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London 2012

Olympic Breakfast: Are you ready for the boards?

What to see and what to skip? When are the Irish in action? Here’s our guide to all the action on day six in London.

EVERY MORNING, WE bring you all of the info you need to make sure you don’t miss a second of Olympic gold.

Cynics and fools will tell you that the Olympics doesn’t really begin until tomorrow when the track and field events start but that’s just silly, sports fans. There’s plenty to enjoy today including our first step inside the velodrome for some track cycling and the eagerly-anticipated final of the women’s individual all-around gymnastics.

It’s a bumper day for Team Ireland as well with 12 of our Olympians in action across this morning and afternoon.

Here’s what day six holds in store.

Top of the bill

Velodrome It may not be as visceral or punishing as the road race events but track cycling is a compelling watch, especially if you’ve flicked over to the BBC and they reckon they’re in with a chance of a medal. The first medals will be handed out in both the men’s and women’s team sprint today so you can expect to hear plenty of chatter about names like Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. The action gets underway from 4pm.

East v West There’s nothing quite like a good ol’ Cold War re-enactment through the medium of gymnastics so we’ll be settling down with a bucket of popcorn to watch the final of the w0men’s individual all-around from 4.30pm. Will Russia’s Victoria Komova take home the gold or will we hear the Star Spangled Banner played for either Gabrielle Douglas or Alexandra Raiman? Can’t. Wait.

Kings of the ring Ireland’s boxers have four wins from four so far and Darren O’Neill will have a chance to add another notch when he steps into the ring against Germany’s Stefan Hartel. The middleweight last 16 bout gets underway at 2.45pm.

Phelps v Lochte (Pt 72) Michael Phelps is already the most decorated Olympian of all-time but that doesn’t mean he won’t want to put Ryan Lochte back in his box when he defends his 200 individual medley gold tonight. The final starts at 8.41pm.

Who’s flying the flag?

Rowing: Sanita Puspure can’t win a medal any more but she’ll still be looking for the best possible finish in the women’s single sculls. The Latvian-born rower goes in the first of the C/D semi-finals at 9.30am.

Swimming: There hasn’t been much Irish interest in the pool over the last few days but that’s about to change. Barry Murphy will be hoping to put his 100m breaststroke disappointment behind him when he goes in heat two of 50m freestyle from 10am. Melanie Nocher’s main event, the 200m backstroke, also kicks off this morning with the heats beginning at 11.31am.

Equestrian: Anna Merveldt begins her Olympics today as the dressage competition gets underway with the Grand Prix in Greenwich Park. Merveldt and Coryolano are first up in the third section today at 1.25pm.

Sailing: Today is a rest day for Annalise Murphy and James Espey but the rest of the Irish boats will be in action in Weymouth. Scott Flanigan and Ger Owens start their men’s 470 challenge with the first two of 10 races at 12pm and 1.30pm. Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern race in the 49er class at 12pm and 12.45pm, while Peter O’Leary and David Burrows in the star class are up at 12.05pm and 1.20pm.

Canoeing: After yesterday’s disappointment for Eoin Rheinisch, Hannah Craig flies the Irish flag in the semi-finals of the women’s K1 kayak. The action in Lee Valley gets underway at 2.12pm with the top 10 boats qualifying for the final at 3.57pm.

Boxing: Darren O’Neill can take a big step towards an Olympic medal when he takes on Stefan Hartel of Germany in the last 16 of the men’s middleweight division. O’Neill is in the ring at 2.45pm.

Do not miss…

Cycling (Track)

Men’s team sprint — Germany, France, Great Britain — 4.15pm qualifying, 6.15pm finals

Table tennis

Men’s singles — Zhang/Ovtcharov v Chuang/Wang — 3.30pm final

Gymnastics

Women’s individual all-around — Victoria Komova, Gabrielle Douglas, Aliya Mustafina — 4.30pm finals

Swimming

Men’s 200m individual medley — Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Laszlo Cseh — 8.41pm final

Basketball

Men’s preliminary round — USA v Nigeria — 10.15pm

What are you looking forward to on day six? What have we missed? Let us know in the comments >

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