After seven years of planning and preparation, the 2016 Olympic Games start in Rio this afternoon. Team GB have 99 athletes in action across 12 sports. Sit back and enjoy - it’s going to be great.CHRIS FROOME
Cycling, road race, (1.30pm - all times UK)
Hot on the heels of his historic third Tour de France title, Chris Froome has his sights set on a gold medal in the Road Race that gets underway on Saturday morning in Rio.
While Froome – who took bronze in the time trial at London 2012 – will not enjoy the same quantity of support riders he would with Team Sky at the Tour – the quality is still high with Geraint Thomas, Adam Yates, Ian Stannard and Steve Cummings making up the five-strong Team GB squad.
The brutal Brazilian course means it is all set up for a gruelling race and Froome will have his work cut out for him against a quality field that includes the likes Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali.
Judo, 60kg, (2pm, session begins)
Team GB’s first judoka in action at Rio 2016 is Ashley McKenzie in the -60kg category, the 27-year-old is competing in his second Olympics.
He lost in the round of 32 at London 2012 but has impressed since then with European bronze in 2013 and Commonwealth gold at Glasgow 2014.
He comes into Rio brimming with confidence after finishing third at the Olympic Test Event last year, the same position he also recorded in May’s Baku Grand Slam, and is first up against Turkey’s Bekir Ozlu.
Rowing, women’s double sculls (3pm)
Katherine Grainger’s bid to become Team GB’s most-decorated female Olympian of all time gets underway on Saturday at Lagoa
Grainger and Vicky Thornley are in the first heat of the Women’s Double Sculls as the Scotswoman bids to reclaim the title she won at London 2012 alongside the now-retired Anna Watkins.
Grainger – who won three silver medals at successive games before that London success– will go past Rebecca Adlington as Great Britain’s greatest female Olympian if she can get on the podium in Rio.
JAMES GUY
Swimming, 400m freestyle (heats 6.24pm, final 2.30am)
James Guy is one of Team GB’s best medal chances in the pool and while he is reigning world champion over 200m, his first chance of a podium place comes in the 400m.
But Guy is no slouch over the longer distance – he won world silver in Kazan last year, and should cruise through his heat to set up a tilt at the title in the final on Saturday evening.
Also in action in the pool is Hannah Miley who will be looking for her first Olympic medal in her preferred event – the 400m medley.
Group B v Australia (12.30am)
Team GB’s women’s hockey team, captained by Kate Richardson-Walshbronze medallists four years ago at London 2012, kick off their Olympic campaign against perennial rivals Australia on Saturday evening.
They lost to the Hockeyroos in June in the Champions Trophy but rallied to secure a fifth-place finish overall.
And they will be keen to hit the ground running in Rio in Group B that also includes Argentina, Japan, USA and India
Sportsbeat 2016