Preview - Rio Olympic Games - Day 1 (Saturday, August 6)
Australians will be in action in 16 sports on the first full day of competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Here are some of the highlights on Day 1.
For a full list of Australian competitors in action check out the Day 1 schedule on the website>>> or in Next Up on the app.
Day 1 (Saturday, August 6)
TABLE TENNIS – Women’s singles, Preliminary Round
Rio Time: 09:00, AEST: 22:00
Significant moment in Australian Olympic history when 2012 Paralympian Melissa Tapper competes, in the Olympics becoming the first Australian to compete in both Games.
CYCLING – Men’s road race
Rio time: 09:30, AEST: 22:30
Fresh off a fifth place finish at the Tour de France, Richie Porte will be feeling confident he can put in a great show at his debut Games. He lines up alongside Rohan Dennis, mountain bike specialist Scott Bowden and late addition Simon Clarke, who played a vital support role to Cadel Evans in his 2009 World Championships win.
TENNIS
Rio time: From 11:00 AEST: 22:00
Men’s singles – John Millman AUS vs Ricardas Berankis LTU
John Millman kicks off the Australian Olympic tennis campaign in Rio. It is expected to be a close battle as they are both world ranked in the 70s.
Men’s Doubles – Chris Guccione/John Peers AUS vs Juan Martin Del Potro/Maximo Gonzalez ARG
In the doubles, the Australian pairing of Chris Guccione and John Peers face a challenging first round encounter against the unseeded Argentine pairing of Del Potro and Maximo Gonzalez.
Men’s Singles – Jordan Thompson AUS vs Kyle Edmund
Men’s Singles – Thanasi Kokkinakis V Gastao Elias
Jordan Thompson drew unseeded Britain Kyle Edmund and Thanasi Kokkinakis has drawn world No.61 Gastao Elias from Portugal.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Bawden/Clancy vs Alfaro/C.Charles (CRC)
Rio time: 11:59, AEST: Sun 01:00
Artacho /Laird vs Walsh Jennings/Ross (USA)
Rio time: 22:59, AEST: Sun 13:00
The two Aussie pairs kick off their campaigns on Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach. Our best hopes are Louise Bawden and Talicqua Clancy. Bawden has Olympic experience, both on the beach in London and amazingly from 16-years-ago in Sydney when she competed with the indoor team. She has teamed with Clancy, 11-years her junior.
HOCKEY – Men Australia vs New Zealand
Rio time: 13:30, AEST: Sunday 02:30
Australia get their Rio campaign under way against over the ditch rivals, New Zealand. World No.1 Australia has a mixed record against the No.8 team in the world, with three wins, one draw and two losses.
HOCKEY – Women Australia vs Great Britain
Rio time: 20:30, AEST: Sunday 09:30
The Australian women meet world number seven Great Britain in their first match of the Games. Australia have never lost to the Brits in three Olympic clashes.
ARCHERY – Men’s Team
Rio time: From 14:00 (Quarters, semis and medal games), AEST: 03:00 (Quarters, semis and medal games)
Australia has never won a team medal in archery but Ryan Tyack, Alec Potts and London 2012 Olympian Taylor Worth will be looking to change that in Rio. The trio have progressed directly through to the quarter-finals as the fourth-ranked team following Friday’s ranking round. Their top-eight performance is the best since 2004.
BASKETBALL – Men: Australia vs France
Rio time: 14:15, AEST: Sunday 03:15
The Australian men are aiming for their first basketball medal at the Games and many people believe a fit Australian team could do the job. The talented French will provide the first challenge. They have met just once in Olympic competition, in the semi-finals in 2000. France won the clash 76-52, with Andrew Gaze, the Rio team assistant coach, our equal top pointscorer in the 2000 Games.
BASKETBALL – Women: Australia vs Brazil
Rio time: 17:30, AEST: Sunday 06:30
The Australian team are aiming to continue their medal streak at the Olympic Games and play the hosts first up. The Aussies knocked off the Brazilians on their way to winning the test event but know the home side will lift and have a raucous crowd behind them. Australia are undefeated in seven matches against Brazil in Olympic competition.
FOOTBALL – Women: Australia vs Germany
Rio time: 18:00, AEST: Sunday 07:00
As the No.2 ranked team in the world, Germany will be the toughest test for Australia in the pool matches. After a loss in the first game against Canada, a win becomes more important here. Australia met Germany in their first ever game in Olympic competition in 2000, losing 3-0.
WATER POLO – Men: Australia vs Brazil
Rio time: 20:50, AEST: Sunday 09:50
Exciting challenge for Australia against host Brazil first up, who finished two places behind us at the 2015 World Championships, when we were eighth. The teams have not met before in Olympic history.
SWIMMING – Men’s 400m Individual Medley
Rio time: 20:03, AEST: Sunday 11:03
Could Thomas Fraser-Holmes, ranked fifth in the world, create his own piece of Australian Olympic history? Australia have won just one bronze medal in this event for men, way back in 1984, when Rob Woodhouse was third in Los Angeles.
SWIMMING – Men’s 400m freestylefinal
Rio time: 22:30, AEST: Sunday 11:30
Mack Horton has swum the fastest time in the event by almost two seconds in 2016 but will find plenty of challengers in Rio including the likes of China’s Sun Yang and Connor Jaeger of the USA. Aussie David McKeon will be pushing for a finals berth also. Historically a strong event for Australia with 16 medals and five golds since 1904.
SWIMMING – Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay final
Rio time: 23:24, AEST: Sunday 12:24
With the reigning gold and silver World Championship medallists in Campbell sisters Bronte and Cate, Australia will be favourites to defend the London 2012 Olympic title in Rio. Australia has won three consecutive medals in this event. Other relay swimmers are Emma McKeon, Brittany Elmslie and Alicia Coutts.
RUGBY SEVENS – Women
Rio time: 13:30 (vs Colombia) & 18:30 (vs Fiji), AEST: Sunday 02:30 (vs Colombia) & 07:30 (vs Fiji)
The Australian women’s team will be looking to back up their historic 2015/16 World Series win with a gold medal in Rio. The team kicks off their program with two preliminary Games, against Colombia and Fiji. An interesting aspect will be Australian Ellia Green playing against her country of birth – Fiji.
Other sports in action on day one are Boxing, Rowing, Shooting, Equestrian and Judo.
