The greatest stage for sports is set to begin on Friday, Aug. 5, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 11,000 athletes from more than 200 countries will be competing in the 2016 Olympic games.
These games have been surrounded by negativity from things like the Zika virus, safety for athletes and the Russian doping scandal. In the midst of all of this chaos the next two-and-a-half-weeks will be nothing short of extravagant.
The Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger”) will be spread across Olympic venues for Rio 2016. Some would say that inspiration could be the motto for the games as well.
Twenty-eight different sports will be played at Rio 2016, ranging from gymnastics to soccer to sailing to track and field. The Olympics are a place where the best athletes in the world get to showcase their skills.
Many athletes participating in Rio 2016 are first-timers. U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, a 19 year-old from Texas, is favored to lead the “Fierce Five” to back-to-back titles in women’s gymnastics. Joining her are two returning members from the 2012 Gold medal team Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas.
Michael Phelps now has another task in Rio, besides swimming. He will be the flag bearer for the U.S. in the opening ceremony. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, winning a total of 22 medals. This games is different for Phelps. He looks forward to just getting back to the basics after having a rocky few years outside of the pool. Will he be able to have his storybook ending?
On the women’s side of the pool for team USA, 19-year-old Katie Ledecky looks to defend her gold in the 800m freestyle. Ledecky was a breakout star in London. She will face-off with Missy Franklin, another breakout star in London, in the 200m freestyle.
The host country Brazil has an opportunity for some redemption in Rio 2016 this year. Brazil was host to the men’s World Cup in 2014. Their men’s soccer team was the heavy favorite, until they met Germany. Superstar Neymar was hurt for this game but Brazil lost 7-1. Brazil is a country driven by soccer. With Neymar back, can they help erase the 7-1 embarrassment in the World Cup and bring home gold? The dynamic Brazilian duo of Larissa Franco and Talita Antunes look to bring home gold in beach volleyball. Pressure is on for the top-ranked team as they look to deliver for their home country.
This year’s Olympics are predicted to be nothing short of inspirational. For the first time ever under the Olympic flag, there will be a new team: the Olympic Refugee Team. It consists of 10 members from all over the world. These athletes have overcome some of the worst hardships to join the stage with all of the big named athletes. This team will not have a national anthem or flag to represent, but they will be representing 65 million refugees instead.
United States marathon runner Meb Keflezighi looks to take home his first gold medal in Rio. Keflezighi won the first Boston marathon after the 2013 bombings. Fencing stand-out Ibtihaj Muhammad will be the first American Olympian to wear a hijab while competing.
What would the Olympics be without history being made? Australian swimmers Cate and Bronte Campbell look to be the first siblings to top the podium together for their country, but that is not before they compete against each other to make it happen. Shooting legend Kim Rhode of team USA looks to be the first ever woman to bring home a medal in six consecutive Olympic games.
The Olympic games provide drama, excitement and energy to say the least. Rio 2016 will be nothing short of that… or so the world hopes.
why is this article in a student newspaper……why not write about the DNC being in phila. and what your impressions were of that event…..something you could of experienced live………….