CAN TEAM GB DELIVER?
OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY ON FRIDAY AS COVID STATE OF EMERGENCY CONTINUES
TEAM GB will target over 50 medals amid unprecedented circumstances when the Tokyo Olympics get under way on Friday.
Britain’s 376-strong squad is its biggest for an overseas Games, and women will outnumber men in the team for the first time.
But with the Games due to take place amid a state of emergency due to rising coronavirus rates in the Japanese capital, what they can expect?
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY?
The Japanese government has pulled back on a previous decision to allow some fans into Olympic venues. All events in the Tokyo area will now take place in empty stadia, with the exception of a handful of VIPs and media.
Athletes have already been warned that they risk disqualification or even deportation if they stray from strict coronavirus bubbles during their stay in the Athletes’ Village.
WHAT ARE BRITAIN’S EXPECTATIONS AT THE GAMES?
Funding body UK Sport has strayed from setting a specific medal target given the lack of recent international competition. However, there is a general expectation that the team will be strong enough to surpass the 51 medals secured in Beijing in 2008. Matching the 67 won in Rio five years ago seems like a stretch given the relative downturn in previously strong medal sports like cycling and gymnastics.
WHO ARE BRITAIN’S BEST GOLD MEDAL BETS?
Adam Peaty appears almost unbeaten in the men’s 100 metre breaststroke but Britain’s other gold medal hopes are less clear-cut. Dina Asher-Smith stands a strong chance in the women’s 200 metres, world taekwondo champions Jade Jones, Bianca Walkden and Bradly Sinden start as favourites, while sharpshooters Seonaid McIntosh and Matt Coward-Holley are also good bets.
WHO ARE THE OTHER STARS TO WATCH?
Thirteen-year-old Sky Brown will become Britain’s youngest summer Olympian as she stars in skateboard’s debut at the Games. Another new sport, sport-climbing, sees double World Cup season winner Shauna Coxsey among the leading hopefuls. Inevitably, attention will turn to the Velodrome where golden couple Jason and Laura Kenny will be looking to continue to add to their already record-breaking medal hauls.