Since Rio is only an hour ahead of the East Coast, NBC is touting this as the “most live Olympics ever”, aka the opposite of Beijing, which is 12 hours ahead.
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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Three-time World Cup champion Pele says he was invited to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, but sponsorship deals could stop him from performing the prestigious task.
“I think I can honestly say as well in my career I don’t know if I’ve ever competed in a clean sport”, added the 31-year-old, victor of 18 career Olympic golds and 22 medals in all.
DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan are the tallest athletes on the US team at 6 feet, 11 inches.
The first Olympics in Brazil are underway – aptly with soccer games in the sport’s spiritual home and a win for the hosts.
The decision announced Wednesday makes Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, only the second swimmer to lead the USA delegation in the opening ceremony.
Chileshe said though the country is sending a small number of athletes to the Olympics, the quality of athletes has greatly improved and that Zambia has a good chance of reaping medals.
The conflicted thoughts mirror a recent survey by the Datafolha polling group showing that half of Brazilians were opposed to holding the Games, while 63 percent think the costs of hosting the event will outweigh the benefits. “I hope the Brazilian people appreciate what we are trying to do with the ball and move past that”.
Tune in to 11Alive on Friday Aug. 5 to watch the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics!
Teammate and longtime rival Ryan Lochte, who is rooming with Phelps in the Olympic village, predicts the 31-year-old Phelps will be back in the pool for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “I spend nearly the whole day driving and it is evident that traffic has improved”, he said.
Phelps kept saying this would definitely be his final Olympics. “A little bit of emotion came over me”.
That’s a drop from the 59 percent who said they’d be watching when asked the same question four years ago about the 2012 games.
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There’s every reason to believe Canada will reach, and even exceed, its medal target in Rio.
