Rio Olympic Games begin today with football

Photo: Debutant Yonah Knight Wisdom will represent Jamaica in diving at the Rio Olympic Games.

The long anticipated Rio Olympics Games gets underway today, fittingly with women’s football. Brazil, the nation famous for what is often called the beautiful game, will hold the attention of billions of people around the globe for the next 20 days as the planet’s best athletes battle in 28 sports, all for the chance to be called Olympic champions.

Six games in women’s football will mark the first day, including hosts Brazil facing China. Other games on today are the first game, Sweden v South Africa, starting at 12 noon local time, Canada v Australia, Zimbabwe v Germany, France v Colombia and the United States v New Zealand.

Jamaica was rocked just hours before the start of the games when news came out that Hansle Parchment will miss the games after failing to recover from early season injuries. Parchment won bronze four years ago in Beijing, China and was a medal prospect for the tiny Caribbean nation.

Two time 100m women’s gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will carry the flag for Jamaica at Friday’s opening ceremony. As usual, a lot is expected of global icon Usain Bolt, who will be looking to repeat as three time gold medalist for the third games running, Bolt begins as favourite for both the 100m and 200m and will be a key part of the 4x100m relay team as well.

Apart from track and field, Jamaica will be represented in three other sports. Alia Atkinson will represent in swimming in her third Olympic Games, while debutants Toni-Ann Williams and Yonah Knight Wisdom will represent in gymnastics and diving respectively.