Yelena Isinbayeva /Yonhap

Track and field events, which provide the most medals in the Olympics, will finally start on Friday and last for 10 days, starting with the men's shot put.

There are 47 gold medals available in track and field, one sixth of the total of 302 at the London Olympics and 13 more than swimming. Some 2,000 athletes will compete in the events, including sprinter Usain Bolt and many other star athletes.

China's Liu Xiang aims to win his second Olympic gold in the men's 110 m huddle, with the final held at 5:15 a.m. on Aug. 8. Two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia is eying her third Olympic gold in the women's pole vault. She has said that she will retire after the 2013 Moscow World Championships.

Some 17 Korean athletes will participate in track and field. The country's best hope for a medal is Kim Hyun-sub, who will compete in the men's 20 km race walk (shown here at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday). Kim was named the prospect for a bronze medal in the July issue of U.S. sports magazine Track and Field News.

Three Korean runners including Jeong Jin-hyuk will participate in the men's marathon, which forms the grand finale of the Olympics at 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 12.