Rio de Janeiro Olympics organisers remained under pressure to deliver a successful Games before they start with questions over water quality, traffic and security dominating the final progress report to the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday.
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Phelps initially retired after the London Games in 2012, only to backtrack on that decision 18 months later.
In a survey cited by Reuters, 60 percent of Brazilians believe the games, which cost an estimated $12.2 billion, “will do more harm than good, while 32 percent believe the games will bring more benefits to the country than losses”.
Golf and rugby, in the form of Rugby Sevens, return to the Olympics in Rio and a 10-athlete strong Refugee Olympic Team will compete under the Olympic flag.
With numerous Games’ 11,000 athletes and dozens of heads of state in attendance, the first major test of preparedness comes at Maracana, where the biggest security operation of the Games will be deployed.
The 31st Olympic Games will be launched in Rio on Friday with a “cool” opening ceremony, organisers have promised.
Be sure to tune in on Friday for one of the most exciting events in the Olympic cycle – you definitely don’t want to miss this one. Which is why, outside of these shores, the Olympic family doesn’t believe the US has topped the Olympic charts at every Games since 1996, and doesn’t consider it a formality it will do so again.
Rio 2016 director of communications Mario Andrada said: “There are several sports that are unknown to the youth, like golf and rugby”.
The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey from July 26 to 29 among a representative randomized sample of 1,516 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. To truly capture the spirit of the country, the Rio Olympics opening ceremony will highlight themes of sustainability, Brazilian culture like Carnivale, and the country’s strength to keep moving forward.
Last but not the least, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has also reportedly landed in Rio on Wednesday to cheer the Indian Olympic contingent during the Games.
Rio de Janeiro is two hours ahead of U.S. Central time.
Las Vegas’ Vashti Cunningham is the local athlete to watch. She will compete in the women’s high jump, and is expected to be a medal contender. There will be two cauldrons in Rio, one at the Maracana soccer stadium that is hosting the opening ceremony and another open to the public in downtown Rio.
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And, after insisting all along this truly would be his final Olympics, Phelps dropped a tantalizing hint that he might not be done.
