22 July 2021 | Olympics

• Guinea has withdrawn from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics according to Sanoussy Bantama Sow, the sports minister
• There are fears that the weather conditions in Tokyo could become hotter, a huge issue that could plunge the games into another difficulty
• Tennis star Andy Murray feels winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics would rank high among his achievements
• Saudi Arabia suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in Group D at the Yokohama Stadium
• Brisbane city was picked to host 2032 Olympics without a rival bid and will also stage the Paralympic games

Guinea have withdrawn from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the Covid 19 pandemic in the country. Sanoussy Bantama Sow, the sports minister, blamed a “resurgence of Covid-19 variants”, but there are also reports of financial issues that mean the government cannot afford to send its five athletes – wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara, judoka Mamadou Samba Bah, swimmers Fatoumata Lamarana Toure and Mamadou Tahirou Bah and sprinter Aissata Deen Conte. [The Guardian]

Olympic athletes have arrived ahead of the start of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday at the sharp end of a Japanese summer. The heat and humidity following the rainy season has been a concern since it won the bid to host the Games in 2013. In 2019 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged the organisers to move the Marathon and walking race events to the cooler climes of Sapporo, 800km (500 miles) north of Tokyo. Residents were warned not to exercise outdoors, beach volleyball players practising at Shiokaze park complained that the sand was too hot for their feet, prompting staff to hose down the playing surface while athletes waited in the shade. [The Guardian]

Andy Murray feels winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics would rank as one of the best achievements of his career given his torrid struggles with injuries. Murray will face in-form ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the singles draw while the men’s doubles draw, where his chances of a deep run were perhaps likelier alongside Joe Salisbury they were handed a tie against second seeds Pierre Hugues-Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, who have won five grand slam titles together. [The Guardian]

A spirited performance on their return to the Olympics for the first time since 1996 was not sufficient for Saudi Arabia to avoid a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Côte d’Ivoire in Group D at the Yokohama Stadium. After 39 minutes, the deadlock was broken when miscommunication between defender Abdulelah Al Amri and goalkeeper Mohammed Al Rubaie saw the former inadvertently convert a cross from Côte d’Ivoire captain Max Gradel from the left flank past his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The young Green Falcons found the equaliser when Al Hilal teammate Salem Al Dawsari curled an effort from the edge of the area nestling in the back of the net. AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie restored Cote d’Ivoire’s lead in the 67th minute. Saudi Arabia take on Germany on Sunday, while Côte d’Ivoire play Brazil earlier in the day in their Matchday Two fixture. [The AFC]

The Olympic Games in 2032 will be hosted in the city of Brisbane, Australia. This was confirmed on Wednesday and the games will be returning to Australia 32 years after the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Brisbane city was picked to host 2032 Olympics without a rival bid and will also stage the Paralympic games. [Kawowo Sports]

Recent Comments