1 Men's 100 metres - The blue riband event of the track. Ego, energy, animosity and testosterone, all of it at elevated levels. The title of the fastest man at the Games, or, as the Americans prefer, fastest man on the planet, is a fraught affair.

Prepare for false starts, a la Linford Christie in Atlanta when he was chucked out for going twice before the gun.

Maurice Greene (above), Ato Boldon and the rest of the field will bare-faced say that they will win. That's the sort of hype that gets them going on the B of the Bang.

Final: Sept 23rd, 10.20 a.m. (Irish time).

2 Men's 1,500 metres - The great Sebastion Coe went to the Crystal Palace meeting a few weeks ago and watched in awe as Hicham El Guerrouj (above) cruised past the three-quarter mile mark in three minutes 45 seconds, two seconds faster than the former Olympic champion could ever manage.

According to Coe, the Morrocan was hardly breathing. In reality, there is no one to touch El Guerrouj, but, having fallen in Atlanta, anxiety will play its part. They say he has been touched by god with his talent. A world record is a strong possibility. [SBX]

Final - Sept 29th, 10.00 a.m..

3 Heavyweight boxing final - The outraged Cubans withdrew from the last World Championships in Houston when officials began to blatantly fix the fights, with the Cuban team bearing the brunt of their cheating.

Fidel Castro sent a message to withdraw and they did so overnight rather than be deprived unfairly of any more bum decisions.

The heavyweight final was between best amateur boxer in the world and twice Olympic champion Felix Savon (above) and former American convict Michael Bennet. Savon walked and Bennet took gold. The Olympics is payback time.

Final: Sept 30th, 5.05 a.m..

4 Men's 100m freestyle - To the untrained eye, the two-metre Aleksandr Popov (above) moves more slowly than any other swimmers in his event.

It is an illusion. His long fluid stroke in the 50-metre and 100-metre freestyle events have taken him to seven European gold medals, three world championship wins and four Olympic gold medals.

He has never been beaten in the Olympics and has dominated the 100 and 200-metre freestyle distances. Almost fatally stabbed in a street brawl in Moscow in 1996, it is the "Big Dog's" last games.

Watch his style and die.

Final Sept 20th, 9.00 a.m..

5 Women's Gymnastics (individual) - Not since Olga Korbut's elfin charm in Munich 1972 and Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 in 1976 has gymnastics had such an impact.

The fact is that it remains one of the most watched events in the Olympics. There is always another Korbut on the horizon who has a sparrow's frame, is cheeky, balletic and magical to watch. She will also be innocent, callow and young, and tossed into the most pressurised situation imaginable. She will cry and pout and incorrigibly bounce like a rubber ball. In At;lanta it was the turn of American Kelly Strug (above).

Interested?

Final: Sept 21st, 9.00 a.m. - 11.55 a.m..

6 Men's 400 metres - The golden shoes in Atlanta, a reluctance to give interviews unless accompanied by a substantial fee, and a taciturn character all add up to something in an Olympic final.

The neutral can't help but dislike the world record holder Michael Johnson (above), but the athlete is irresistible and his ability to smash records on cue is already proven. His plan is to become the first successful defender of the 400 metres. Three things can happen to make the headlines over the 200 metres, all of them things Johnson has already accomplished. He can lose, pull-up injured or run another world record.

Keep your eyes on the clock.

Final Sept 25th, 10.30 a.m..

7 Men's 400 metres freestyle - Bursting on to the international scene at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, a then 15-year-old called Ian Thorpe (above) stunned the swimming world by taking the individual gold medal, becoming the youngest world champion in history.

The "boy wonder" has continued to break records in the 200-metre and 400-metre freestyle events and should do so again in Sydney, all before his 18th birthday.

Size 16 feet and a "what's the fuss about?" attitude gives the Australian the highest profile in swimming. He's given blood for a post-Olympic drugs test. A radical, too.

Final Sept 16th, 9.00 a.m..

8 Triathlon (above) - There is a certain empathy with people who swim, cycle and then run in one event. The event has a childish simplicity. A 1,500-metre swim followed by a 40km ride and finally a 10km run presents itself for the first time this year.

Forget the worthiness of events, they are in the programme because people, primarily in America, like to watch them on television.

Every muscle group in the body is tortured, athletes dehydrate and, worst of all, their thighs are chaffed.

Women: Sept 16th, 12.00 a.m. - 3.00 a.m; Men: Sept 17th, 12.00 a.m. - 3.00 a.m..

9 Women's 5,000 metres - Sonia O'Sullivan has always led the nation by the nose. Her ups and downs and ups play us along like a tune. O'Sullivan still craves the Olympic gold medal she deserves, but no one knows what shape she is really in, perhaps not even herself, until she steps on to the track.

That's what draws us to the Cork woman. The talent, the ability and still we don't have a clue what to expect.

Final Sept 25th, 10.55 a.m..

10 Coxless four (heavyweight) - Steve Redgrave (above) is a diabetic who gave up rowing after his fourth gold medal in Atlanta. He is back again. He is an addict to glory and to competition.

He is not a warm man, but he is driven to win and he has made big sacrifices in his family life for the challenge and the thrill.

Unconditionally one of the best athletes of recent times, Redgrave is looking for an unprecedented fifth gold medal.

Final: Sept 23rd, 10.30 p.m. - 2.30 a.m.