when not if." Rome pulled out of the running in February because of the country's efforts to head off a debt crisis. London will host the 2012 Summer Games from 27 July - 12 August, while the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will stage the 2016 Olympics.

Steven Shingler tied to Wales not Scotland after losing IRB appeal

World rugby chiefs have ruled that Steven Shingler is ineligible to play for Scotland and his international future is tied to Wales. The International Rugby Board heard Shingler's appeal in Dublin on Tuesday. The London Irish fly-half had claimed he was not aware an appearance for Wales Under-20s had decided his international eligibility. "The council therefore determined that Steven Shingler is tied to Wales," said the IRB in a statement. Former Scarlet Shingler, 20, found himself at the centre of an eligibility row after he was named in Andy Robinson's Scotland squad for the 2012 Six Nations campaign. A few weeks later, Shingler's elder brother, Aaron, 24, made his debut at openside flanker in Wales' 27-13 win over Scotland in February. Wales objected to Steven Shingler's inclusion in Scotland's tournament squad because he had played for Wales Under-20s, the nation's designated "second team". An International Rugby Board panel had ruled that Shingler could play only for Wales and not for Scotland, having played for Wales Under-20s against France Under-20s in 2011. Shingler appealed against the decision and the IRB agreed at a special meeting to rule on the issue of what is a country's second team. The IRB released a statement that confirmed Shingler had lost his appeal, it read: "Under the regulations committee decision, Shingler was deemed to have been captured by Wales having represented the Wales Under-20s team against the France Under-20s team in a 2011 Six Nations fixture. "Both Wales and France had individually designated their under-20 teams as their next senior national representative teams. "In accordance with IRB Regulation 2, the IRB Council has the power to endorse or overturn the decision of the regulations committee. "Following the Scottish Rugby Union's appeal of the Shingler decision, the IRB Council considered and determined the matter during its annual meeting in Dublin. "Council, having considered all the facts and having heard submissions from the SRU and WRU legal representatives, dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the IRB Regulations Committee. "The council therefore determined that Steven Shingler is tied to Wales in accordance with IRB Regulation 8 and therefore is ineligible to represent another Union." Scotland coach Andy Robinson expressed his disappointment at the decision as the Scottish Rugby Union hinted that it had not yet given up the battle. "The Scottish Rugby Union have backed Steven and backed myself in the decision that we made and it's unfortunate that we lost the case," said the Englishman. "I really feel for the player, because he made what was probably a difficult decision at the time to choose to play for Scotland. "He believed he was qualified to do that and put all his eggs in that basket and it's been taken away from him. That's disappointing." Asked whether the SRU and Shingler will take the case further, Robinson replied: "That will be for Steven to now consider what he wants to do." The WRU has welcomed the IRB ruling, which ruled that it had complied fully with all regulations and acted properly when informing players of their eligibility for Wales. WRU head of rugby Joe Lydon was satisfied that the issue of Wales Under-20's now being Wales' second designated team had been cleared up. "It was vitally important that the WRU defended its stance over this issue," said Lydon. "It was certainly not just about the individual player concerned but a case of needing total clarity on the situation, both retrospectively and going forward. "The key factor for us was determining that we have acted properly, and continue to act properly as a governing body over this issue. "If we had left any doubt over this debate then many players, across many Unions, would have been left in a state of confusion over their international status. "The IRB ruling has now been confirmed and the WRU will continue to follow the operational policy we already have in place which ensures all players are fully informed of the IRB regulations and their status within them." An initial informal assessment by the IRB had determined that the player appeared to be tied to Wales but the SRU formally asked the IRB regulations committee to review the case. However, the panel also pointed out that the full IRB council had the right to overturn the decision and recommended that the issue of players being tied to countries while playing at Under-20 level should be reviewed.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal progress in Rome Masters

Third seed Roger Federer overcame physical aches and pains to beat Carlos Berlocq 6-3 6-4 to reach the third round of the Rome Masters. Spain's Rafael Nadal, seeded second, also progressed with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Germany's Florian Mayer. Top women's seed Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, beat Israeli Shahar Peer 6-1 6-2 but then withdrew from the tournament with a shoulder injury. British number one Andy Murray faces France's Richard Gasquet on Thursday. Their third-round match is third up on the Suppertennis Arena court, with the first match at 10:00 BST. Azarenka's withdrawal, with 10 days to go until the French Open, came as a surprise as she had shown no signs of the injury during her win over Peer. This tournament is the last major warm-up for the French Open. The Belarussian's decision to withdraw means her scheduled opponent, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, advances to the quarter-finals. Federer, winner of the Madrid Masters last weekend, only decided to play after completing his practice session on Wednesday morning. After setting up a clash with Juan Carlos Ferrero, the Swiss said: "I wanted to see how I felt and make sure that I didn't have anything major because we're ahead of a long summer. "If this was the last tournament of the season it would be no problem. But as this is the beginning of many tournaments in a row, potentially a lot of five-setters in a row, I need to make sure I make good decisions, so I go round-by-round. "I'm happy that I felt OK out there today." Seventh seed Tomas Berdych saw off Lukas Kubot 6-4 6-1 but Janko Tipsarevic, ranked eighth, was the biggest men's seed to fall after losing 6-3 6-1 to Stanislas Wawrinka. In the women's event, Venus Williams beat Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (9-7) 6-1, while her sister Serena saw off Nadia Petrova 4-6 6-2 6-3. But big seeds Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki both lost. Third seed Radwanska was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-1 by Petra Cetkovska , while sixth seed Wozniacki retired injured against Anabel Medina Garrigues who won 6-4 4-0. Serena Williams appeared to struggle with her back at times. "Everyone has aches and pains here and there and today I felt it a lot because I have been playing a lot and practising even more," she said. "Hopefully I'll be better by tomorrow."

Team GB: Which athletes have booked their London 2012 places?

With this summer's Olympic Games in London a matter of months away, Team GB is taking shape. To make it into the team an athlete has to be nominated to the British Olympic Association by their sport's governing body.

Below is the latest list of those who have been officially selected by the BOA and will definitely take up their places in London, as well as information on those battling to make the team.

Caroline Wozniacki & Petra Kvitova head Eastbourne field

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will head the field for the Aegon International. The event, held at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne, begins on 16 June. Tournament director Gavin Fletcher told BBC Sussex: "Our cut-off for the women's main draw is 46 in the world. We've got five players in the top 10. "It's very strong throughout. There's a strong men's draw as well which I'm very happy about." Marion Bartoli is set to defend her title and 2008 winner Agnieszka Radwanska, the world number three, will also return. France's Richard Gasquet is the top seed in the men's draw while one-time Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis will take part in the Sussex tournament for the first time in his career. Wildcard entries for Brit

ish players will be announced in the coming weeks.

Boost Olympic 2012 hopes Helen Jenkins wins San Diego title

World champion Helen Jenkins consolidated her position as favourite for Olympic gold by winning the San Diego World Triathlon Series on Friday. The Welsh athlete, 28, ran away from Australian Erin Densham in the closing 10km run after being part of an eight-woman breakaway on the 40km bike ride. "It was a good race, I had to work hard for that," Jenkins said. Jonny Brownlee is favourite for the men's race, which is live on the BBC Red Button at 22:30 BST on Saturday. "I really pushed the swim and we really worked hard on the bike and that was hard all the way," added Jenkins, who won silver behind Densham in the opening race of the series in Sydney. "I really enjoyed the run course. It was really cool. There was so many people out there supporting - it was awesome." Jenkins won in a time of one hour, 58 minutes, 21 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Densham. Vicky Holland was the next best-placed Briton in fifth, behind America's Laura Bennett and France's Jessica Harrison Liz Blatchford came home in 16th, with fellow British athletes Non Stanford (21) Lois Rosindale (30), Vanessa Raw (37) and Jodie Stimpson (45) further down the field. Jenkins and world number two Jonny Brownlee have already qualified for the Games. Brownlee's elder brother Alistair, who is the world number one, is recovering from an Achilles injury. British men Will Clarke and Tim Don are among those looking to meet the qualification criteria ahead of next month's Team GB announcement. "There is an opportunity this weekend for British athletes to demonstrate that they have the form to fight for medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games," said Malcolm Brown, British Triathlon Olympic performance manager. "The selection policy is focused on podium performances in the ITU World Triathlon Series, and the door is open to anyone who can achieve this standard." Jonny Brownlee will make his World Triathlon Series debut in Saturday's men's race, and the 22-year-old Yorkshireman said: "It will be an interesting race with some people aiming at Olympic selection. "For me it's about the build-up to the summer now, and a good result here will confirm that I'm on track."

We can still win the title, Patrice Evra says

United, second on goal difference, require either City to slip up at home to QPR or an improbable landslide win over Sunderland to edge back in front. "Maybe people will say I'm crazy, but I still believe," said Evra. "I know destiny is not in our hands. If we want to keep believing in the miracle, we have to beat Sunderland." Manchester City have collected 52 from a possible 54 points at Etihad Stadium this season, while QPR have lost 13 times on the road this season - more than any other side in the top flight. But, after United's 2-0 win over Swansea on Sunday, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told fans at Old Trafford this weekend could mark "the biggest celebration of our lives". He also suggested relegation-threatened Rangers, managed by former Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, would not lack motivation to ruin the leaders' party plans. Evra believes the dynamics of the season's final day - with all matches kicking off at 15:00 BST on Sunday - will allow Manchester United to heap extra pressure on their rivals. "If we score first, maybe the City fans in the stadium will start to be nervous," he added. "When you are nervous, you rush things and you don't do the things you want to do. That's why I still believe, but we must make sure we are ready against Sunderland." In their own game at home to QPR on 8 April, United won 2-0 to move eight points clear with six matches remaining. Evra believes United's late collapse in the 4-4 draw against Everton three weeks later, a game in which he headed against the post with his side leading 4-2, marked the point the title race tipped back in City's favour. "If you play for Manchester United, you have to accept the pressure," he said. "You have to win every year no matter what you do. People don't care, you have to win. "It's going to hurt a lot. If we see City celebrate, people will say it's the end of the Manchester United empire."

Hottest Female Athletes You Want To See In Olympics 2012

Sophie Horn

Caroline Wozniacki.

Natalie Coughlin.

Lolo Jones.

Jessica Ennis.

Melanie Adams.

Kelly Sotherton.

Eastbound & Doubt

Natasha Henstridge

Earning Her Doll-Hairs

Sunny Delight

GB hockey team face Olympic selection dilemma

GB women's hockey coach faces problems naming his Olympic squad following injuries to two key players at the London 2012 test event.


Crista Cullen and Alex Danson, both 26, were injured in GB's 2-1 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final.

Cullen's injury is not thought serious but Danson's may be longer-term.


"It puts a bit of a spanner in the works," said coach Danny Kerry. "I can't make final decisions until I know what the medical team says."

Kerry will select his 16-woman line-up for the Olympics, plus two reserves, from a squad of 28, with an announcement expected on 18 May, but the injuries hampered his ability to begin finalising his squad.

Defender Cullen, a set-piece specialist, turned her ankle in scoring her second goal against Argentina and required crutches after the game, while striker Danson came off the field in agony after clattering her left arm in a collision with a defender.

Britain's coach expressed concern at Argentina's approach to Sunday's game at the Olympic Park's Riverbank Arena, saying: "There was stuff going on out there.

"For those of you who play, watch and coach hockey a lot, you know exactly what's going on. I've probably already said too much."

Argentine players were involved in both incidents, although neither warranted any action from the on-field umpires.

Danson has a case history of shoulder injuries, including one the year before the Beijing 2008 Olympics, but later tweeted that she "will be
right as rain in no time".

"We'll have to wait for the medical team to assess them," said captain Kate Walsh.

"At Bisham Abbey, where we train, we have the Olympic medical institute so all the best rehab know-how in the world is on our doorstep.

"I'm sure they are going to be fine - there's still quite a bit of time. Alex, pre-Beijing, rolled her ankle in a warm-up game
and was back for the Games. They are both quick healers and two of the fittest players in the team."

Simon Mantell is also a casualty of the test event, missing two of the GB men's games after fracturing a bone in his foot during Thursday's group game against India.

Mantell was due for treatment on Monday and the team's coach, Jason Lee, said selection might be delayed while Mantell and longer-term absentee Matt Daly are given time to return to fitness.

"We haven't got a definitive date for selection at the moment because one player in particular, Matt Daly, has a long-term injury and no predicted date for his return," said Lee.

"Matt's played at every major tournament for the last seven years and has a goalscoring record of one in three. I think he deserved the opportunity to be selected.

"The selection date has been left open to see if there's an opportunity for him to get in, and the same applies to Simon Mantell as a consequence of his injury. We're aiming to do it by mid-June.

"Simon will be back in hockey by mid-July - that might be too late."

London 2012: Olympic Stadium is officially opened

A nine-year-old girl has officially opened the 2012 Olympics stadium, at a ceremony in east London.

Niamh Clarke-Willis joined Locog head Lord Coe to hit a button which launched balloons into the sky above the venue for this summer's Games.

Around 40,000 members of the public were at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford to witness the opening, which included a laser light show.

The "2,012 hours to go" event tested the park's management and security.

Lord Coe said: "It's a fantastic feeling. The seven years have just flown by. Tonight is only the start of the story.

"We want thousands of young people to be inspired to take up sport. We hope that for a few of them it will be the start of their journey.

"I'm grateful to everyone who came here tonight to celebrate this moment in history."

Spectators had to queue to enter the venue after airport-style security checks.

Simon Levy, who came to the Olympic Park for the first time on Saturday, said: "It's not a problem, really. It's much quicker than the airport and it's good to be checked because now we know we're safe."

Police helicopters flew over the park and armed police patrolled the area.

Adrian Casy, a security guard at the Olympic Stadium, said Saturday's events were among the main rehearsals for the games, particularly in moving and managing the crowds of spectators from the park and from one venue to another.

"Honestly, so far, so good, although we're still trying hard to make it run smoother," said Mr Casy, adding that some spectators were wearing "insufficient clothing" to cope with the weather conditions.

TV presenters Vernon Kay and Gabby Logan hosted the event which saw entertainment from impressionist Jon Culshaw, actor Hugh Bonneville, singer and former Spice Girl Melanie C, rapper Chipmunk and comedian Jack Whitehall.

Some 140,000 people are expected at the Olympic site over six days.

The celebrations are part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport Outdoor Athletics Championships and the Visa London Disability Grand Prix which are test events for the venue.

London 2012 hopefuls Perri Shakes-Drayton and Holly Bleasdale are competing at the BUCS event which runs from 4-7 May.

Later in the week, the Olympic Stadium will also play host to the Sainsbury's 2012 School Games, for 1,600 school-aged elite athletes.

Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both win in Madrid

Top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova are both through to the second round of the Madrid Open.

The world number one and last year's runner up Azarenka beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-4.

Second seed Sharapova crushed Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-2.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also m

ade it through, but only after being pushed all the way by Ksenia Pervak . She eventually prevailed 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-4.

Another ex-world number one, Ana Ivanovic beat French qualifier Mathilde Johansson 6-4 6-1.

Of the other players fancied to do well on the new blue clay surface, the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone crashed out 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 to American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko .

The courts have been attracting almost as much attention as the players.

Speaking before the tournament Wozniacki said: "Blue is my favourite colour, this makes things a bit different.

"The court seems a bit faster than when it was (traditional) red.

"Adding the Madrid altitude (650 metres above sea level) makes it even faster. But we will only know who handled it best when the tournament is over."

Defending champion Petra Kvitova added: "I haven't practised on them enough yet to say, but I think they are something new for us."In my opinion they look very nice, very cool.

"I like the colour, so I'm looking forward to playing on them."

Both Venus and Serena Williams are in action on Monday with ninth-seed Serena taking on Russia's Elena Vesnina while Venus, who is on a wildcard, takes on Angelique Kerber of Germany in the second round.