South Africans at the gates of greatness in Rio

With the scene beautifully set at the renowned Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro this morning, the opening ceremony signalled the official start of an intense excitement of 42 Olympic sport disciplines in one place.

The vivid ceremony celebrated not only Brazil’s multi-ethnic history, but global diversity as well.  Samba music, with a bit of cat walk by supermodel Gisele set the scene before fireworks were shot from the Olympics rings.

Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Committee welcomed the world to the city. “I am talking to the whole planet.  We welcome you to Rio, the Olympic city. We stand to deliver history. The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality” said Nuzman in his address.

The South African team was led by the sprinter, Wayde van Niekerk, as the flag bearer for the first time. Our team stood out because they were wearing tracksuits whereas many other athletes turned out in formal wear. This received a mixed reaction back home, but Fox Sports gave the South African outfit top marks.

However, the mood is one of adrenaline-filled anticipation. South Africa has sent 137 athletes to carry the country’s flag in the Olympics for the 19^th time in the history of the games. The country has 76 medals, of which 23 are gold, 26 silver and 27 bronze.

These records may not speak well for a country of South Africa’s standard in resources, yet in Wayde van Niekerk, Caster Simenya, Daryl Impey, SA Sevens, Banyana Banyana, Amaglug-glug, and many others, the country has all it takes to achieve the 10 medal target and upset the best-laid plans of countries who have dominated the Olympics over the years.

South African schedule of athletes who will be participating this weekend till Monday is as follows:

Date	Event	Participants
Sat, 06 August(2:30PM)	Cycling(Men’s Road Race)	Daryl Impey and Louis Meintjes
Sat, 06 August(3:30PM)	Rowing(Men’s coxless pair)	Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain
Sat, 06 August	Swimming(400m individual medley)	Michael Julian Meyer (heat 2) and Sebastian Rousseau (heat 4)
Sat, 06 August(6:02PM)	Swimming(400m freestyle)	Myles Brown (heat 5)
Sat, 06 August(8:04PM)	Swimming(100m breaststroke)	Cameron van der Burgh (heat 5)
Sun, 07 August(12:00AM)	Football(Women’s tournament)	Banyana Banyana vs China
Sun, 07 August(3:10PM)	Rowing(Women’s coxless pair)	Lee-Ann Persse and Kate Christowitz
Sun, 07 August(3:40PM)	Rowing(Women’s lightweight double sculls)	Ursula Grobler and Kirsten McCann
Sun, 07 August(4:20PM)	Rowing(Men’s lightweight double sculls)	James Thompson and John Smith
Sun, 07 August(5:00PM)	Rowing(Men’s coxless four)	SA four
Sun, 07 August(6:19PM)	Swimming(Men’s 200m freestyle)	Chad le Clos (heat 5) and Myles Brown (heat 5)
Sun, 07 August(7:16PM)	Swimming(Men’s 100m backstroke)	Christopher Reid (heat 4)
Mon, 08 August(12:00AM)	Football(Men’s u/23 tournament)	SA under 23 vs Denmark
Mon, 08 August(6:34PM)	Swimming(Men’s 200m butterfly)	Chad le Clos (heat 2) and Sebastian Rousseau (heat 4)

 

Please note: Gymnastics are not included because for the first few days it will only be qualifying.  

SA aims for 10-medal haul in Rio

When the Rio Olympics 2016 kick off officially on Friday, August 5, South Africa will be represented by a 137-member squad, 12 more than the team sent to the London Olympics in 2012.

Among the squad, are the likes of 800m star Caster Semenya, swimming sensations Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh and cyclist Daryl Impey.

South Africa also has a new crop of athletes on whom the nation’s hopes rest. These include track and fielders Wayde van Nikerk and Anaso Jobodwana, Juan de Jongh (sevens rugby) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (cycling).

Other codes in which the country will participate include judo, rowing, golf, and men’s and women’s football.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has set a target of 10 medals for the team. The 2012 team secured six medals, three of which were gold, two silver and one bronze.

Football games got underway on Wednesday, two days before the Olympic games officially opened. In the first round robin games in the women’s tournament, Banyana Banyana took on Sweden, playing to a UPDATE HERE BEFORE PUBLICATION result.

The so-called ‘Day minus 2’ (commencement of football action two days before the official opening) is the result of the number of games that need to be played within the 16-day event.  With 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams, there are 58 matches to get through.

South Africa has two football teams, the under 23s (Amaglug glug) and Banyana.  Amaglug glug are in group A with Brazil, Iraq and Denmark, whereas Banyana feature in Group E with Brazil, China and Sweden.