After all the talk, the training, the blood, sweat and tears, finally we are here: the first ‘proper’ day of the Olympics, and more importantly the first chance of any medals.
There are not too many on offer today but Team GB have a good shot of getting their Games tally up and running in the 3m Springboard Synchro diving at 10am (BST). Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen won bronze in the event at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha earlier this year, having taken silver at last summer’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Later today, Josh Tarling is the bookmakers’ favourite in the men’s road racing time trial. The Welshman, who is only 20 years old, will have his work cut out beating a high-class field that includes the reigning world champion Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) and hour record holder Flippo Ganna (Italy). But Tarling has gone from strength to strength since taking bronze at last year’s World Championships aged just 19.
Wind could be a factor, with riders weighing up whether to go front and rear disc wheels. As could drizzle, which is expected to fall this afternoon and could turn already bumpy central Paris roads lethal. Either way, it is sure to be exciting. Tarling is fifth from last down the ramp at 16:15:30 (BST).
Finally, later this evening, Team GB are confident of at least a medal in the men’s 4x100m relay swimming final. They will have to beat formidable lineups from the United States, Australia and China, who are all heavily backed.
Great Britain’s men’s hockey team face off against Spain in their opening match of the Games at 9am (BST). In contrast to the women, who have won medals at the last three Games, including gold in Rio, the men’s side have struggled to escape the shadows of that famous triumph at Seoul 1988, which gave rise to the immortal Barry Davies line: “Where were the Germans? But frankly, who cares.” Captain David Ames believes a more “dynamic” men’s team can mix it with the likes of Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany and India. “I wouldn’t have said we were one of those big teams three years ago, but I believe we are one now,” Ames said. “There are probably six teams who are capable of winning that gold medal, and we are definitely one of them.”
Also worth noting that the men’s rugby sevens concludes today with poster boy Antoine Dupont hoping to inspire the host nation to glory. If he can, it would likely do wonders in terms of getting a sceptical French public into the swing of things. Fiji’s men are looking to make it a ‘three-peat’ in the event.
Brit-watchAdam Peaty, the Uttoxeter-born swimmer, has had well-documented mental health issues since the last Games, but says he is “enjoying being the underdog” for once. Gets his Olympics under way in the 100m breaststroke heats.