Great Britain vs Chile LIVE: Ellen White double earns Team GB victory in Tokyo 2020 opener
Follow all the latest from the Tokyo Games as Team GB kick-off the women’s football against Chile
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Great Britain women begin their campaign at the Tokyo Olympics against Chile with the Games underway in both the football and softball before Friday’s opening ceremony.
The women’s football competition gets under way with Great Britain taking on Chile in Sapporo at 8.30am BST (4.30pm in Japan). Kicking off in Tokyo at 9.30am BST will be the highly anticipated meeting between Sweden, who won silver in Rio losing to Germany in the final, and the reigning world champions USA.
The Games remains on course although the head of the organising committee Toshiro Muto refused to completely rule out a last-minute cancellation amid ongoing concern surrounding Covid-19. “At this point, the coronavirus cases may rise or fall, so we will think about what we should do when the situation arises.”
Follow all the latest news and updates below.
Trolls pile onto Megan Rapinoe after shock USA loss in Olympics
While it’s a sad day for U.S. football fans (we, of course, mean “soccer,” but since this is an English publication, we must use the UK term that is “football” throughout), Megan Rapine’s critics are relishing in the team’s defeat, seeing it as her personal failure, writes Danielle Sinay for Indy 100.
“Right-wing trolls have taken to Twitter to roast the World Cup winner, calling Rapinoe a slew of nicknames ranging from “SJW” [social justice warrior] to “anti-American” to an “utter, supreme narcissist.” Apparently, the right wing is displeased with the Rapinoe’s tendency to “take a knee” prior to matches: In an excerpt from her book, Rapinoe revealed that after she knelt, “White people were mad. Whew, were they mad! Conservative commentators in the media immediately started shouting and yelling that kneeling during the anthem disrespected the military.” They also don’t seem to like her hair.”
White women of the Norwegian handball team are finding out what hijabi women knew
Another day, another group of men deciding how women should cover their bodies. Except this time, the victims in the spotlight are white women from Norway. The oppressors? The International Handball Federation, writes Hafsa Lodi for Indy Voices.
“Citing “improper clothing”, the Federation’s Disciplinary Commission slapped a fine of 150 euros per member of Norway’s female team at the Beach Handball Euro 2021 championship on Sunday, because they chose to wear shorts instead of the bikini bottoms that are required of players. They were penalized for deciding to add a little bit of length to their uniforms, thereby fully covering their butts and inner thighs — even though male handball players are allowed to wear shorts up to four inches above their knees.”
The white women of the Norwegian handball team are finding out what hijabi women knew all along | Hafsa Lodi
It’s a travesty that these sportswomen were fined for refusing to wear small bikini bottoms — and it’s rare that the people campaigning for more modest attire look this way
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIAN TILLY KEARNS SHARES COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR EATING IN OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN VIRAL TIKTOK
With cases of Covid among athletes already reported ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, one Olympian has shared some of the day-to-day safety precautions athletes are following to stay safe in the Olympic Village.
Since arriving in Tokyo for the Olympic Games, which begin on 23 July, Australian water polo player Tilly Kearns has been sharing behind-the-scenes moments on TikTok and Instagram, which have included a look at the infamous cardboard beds created for athletes.
In her most recent TikTok, uploaded on Wednesday, the 20-year-old detailed some of the rigorous safety protocols athletes are being required to follow in the Olympic dining hall, including a team rule that limits eating to just 10 minutes.
Australian Olympian shares Covid safety protocols for eating in Olympic Village in viral TikTok
Every athlete is separated by plastic divider in dining hall
Tokyo virus cases hit 6-month high 2 days before Games open
Tokyo’s COVID-19 infections surged to a six-month high Wednesday with the Olympic host city logging 1,832 new cases just two days before the Games open.
Tokyo is currently under its fourth state of emergency, which will last until Aug. 22, covering the entire duration of the Olympics that start Friday and end Aug. 8. Fans are banned from all venues in the Tokyo area, with limited audiences at a few outlying sites.
“What we have worried about is now actually happening,” Japan Medical Association President Toshio Nakagawa said at a weekly news conference. “The surge in cases has been expected whether we have the Olympics or not, and we are afraid that there will be an explosive increase in cases regardless of the Olympics.” - AP
Ticket buyers’ usernames, passwords stolen and shared on internet
The passwords and usernames of Olympics and Paralympics’ ticket-buyers and volunteers have been stolen and shared on the internet, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing government officials.
Games organisers are investigating the matter, it added. - Reuters
ICYMI: Sweden 3-0 USA
The USA’s 44-game unbeaten run comes to an end as Sweden dominate their opening match of the Olympic Games with a commanding 3-0 win in Tokyo.
Given the scoreline, it’s the first big shock of the Olympics. Sweden are the fifth best team in the world and made the semi-finals of the last world cup, but the USA are the world champions and were favourites to win the gold medal in Tokyo - so a 3-0 thrashing is a remarkable outcome.
It’s not over for the USA yet, but it’s an uphill battle from here. They have games against New Zealand and Australia to come in the next week and will be looking to bounce back and get their gold medal bid back on track.
Team USA has shipped 72,000lbs of food to Tokyo
Brian Knutson, the director of food and nutrition services for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, has organised, says his team will provide US athletes with more than 7,000 meals over 27 days.
“We are serving lunch and dinner while operating each day,” Knutson told USA Today.
“Our teams mostly eat lean meats, chicken breast, fish and vegetarian meals and of course lots of pasta and meatballs.”
He says that he has already ordered 2,000lbs of proteins from an American-owned company in Japan, and more than 350lbs of salmon from a local vendor.
Knutson wrote in the email that he already has ordered 2,000 pounds of various proteins from an American-owned company in Japan, and more than 350 pounds of salmon from a local fish vendor. “And we have only just started ordering,” he added.
The dining operation will be set-up at the USOPC’s High Performance Center at the Okura Sports Park in Setagaya City, Japan.
Team USA take the lead over Canada
Team USA have taken the lead in their softball match against Canada.
Olympic organisers ordered 160,000 condoms for Tokyo Games
But the athletes have been warned not to use them and to stay distanced because of Covid-19 restrictions, according to National Public Radio.
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