The Games of the XXXI Olympiad are officially open following tonight’s Opening Ceremony at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Acting President of Brazil Michel Temer declared the Games officially open with around 11,000 athletes set to compete for the 306 gold medals across 28 sports.
Defending Olympic Champion Andy Murray led the Team GB delegation into the samba-fuelled ceremony before marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic Flame, kicking off the 16 days of sporting competition in Brazil. Team GB’s 366-strong team, set to compete across 23 sports, is the biggest travelling delegation since Barcelona 1992 and sees 151 athletes and 65 medallists return from four years ago at London 2012.
Andy Murray said: “It was amazing to get to carry the flag and but also be around the rest of the British team and chat to the guys. It’s been a really nice atmosphere and I’m obviously really proud to get the opportunity… My first thought was ‘don’t’ drop it’ and I was gripping onto the flag really tight. Then I was just trying to take it all in. The size of the stadium was incredible.”
The first Team GB athletes in action at Rio 2016 were actually in competition earlier in the day as archers Patrick Huston and Naomi Folkard contested the ranking round. Jen McIntosh will become the first Team GB athlete to compete for a medal at Rio 2016 in the women’s 10m Air Rifle as Day 1 of Rio 2016 gets underway. The day also sees the historic return of rugby to the Olympic programme and the sevens format is set to make its debut at Rio 2016. Team GB’s women will be in action, taking on Japan and hosts Brazil in the first of two days of pool matches before Monday’s finals.
All eyes will turn to the Copacabana later in the day as the men’s road race concludes with Chris Froome looking to add to his third Tour de France victory last month with gold in the men’s road race. The London 2012 time trial bronze medallist lines up alongside Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Adam Yates and Steve Cummings with the race concluding at around 8pm BST. The day also sees Team GB’s women’s hockey side take on Australia in their opening pool match and World Champion James Guy looking for a first swimming medal in the 400m freestyle.
Opening rounds are scheduled in the tennis, table tennis and boxing, Ashley McKenzie is the first judoka in action at the Games while our rowers take to the water in the first session of heats. Men’s qualification in the artistic gymnastics and the first day dressage featuring Gemma Tattersall and William Fox-Pitt round off an action-packed opening day for Team GB at Rio 2016.
Our super STEM pals Ignite! have got free spaces on their Community Curiosity Lab summer programme, which starts next week on Tuesday 9th August running through until Saturday 13th August at Bulwell Academy. It promises to be a brilliant week!
Many people think that science is difficult and not for them; but everyone is curious about something and the kinds of questions that young people ask can help families learn together. The Community Curiosity Labs take place in local social and community centres, and show how science can be fun, exciting and a part of our everyday lives.
Young people will work with scientists and mentors to work on investigations that they are interested in, go on trips to the university and learn how to communicate their investigations.
Sessions are aimed at children aged 10-12 and will run from 12:30 until 16:00 on all days except on Wednesday which will be a whole day with a trip to the University of Nottingham in the morning and a normal session in the afternoon.
To sign up please e-mail Hasmita Chavda on Hasmita@ignitefutures.org.uk or call 0115 873 6249 and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
About Ignite! and the CCL
Working with Nottingham City Homes and scientists from the University of Nottingham, Ignite! successfully piloted the Community Curiosity Labs over the summer of 2015, in the Strelley neighbourhood. Young people and their families explored science questions, through a series of fun experiments. It had an immediate impact on the community and the events were positively received by all the young people who atended. The second iteration of the Labs builds on the learning and partnerships from the first. Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the project will be supported by University of Nottingham, Nottingham City Homes, Bulwell Town Team and Bulwell Academy.
The summer break is now a week old and we hope you’re doing loads of great things to stay active whilst school’s out. Last term you might have been racking up the miles with Beat the Street and they’ve got another great opportunity for you to get going on across the city!
The Beat the Street team will be in 5 different parks in Nottingham over the summer holidays keeping an outdoor gym bike cycling continuously for as long as we can. And, they want you to come down, join in and help keep it going. The plan is to keep the bike cycling for as long as possible and set records in each area.
If you want to come and get involved and ride some miles for your local area, check the timetable below to see when you can come and join in!
Times and Dates
5th August from 10:00am at Heathfield Park, Basford
12th August from 10:00am Victoria Embankment, The Meadows
19th August from 10:00am Southglade Park, Top Valley/Bestwood
26nd August from 10:00am Wollaton Park
2nd September from 10:00am Forest Recreation Ground, Forest Fields/Hyson Green
