Ah, no sooner do I type that, does the gun go in the first of the four heats. The long jump took place earlier this evening, with Belarussian Andrei Krauchanka leading the way overall. Britain's Ashley Bryant, bronze-medal winner in Glasgow, is down in 20th place ahead of the final event of the day.

This is curious. The decathlon 400m should have begun at 18:42, but is so far delayed. No word as to why. Not one of the four heats has been run, which means that the women's 10,000m will face a delay too.

The lights are on as darkness begins to close in. There are 12 men going in the shot put final, led by German favourite David Storl. A world champion, he is low-profile back at home, going unrecognised as he worked as police officer in a Berlin train station during the off-season. He already leads with a mark 21.41m.

The organisers of the European Championships have let loose Cooly as the official mascot of the event. He will have to go some to beat Berlino - the bear that set the benchmark for over-sized cuddly animals in a sporting setting at the 2009 Worlds.

He has made a good start however, showing some excellent hurdling technique this morning before a killjoy official ended the fun.

Kate Karwacinski:, external Was upset when the Commonwealth Games ended. So happy European Athletics Championships has started!

With the European Athletics Championships taking place in Zurich this week, BBC Sport wants to hear from you.

Former marathon world champion Paula Radcliffe will be answering your questions at 14:00 BST on Wednesday.

What does the future hold for British Athletics? And who has impressed her over the summer? Get involved and send in your questions via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

Colin Jackson
Four-time European champion and BBC Sport athletics pundit

"I bumped into Jo Pavey at the airport after the Commonwealth Games and she was still so buoyant, putting her stuff through the x-ray machine and chatting to the security guards, just enjoying all that attention that she has been getting."

Denise Lewis
BBC Sport athletics expert

"We've grown up together. Her performance at the Commonwealth Games endeared her to many people. She ahs been identified by a Swiss newspaper as one of the ones to watch. They call her 'the fast mum'."

Image source, Getty Images

Jo Pavey on her bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games on BBC Two: "I've had to recover, but also put in some last-minute training. The crowd definitely helped in Glasgow, the noise was deafening.

"I had a race-plan in my mind then, but bearing in mind there was three amazing Kenyans in the field I didn't know if it'd work. Now I'm so busy, I don't get stressed about training.

"Being so busy in the day has given me more endurance. When I got into the athlete village in Glasgow, it felt like it was really relaxing without my family duties for a day or two.

"There's a lot of really strong athletes in this race, but I'll be out there trying my best. It was pleasing to be competitive with the Kenyans, and I was pleasantly surprised I could still be so competitive. I definitely have thoughts of carrying on for a while now."

That's it for the major action on the track for a little while - the decathlon 400m is next up. After that comes the women's 10,000m, where Briton's Jo Pavey could take centre stage. The men's shot put final is just getting under way too.

Denise Lewis
BBC Sport athletics expert

"Injuries can take a toll. A healthy body is what you require in athletics if you want to deliver. You've got to make the decision when to compete, and when not to."

Brendan Foster
BBC athletics commentator

"It's disappointment for the British 800m athletes. It's back to the drawing board for them, and it's back to the drawing board for their coaches."

Yep, confirmed, Andrew Osagie goes out, his time not good enough for one of the fastest loser's spots. There will be no British representation beyond the first round of the men's 800m.

Steve Cram
BBC Sport athletics commentator

"Rimmer hasn't made it. He knows that, and he shakes his head. Not good, not good at all and he knows it."

Image source, AP

Ah, Michael Rimmer is fading, run out of it in the final 50m, finishing down in sixth. Denmark's Andreas Bube wins it in 1:47:50. I think Andrew Osagie might be in trouble, too.

Now inside, through the middle. Rimmer is in fifth coming round the final bend.

Here he comes, around the outside...

Michael Rimmer, T-shirt under his vest, is at the back of the field, getting bumped around. The field is stretched and Rimmer is last-but-one at the bell.

The deal is this, if the top five run faster than 1.48:31, Andrew Osagie is out. There are nine runners here, one more than the eight we've seen in the other three. The gun has gone.

Paula Radcliffe
BBC Sport athletics expert

"We're hoping to see Michael have a good race, he's another who has struggled with a back problem this year."