London 2012 Olympics: Day 2

Follow all the latest action, news and events from The Olympics including the thoughts from The Independent's journalists, the latest pictures and what the world is saying about The Games

Apart from the lack of medals for Team GB, yesterday's real talking point was the empty seats at several venues. Read about the investigation being launched here... www.independent.co.uk

And if pessimism is what you're after, then read about the possibility of heavy rain and hailstones... www.independent.co.uk

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:15:34 AM
Today is also the start of the Sailing competition, with three-time gold medal winner Ben Ainslie in action in the Finn class, as well as defending Star class champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:22:29 AM
Badminton: Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier's future in the mixed doubles is delicately balanced. Needing a win to stay in the competition, they are currently one set all against Germany's pair.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:27:58 AM
Who will chair empty seats inquiry? Is Hazel Irvine really Alan Partridge? Is Boris behaving at Cabinet? Read Matt Chorley's light-hearted take on the Olympics so far... www.independent.co.uk

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:35:04 AM
Just under 20 minutes to go until Great Britain's women take on Russia in the Archery at Lord's. The match will pit Naomi Folkard against her arch rival Ksenia Perova, who beat her to the World Championship title in May and their five previous encounters.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:39:20 AM
Meanwhile Team GB's men are in action in the Volleyball at Earl's Court where they trail Bulgaria 12-17.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:49:19 AM
Badminton: Unfortunately for Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier, their Olympic dream is over after losing 11-21 21-17 21-14 to Germany's Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:52:06 AM
Group A rivals, Argentina and Iceland lock horns in the Copperbox earlier this morning

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 8:55:41 AM
Archery: At the halfway stage, Team GB's women narrowly lead Russia by two points.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:01:01 AM
Volleyball: However things not looking so good at Earl's Court, where Great Britain's men have lost the first set 25-18 against Bulgaria who are ranked ninth in the world.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:05:24 AM
Archery: With three arrows remaining, Team GB's women need 30 to stay in the competition. Things not looking good unfortunately

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:09:05 AM
Archery: Russia beat Team GB 215-208 to progress to a next round clash against Chinese Taipei.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:10:49 AM
It's not all Armitstead or Cooke: Emma Pooley is a very potent Plan C today

by Andymcgra via twitter 7/29/2012 9:16:20 AM
Swimming: It's all kicking off in the Women's 100m backstroke, where Australia's Emily Seebohm has set a new Olympic record of 58.23 seconds.
Britain's Gemma Spofforth came fourth in her heat with a time of 60.05 and will have to wait to see if she is in the fastest 16 who qualify for the semi-final.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:20:02 AM
Equestrian: Zara Phillips is getting her Olympic career underway at Greenwich Park, where she is being watched by the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Mike Tindall amongst others.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:28:50 AM
Volleyball: Team GB looking in trouble against Bulgaria at Earl's Court, trailing two set to love. However they have started the third set positively and lead 5-4.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:33:21 AM
by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:36:59 AM
Swimming: Gemma Spofforth's nervous wait is over, she has qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke. Georgia Davies, who actually swam faster in her heat, will join her back in the pool at 19:50.

Meanwhile Britain's Robbie Renwick came second in his 200m freestyle heat with a time that should be fast enough to take him into the semi-finals.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:42:31 AM
Rowing: Sophie Hosking and Kat Copland are into the semi-final of the lightweight women's double sculls after winning their heat.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:50:14 AM
G4S man hand searched my bag this morning at media entrance. Thorough but took ages. Revenge for all the mean stories? #indyolympics

by cahalmilmo via twitter 7/29/2012 9:50:37 AM
Contrasting headgear for Princess Anne and Prince Phillip as they watch Zara's Olympic debut

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 9:54:45 AM
Meanwhile in the Volleyball, despite a valiant effort in the third set, Britain have lost to Bulgaria in straight sets. (18-25 20-25 24-26)

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:01:28 AM
Confused about how any of the events work? Then check out our interactive graphics... www.independent.co.uk

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:06:53 AM
Following yesterday's reports protesting cyclists being arrested on Friday night, the police have released the following statement... content.met.police.uk

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:10:47 AM
Basketball: Brazil and Australia's group game is just getting underway at the Basketball Arena. Earlier this morning, Tunisia, making their Olympic debut narrowly lost 60-56 to Nigeria.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:19:21 AM
This is how journos get around the Olympic Park, on special red London buses. Now heading to aquatics #indyolympics t.co

by Jerome Taylor via twitter 7/29/2012 10:19:42 AM
Rowing: Defending champions Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter have just started their heat in the lightweight men's double sculls at Eton Dorney. The British pair are currently leading by just over a second at the 500m mark.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:22:13 AM
Swimming: Liam Tancock has qualified eighth-fastest for the men's 100m backstroke semi-finals, with a time of 53.86. USA's Matt Grevers was fastest with a time of 52.92.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:24:22 AM
Rowing: Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter still lead after three-quarters of their race but they are coming under pressure from New Zealand and Australia.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:25:44 AM
Rowing: Britain is through to the semi-finals of the lightweight double sculls, Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter rowing fantastically to hold off New Zealand in second.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:27:21 AM
Swimming: Rebecca Adlington about to get into the water for the first time these games, her 400m freestyle heat is about to get underway.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:31:24 AM
Lots to improve on for tonight. Got a lane and living in the moment. Thanks so much to everyone for their support- means the world :)

by GemmaSpofforth via twitter 7/29/2012 10:36:40 AM
Swimming: Rebecca Adlington is off in her heat and going brilliantly, leading by a body length after 100m.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:39:12 AM
Swimming: A hugely convincing win for Rebecca Adlington in her heat who led the whole way and is looking good for tonight's final. Fellow Briton Jo Jackson finished seventh.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:42:17 AM
North Korea's Yun Chol Om breaks the Olympic Record in the Mens 56kg clean and jerk weightlifting

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:49:46 AM
Lizzie Armistead pre-race. Can she deliver Britain's first medal of the Games? t.co

by danroan via twitter 7/29/2012 10:53:53 AM
To the basketball today, which not unreasonably takes place in the basketball arena before less predictably moving to the O2 - sorry, no branding, the North Greenwich arena for finals later on. The US are favourites in the men's tournament although Spain, who lost to them in the final four years ago, obviously produce some taller sportsmen than their football team. Those two each play this afternoon, in different groups. GB are rare contestants, appearing for the first time since the last London Games when they take on Russia tonight.

by S.Tongue via email edited by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 10:57:49 AM
Cycling: The riders are at the start line on the Mall in the women's road race with Britain's Nicole Cooke and Lizzie Armitstead, as well as Emma Pooley, hoping to beat Dutch favourite Marianne Vos.

And they're off...

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:00:06 AM
Sailing: Ben Ainslie's quest for a third successive gold medal, equalling the feat of Danish sailor Paul Elvstrom who did so in 952, 1956 and 1960, is now up and running. His first Finn race has begun.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:04:12 AM
At Olympic Park where man is cutting grass in the rain. Very British. #indyolympics

by stevetongue via twitter 7/29/2012 11:06:03 AM
Shooting: The first medal of Day 2 has been won by Guo Wenjun of China in the Women's 10m Air Pistol. France's Celine Goberville took silver and Olena Kostevych of Ukraine got the bronze.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:15:48 AM
The unusual sight of archery at Lord's during the women's team event

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:21:44 AM
Is Ben Ainslie really "Britain's most successful sailor"? Admiral Nelson just edges it for me.

by tompeck via twitter edited by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:25:16 AM
Flags in the #athletesvillage — Olympics (@Olympics) July 29, 2012

by Charles Reynolds via Instagr.am 7/29/2012 11:26:37 AM
The traditional sight of umbrellas on Centre Court at Wimbledon. With the roof going on to keep the rain out, Julia Goerges and Agnieszka Radwanska’s match became the first ever Olympic indoor tennis match to be played on a grasscourt.

by Charles Reynolds 7/29/2012 11:39:44 AM