China prove popular in Olympic medals betting

Hosts China are being well supported in Olympic medals betting to emerge as the top nation in Beijing.

China earned 39 fewer than the USA in Athens four years ago, but many expect home advantage to make all the difference.

The dark horses in the Olympics medals betting could be Russia. Their Olympics 2008 odds are worth noting as they won 27 gold in Athens, only five behind the Chinese.

One gold Russia will be confident of earning is from the women's rhythmic gymnastics team event, where in Athens Alina Kabaeva and Irina Tchachina rewarded an Olympics sports bet with a one-two finish.

But this time around they could come under threat in the Olympics medal betting from in the Ukraine as Anna Bessonova - a bronze medallist four years ago - won the world all-around title last year. Italy and Belarus will also fancy their chances of upsetting the Olympics 2008 odds.

Olympics 2008 odds point to China in table tennis

Of all the events China expects to win on home soil, the men's table tennis looks like the surest Olympics sports bet. They are fancied to achieve a clean sweep in the Olympic medals betting, through Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin.

Four years ago South Korea's Seung Min Ryu upset the odds to take gold, but the man he beat in the final, Wang Hao, will be out to confirm his no.1 status in the world and looks a value Olympic sports bet.

China's women's volleyball team are defending champions and will be another popular Olympic sports bet. But Brazil's Olympics 2008 odds could see them start favourite in both the men's and women's competition.

Tennis a popular Olympic sports bet

Rafael Nadal, the heir apparent to Roger Federer's world no.1 tennis crown, should start favourite in the Olympics sports bet market for the men's singles. Federer's Olympic 2008 odds will have eased recently but the Swiss ace came close to winning his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title in the epic final against Nadal in June and could still be worth an Olympics sports bet.

There will also be plenty of support in Olympics 2008 odds for Britain's Andy Murray on the back of two strong showings in recent tournaments.