Tokyo Olympics LIVE updates: Games begin as Australians feature in rowing, swimming and football events
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The Australians in action today
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Kookaburras start Australian campaign
Australia are favourites to win gold in the men’s hockey.
If the Kookaburras can deliver on the expectation, they’ll be the first Australian men’s hockey gold medal winners since Athens in 2004.
They begin their campaign against Japan at 10:30am eastern Australian time.
World reacts to opening ceremony
By Sarah Keoghan
Overnight, the world reacted to the Opening Ceremony and the magical moment Naomi Osaka lit the cauldron.
United States President Joe Biden said he was proud of his athletes shortly after the ceremony.
A drone display is seen over the top of the stadium during the Opening Ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
“The Olympians representing our country in Tokyo are the embodiment of the spirit and drive that makes America a beacon for the globe,” he said. “I’m so proud of you.“
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was able to catch a “few glimpses” of the ceremony. “Come, let us all #Cheer4India,” he wrote on Twitter. “Wishing our dynamic contingent the very best.”
Fireworks explode during the Opening Ceremony.Credit:Getty Images
Yoko Ono also reacted to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ being used in the ceremony. “John and I were both artists and we were living together, so we inspired each other,” she said. “The song ‘Imagine’ embodied what we believed together at the time. John and I met – he comes from the West and I come from the East – and still we are together.”
Here are a few of today’s newspapers from across the globe:
Poll: Will Australia surpass the Rio medal tally?
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A look at Australia’s medal tally over the years
The best Olympic outfits from the Opening Ceremony
It wouldn’t be an Opening Ceremony without a spotlight on fashion.
Team Kenya walk into the Olympic Stadium.Credit:Reuters
From pink shorts to flamboyant gowns, enjoy this collection of outfits paraded by the national teams in Tokyo.
COVID adviser: Tokyo Olympics not prepared for the worst
The Tokyo Olympics are not prepared for the reality of a potential outbreak in the next fortnight.
Demonstrators during an anti-Olympic protest in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, Japan, on Friday.Credit:Bloomberg
That’s the view of leading virologist Hitoshi Oshitani, who spoke to Chip Le Grand in Japan as public unrest regarding the Olympics continues. “They have just been saying the Olympics are safe without showing any strategy to minimise the risk,” he says.
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Belgian men’s triathlon athlete out with COVID-19
By Sarah Keoghan
Belgian athlete Jelle Geens has been forced out of the men’s individual triathlon due to COVID-19.
Geens took to Instagram to reveal he wouldn’t be competing after testing positive “a few weeks ago”.
He said he tested negative yesterday and hopes of competing in the Mixed Relay next week.
“I had still hoped I could travel last minute but my PCR tests stayed positive. It’s been a hard last couple of weeks with a lot of doubt, uncertainty and I was very demotivated,” he wrote.
“Thank you everyone for your kind messages and I’ll make sure I’m stronger in 3 years.”
Meanwhile, Dutch rower Finn Florijn tested positive for COVID-19 and will not take part in the men’s single sculls repechage race today.
Rugby star who snubbed Folau to wear rainbow headgear at Olympics
The Australian women’s sevens team don’t start their campaign until Thursday but they’ve already earned one win off the field.
Sharni Williams will wear special rainbow headgear at the Tokyo Olympics. Credit:Rugby Australia
Co-captain Sharni Williams - who made headlines last year when she snubbed Israel Folau at a press conference - has had her trademark rainbow headgear approved for use.
The 10 Australian swimmers you must know about at the Tokyo Games
Phil Lutton is one of our reporters in Tokyo.
Australian swimmers Madison Wilson and Emma McKeon embrace after a race during Olympic trials.Credit:Mark Brake
He will spend the next week poolside and has handpicked the 10 Australian swimmers to watch.
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Honour for COVID-19 doctor Elena Galiabovitch
Australian pistol shooter Elena Galiabovitch, representing Oceania, was one of six frontline medical workers who commenced the Olympic flag relay on Friday before the flag was raised in the Olympic Stadium.
Galiabovitch, a doctor, will compete in the women’s 10 metre air pistol and women’s 25m pistol, but has spent the past year in Melbourne either in COVID-19 hospital wards or drive-in testing clinics.
Australian Olympian Elena Galiabovitch.Credit:Eddie Jim
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would ever help carry the Olympic flag at an opening ceremony,” said the 31-year-old.
“Not only am I representing the continent of Oceania and all its athletes, but I’m privileged to represent Australia’s Olympic Team, the 15-member Australian shooting team, and all frontline medical workers who’ve done such a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances over the past 18 months.”
AAP
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