Gymnastics: Jordyn Wieber Qulification in Olympic 2012

Jordyn Wieber of the U.S. competes in the balance beam during the women's gymnastics qualification in the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games

Maria Sharapova win the England Lawn Tennis Club

Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates after winning her women's singles tennis match against Israel's Shahar Peer at the All England Lawn Tennis Club during the London 2012 Olympics Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Celebrate Women's Volleyball Preliminary Match

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin of Great Britain celebrate during the Women's Beach Volleyball Preliminary match between Great Britain and Canada on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Horse Guards

Olympic opening ceremony

London Olympic spectacle kicks off

The eagerly awaited opening ceremony to the Olympic games kicked off on Friday with a mass countdown and the chime of a giant bell, ushering in an eccentric and exuberant celebration of British history, art and culture.

Heather Watson earns first-round win at Stanford

Heather Watson backed up her run to the Wimbledon third round by reaching round two at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, United States.

The 20-year-old, up to a career-high ranking of 79, beat world number 49 Sloane Stephens of the United States 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-1.

Watson was broken three times in the first set and twice in the second, but recovered to take the third with ease.

She will now face Belgian fifth seed Yanina Wickmayer.

Watson was beaten at Wimbledon 6-0 6-2 by eventual women's singles finalist Agnieszka Radwanska but became the first British woman to reach the third round for 10 years. (BBC)

Netherlands and Russia qualify for beach volleyball

The Netherlands and Russia have taken the final two Olympic women's beach volleyball places after wining through a qualification tournament in Moscow.

Russia beat China in both matches at the Vodny Stadium to secure their place in the 24-team event, while Netherlands also defeated Italy two games to nil.

The men's and women's finals will be played in a temporary stadium at the Horse Guards Parade in central London.

Austria and Russia earned the final two men's places.

Team GB qualified as hosts for the event, which starts on 28 July.

Netherlands's Madelein Meppelink and Sophie van Gestel won their match against Italy's Daniela Gioria and Giulia Momoli 13-21, 21-14, 15-10.

The Dutch pair of Rimke Braakman and Michelle Stiekema made it a double win over the Italians with a 21-19, 21-19 victory against Laura Giombini and Viktoria Orsi Toth.

In the other play-off, Russia's first win over China was secured when Anastasia Vasina and Anna Vozakova beat Yuanyuan Ma and Changning Zhang 17-21, 21-16 and 15-10.

The second came with Maria Bratkova and Svetlana Popova's 21-18, 17-21, 15-11 victory against Fan Wang and Yuan Yue.

In the men's event, the Austrians defeated Mexico to complete an unblemished 6-0 record in the Moscow tournament, while the hosts beat Poland 2-0 for their fifth victory from six matches.(BBC)

Sharapova & Clijsters says goodbye to wimbledon

Top seed Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters were knocked out of Wimbledon in straight sets in the fourth round.

Sharapova had been bidding to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2002 to win the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year.

But the Russian world number one was beaten 6-4 6-3 by German 15th seed Sabine Lisicki on a chilly Court One.

Clijsters, due to retire after the US Open later this year, lost 6-1 6-1 to German eighth seed Angelique Kerber.

Lisicki, 22, secured victory with her third match point, an ace on her second serve, and will face her compatriot Kerber in the quarter-finals.

Lisicki broke Sharapova's serve three times in the first set and, following a rain delay, once early in the second to clinch victory by the same score she lost to the Russian in last year's semi-finals.

"It's unbelievable. I've beaten Maria Sharapova for the first time," Lisicki told BBC Sport. "I just went for my shots from the first point on.

"She is a fighter but I am a fighter too. I fought to the last point. The last game was tough but I fought it out.

"I'm getting better with each match. This is my favourite tournament. I love it here."

The Russian completed a career Grand Slam by winning at Roland Garros last month, but will lose her number one ranking to either Victoria Azarenka or Agnieszka Radwanska when the new list comes out on Monday.

Sharapova said: "She [Lisicki] did many things better than I did and you have to hand it to her. She played very well. I could have done things differently but not on this particular day."

Clijsters , who has won four Grand Slams but never reached a Wimbledon final, struggled to get her serve into gear and committed a string of unforced errors.

The Belgian survived two match points at 5-0 down in the second set but Eastbourne finalist Kerber soon served out for a comprehensive victory.

Clijsters, who made her Wimbledon debut as a 16-year-old and was a semi-finalist in 2003 and 2006, said the fact it was her last match at the Championships had not entered her thoughts.

"I just had the feeling that there was absolutely nothing I could have done to have won that match," said the former world number one.

"My opponent was better on every level. That was all I was thinking about."

The 29-year-old will play in the Olympics at Wimbledon and then the US Open before retiring for the second and final time, having previously taken two years out to start a family.

"I know that every time I've played here I've given my best, and that's the only thing that I can do," she added.

"I'll never say that I didn't work hard enough or I didn't practise hard enough. I don't think I'll feel sorry about anything when I leave."

In the two other matches in this half of the draw, Polish third seed Radwanska beat Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-3 and will face 17th seed Maria Kirilenko in the quarter-finals.

Russia's Kirilenko broke twice in the final set to win 6-1 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes against China's Shuai Peng. (BBC)

Great Victory of Spain in Euro Football 2012

Coach Vicente del Bosque has hailed Spain's "great generation of footballers" after their historic win over Italy in the final of Euro 2012.

La Roja's 4-0 victory in Kiev made them the first team to win three successive major international tournaments.

"We're talking about a great generation of footballers," said Del Bosque.

"They know how to play together because they come from a country where they learn to play properly. This is a great era for Spanish football."

The 61-year-old added: "We have some great lads who play abroad, which was impossible before. We didn't really have players abroad and now foreign clubs want our players.

"To win three titles is almost impossible. Congratulations to the players.

"It's true we were lucky enough to play a great match. Everything worked for us. It was an extraordinary performance against a difficult opponent.

"We played our own game. There were no real external influences - we were faithful to what we've done in recent years.

"I didn't really want to be the coach who wins but the coach who educates. I want to keep preparing them for the future."

Spain were at their scintillating best as goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres - who became the first player to score in two Euros finals - and Juan Mata helped them overpower the Italians by the biggest winning margin in a Euros final. They also retained the crown they first won in Vienna four years ago.

Between these two, La Roja have also claimed their first World title in South Africa and have now constructed a compelling case to be classed as the best team in history.

Sunday's victory was also the perfect riposte to the critics who have suggested that Spain have abandoned attacking principles and are not entertaining to watch.

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas told BBC Sport: "It feels really, really amazing. It's one of the best days of my life.

"I don't think we realise what we've done. In time we'll see. Are we boring? People who think we are boring, I don't think they understand the game."

Spain captain Iker Casillas, for whom Sunday's win was his 100th from 137 caps said: "There will always be some criticism as we have set the bar so high. That's what happens when you come down a step. It's been four marvellous years.

"You might think that a 4-0 margin against Italy means it was easy - but we have been gradually stepping up as the tournament went along.

"We did a really good job in defence, but not only defence. We know we have a lot of quality up front. If you can have a clean sheet then it's easier to score.

"It was really important for Fernando [Torres]. I know he hasn't had his best season. He had some problems and then didn't play for Chelsea. He scored against Ireland and then he scored again in the final.

"Are we the best ever? I don't know. I think we have to keep winning and win more trophies. When we're retired in 10 or 15 years then may be we can look back and say we were really good."

Andres Iniesta was named man of the match and is one of four players - along with Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xavi - to have started all three final triumphs.

"It's very nice to have this man-of-the-match trophy but it's especially great to be champions again," the Barcelona midfielder said.

"The team played a great match and all the players were at their top level."

Centre-back Gerard Pique added: "It's a really special feeling. I think we have to enjoy this moment. This team is making history but we have to keep going and keep working hard.

"There is a World Cup in two years. We're going to enjoy this moment and then keep going." (BBC)