Beijing 2008 - Idiots' Guide to the Olympics: part 1

With the Beijing Games just days away, impress your mates with your knowledge via our idiots' guide to the Olympics. Click on the links under the photo for parts two and three.

We have listed a brief overview of all the sports below and for more information - but not too much - click on the respective links under the picture.

ARCHERY

There are both individual and team events in which archers battle in a seeded knockout tournament, firing arrows at a target from 70 metres.

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

Both men and women compete in gymnastics, although each discipline differs greatly with individual and team medals also competed for.

ATHLETICS

There are 47 different athletics events at the Olympics, 24 for men and 23 for women. There is no 50km road walk for women, who also compete in the heptathlon rather than the decathlon, but otherwise the men's and women's events mirror each other.

BADMINTON

There are five Olympic tournaments in the world's fastest racquet sport: men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. All are straight elimination events.

BASEBALL

Two teams take turns batting and fielding and the object is to score the most runs in nine innings. Baseball will disappear from the Olympics in 2012.

BASKETBALL

Each game consists of four periods of 10 minutes with five minutes overtime allowed if a match is tied. Olympic basketball gold medals have ended up in American hands more often than not.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The beach variety of volleyball takes place on a smaller court than the indoor game with teams of two players.

BOXING

There are 11 weight categories contested in Olympic boxing - from light-flyweight (under 48kg) to super heavyweight (over 91kg). Only amateur boxers between the ages of 17 and 34 are allowed to enter.

CANOE/KAYAK FLATWATER

Men race in both canoes and kayaks, while women compete only in the kayaks. Flatwater canoe and kayak racing was first seen at the Olympics with a demonstration competition in 1924, before it gained full medal status in 1936.

CANOE/KAYAK SLALOM

Slalom events see competitors go against the clock down twisty sections of the river, suffering time penalties if they strike obstacles in their path.

CYCLING

Men and women compete in all forms of cycling at the Olympics, although a handful of track events are only open to men. Road races take place in two forms - straight races and time trials.