The Rio 2016 Olympic flame is now well underway in its majestic progress across Greece before making for Brazil, but there is something about the surroundings in Ancient Olympia that make the start of the journey very special indeed. The lighting ceremony has the capacity to inspire many emotions, but for the athletes of the world it serves as the ultimate clarion call for the Games.
GAMES
Olympic flame begins journey to Rio 2016 after Ancient Olympia ceremony
The Olympic flame is on its way to Rio de Janeiro after a ceremony of grace, dignity and real emotion here today.
Alan Hubbard: Every Olympics faces criticism in the build-up - and Rio 2016 is no exception
Back in the early sixties, when it became known that high-altitude Mexico City would be staging the 1968 Olympic Games, the estimable but irascible Chris Brasher declared in The Observer: “There will be those who die...!”
NOT OVER YET * TTOC to examine gymnastics controversy
Canada-based gymnast Marisa Dick may have qualified for the Rio Olympics but that may not be the end of the matter.
Yesterday the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis said his organisation had the “sole and final and exclusive” authority for the composition of the T&T team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) replaced Dick with Thema Williams on the eve of the Aquece Rio Test Event Sunday on the grounds of injury.
But Williams and her team, including her coach John Geddert and her lawyers, are disputing that assertion and indicated she received medical clearance.
Nick Butler: Rio 2016 hysteria is polarising opinion but Olympics... possibly... maybe...will be successful
Truth, wisdom dictates, must invariably lie towards the middle of two polar opposite views. So if two sides are telling you something completely different about a given topic, you can be fairly sure that neither are totally right and neither are totally wrong.
Final Rio 2016 gymnastics spots up for grabs at Olympic test event
Countries will have their final chance to secure qualification to the Rio 2016 gymnastics competition when the Olympic test event gets underway at the Rio Olympic Arena tomorrow.