Let the Games begin

The opening ceremony remains days away, but Olympic competition starts Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro with Canada’s women’s soccer team getting an early kick at Asian champions Australia. It’s already Game On! This country’s Olympians have set an ambitious goal of winning at least19 medals. So prepare for almost three weeks of amazement at human achievement, cheering, heartbreak and having the ability to concentrate on work seriously destroyed.

There’s every reason to believe Canada will reach, and even exceed, its medal target in Rio. The country is sending a contingent of more than 310 athletes, considered more experienced, better funded and better coached than in the past.

According to Canada’s Own the Podium organization, 21 athletes have won a medal in their particular sport in recent world championship competitions, while only 17 did so before the London Olympics in 2012. That bodes well for success in Rio. And Canadian athletes also gained valuable experience in last summer’s tremendously successful Pan American Games in Toronto.

Some stars to watch include sprint sensation Andre De Grasse, Olympic flag-bearer and London gold medal winner in trampoline Rosie MacLennan, Brianne Theisen-Eaton in the heptathlon, and, of course, the women’s soccer team whose gold medal hopes were dashed in London by a bizarre delay-of-game penalty.

Get set to witness some epic performances by Canada’s best, and by superb competitors from around the world. Olympic fever is about to strike.