Olympics: Usain Bolt preparing for 200m race

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Usain Bolt is aiming for an unprecedented Olympic sprint double double when he runs in the 200m race.

The Jamaican won the 100m and 200m races at the Beijing Games and is aiming for a repeat at London 2012.

Elsewhere Team GB will aim to add to their haul of 22 golds, 13 silvers and 13 bronzes later.

And London Underground cleaners are launching a 48-hour strike and are picketing stations including Stratford after not getting an Olympics bonus.

Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union employed by private contractors walked out at 05:30 BST.

General secretary Bob Crow said London transport cleaners were "on minimum pay rates doing some of the dirtiest jobs in often appalling conditions with no Olympics recognition and reward whatsoever".

But London Underground's Phil Hufton said the dispute was between private contractor Initial and its staff.

He said contingencies were in place and that London Underground anticipated "no impact" on services as a result of the strike.

On a day that was devoid of British medals, Wednesday was dominated by a row over sport provision in schools.

Prime Minister David Cameron called for a more "competitive ethos" if Britain was to capitalise on Team GB's Olympic wins while teachers said he was "shifting blame" for problems caused by cuts.

Former Labour Olympics Minister, Dame Tessa Jowell, who helped secure the London Games, said political parties should combine their efforts to help children take up sport in future, following on from Team GB's success.

She said: "What we now want to do is to offer the opportunity of all-party commitment to building a 10-year plan for sport that involves not just government and local government, but also brings in the army of volunteers, five million volunteers who support sport, the governing bodies, potential sponsors."

Politicians, she added, should "work together above politics in order to make sure we deliver that legacy to inspire a generation".

In other developments:

<ul> <li> The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) said the two millionth ticketed spectator passed through the Olympic Park since the beginning of the Games </li> <li> The hospitality centre for African nations competing in the Olympics<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19190778" > has closed because of unpaid debts.</a> Africa Village, set up in Kensington Gardens, west London, owes suppliers hundreds of thousands of pounds, a spokesman said</li> <li> Britain's Rachel Cawthorn finishes sixth in the kayak single 500m final</li> <li> Team GB's Jade Jones and Martin Stamper make it through to the taekwondo quarter-finals </li> </ul>

Day 13 of the Games also sees the resumption of the battle at the top of the medals table between China and the US.

China is in the lead with 36 gold medals, and 77 overall, while the US is in second place with 34 golds and 81 medals overall.

Usain Bolt won the 100m race on Sunday, and runs in the 200m at 20:55 BST on Thursday.

On Thursday, British open water swimmer Keri-Anne Payne starts the women's 10km marathon as the favourite.

In the first ever Olympic women's boxing final, flyweight Nicola Adams takes on China's Ren Cancan after defeating India's five-time world champion Mary Kom on Wednesday.

Sailors Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, meanwhile, are guaranteed at least silver in the 470 class medal race.

And in the individual dressage, Charlotte Dujardin is expected to be in the mix for a medal as she competes against her colleagues from Tuesday's gold-winning team performance, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Carl Hester.

Meanwhile, about 700 New Zealanders and their guests were evacuated from an Olympics party at Kiwi House, near King's Cross in central London, on Wednesday night after a gas canister being used for a barbecue exploded.

Two fire engines and 10 firefighters put out the flames while one person suffered minor injuries.

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