"I LOVE the major championships" declares Christian Malcolm as he prepares to begin his assault on the Manchester Commonwealth Games, which opened last night in spectacular style.

After yesterday's stylish opening ceremony, the athletics started today at the City of Manchester Stadium and Newport's Malcolm is in 200m action on Sunday when he faces two rounds of qualifying to earn his right to run in Monday's semi-finals and final.

Malcolm is no stranger to the big events, having won silver at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 behind England's Julian Golding and having reached the 200m finals at both the Sydney Olympics and last summer's World Championships.

But he will have his work cut out to take a medal at the XVII Commonwealth Games with strong competition from Namibia's Frankie Fredericks and England's in-form pair Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish.

Malcolm said: "You have to look at the home threat with Darren and Marlon, but then there is always Frankie Fredericks lurking in the background, it's going to be tough, very tough."