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    Sweden stun USA women’s football team in shock 3-0 win at Tokyo 2020 to end favourites’ 44-match unbeaten streak

    SWEDEN ended the US women’s team’s 44-match unbeaten run in emphatic style with a 3-0 win at the Tokyo Olympics.The world’s No.1 ranked side were given a humbling masterclass by the Swedes in what was their first loss since January 2019.
    Sweden ended the USA’s 44-match unbeaten run with a stunning 3-0 win at Tokyo 2020Credit: AP
    It was the American’s first loss since January 2019Credit: Getty
    Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius delivered the US a devastating double before Lina Hurtig put the final nail in their coffin.
    Blackstenius, 25, opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a header, before striking again in the 54th.
    And Juventus star Hurtig added the third in the last twenty minutes.
    Before the game the US were the tournament’s favourites and their loss puts a huge dent in their hopes of becoming the first team to follow up a World Cup winner’s trophy with an Olympic gold.
    US winger and OL Reign captain Megan Rapinoe, who came on as a second-half sub in the game, was brutally honest about her side’s thumping.
    The 36-year-old veteran didn’t mince her words and admitted that the US had got their arses kicked by Peter Gerhardsson’s side.
    She told NBC Sports: “We got our arses kicked, didn’t we? I thought we were a little tight, a little nervous, just doing dumb stuff.”
    But it’s not the first time that the Swedes have rained on the US Olympic parade.
    They also knocked them out of the competition five years ago at the quarter-final stage on penalties.
    The Team GB squad will be keeping tabs on the US side’s form throughout the group stages in Tokyo.
    The Americans are one of the teams who stand in their way of gold glory at the Olympics.
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    And after Team GB’s enthralling 2-0 win over Chile, fans are daring to dream of the shiny prize.
    Manchester City ace Ellen White stole the show with a double for Hege Riise’s side.
    Both strikes, one in each half, were close-range – from a combined distance of nine yards – but they have gone a long way to sending GB towards the knock-out phase.
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    Fara Williams reacts to Team GB’s winning start in Olympic football More

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    Team GB Women 2 Chile Women 0 LIVE REACTION: White brace secures opening victory in Group B for Hege Riise’s side

    TEAM GB registered their first win of the Olympics with a win over Chile in their opening Group B game in Sapporo.Ellen White’s brace, with a goal in each half, was enough to secure a vital three points for Hege Riise’s side.

    RESULT: GB 2-0 Chila
    Team GB team: Roebuck; Bronze, Houghton (c), Bright, Daly; Little, Walsh, Weir, Stanway, White, Hemp.
    Chile team: Endler (c), Nayadet, Pardo, Guerrero, Saez Oyaneder, Zamora, Araya, Lara, Aedo, Lopez, Urrutia.

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    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
    MAKING OUR MARK
    That’s a good statement for the next games that are coming up.Hege RiiseTeam GB women’s coach
    COACH RIISE ON GB’S WIN
    White’s double was exactly what coach Hege Riise wanted and she hailed her sharpshooter.
    Riise said: “We trust Ellen to score goals and she does.
    “But it’s not just that. She fights hard and works 90 minutes to score and get others in. She is important to the team and gives confidence to the team.”
    Riise added: “We talked about how we had been waiting for this game a long time and were eager to start.
    “You could see that everywhere on the field.
    “Our start was exceptional. The first 30 minutes was the best we have played and we kept it going.
    “It wasn’t pretty the whole game but we fought and managed to get the win we wanted, kept them away from our goal and scored twice.
    ELLEN WHITE ON GOALS
    “It was a great knock down by Lauren Hemp for the first and an amazing cross by Lucy Bronze for the second.
    “We’ve worked hard on fitness, strength and conditioning and in training to build connections and relationships.
    “So we feel really delighted but there’s more to come. I feel we can grow and develop as this tournament goes on.”
    As a squad and staff we worked really hard for this moment and I’m proud of the whole squad but it doesn’t stop here for us.Ellen WhiteTeam GB striker
    WE WERE ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT
    Ellen White gave Team GB a dream Olympics start and vowed: “This is just the beginning,” writes MARTIN LIPTON.
    England ace White, the goalscoring star of the 2019 World Cup semi-final run, was back doing what she does best with one in each half as Chile were outplayed 2-0 in Sapporo.
    White said: “I’m delighted to contribute to the team and score two.
    “I feel really proud to open the Olympic Games with Team GB.”
    GOLDEN MOMENT
    The Britain team dropped to take the knee prior to kick off against Chile.
    Chile stopped for a short moment before they too joined in the gesture in their entirety 👏

    NEXT UP
    Tougher games lie in wait for the Team GB women’s side.
    And they start on Saturday against hosts Japan.
    Group E is then concluded next Tuesday against Canada.
    But it’s a win to start the group and just the ideal start that Hege Riise would have wanted.
    CELE TIME
    Trademark celebration from Team GB’s hero on matchday one.

    PROCEDURE TIME
    An idea of the procedures in place as staff spray the park with disinfectant at full time, seconds after the players leave the pitch!

    DOMINANT STUFF
    The full-time stats don’t really do it justice, despite them also showing the heavy dominance GB had.
    Possession – GB 61%; Chile 39%
    Attempts at goal – GB 20; Chile 2
    On target – GB 7; Chile 1
    Corners – GB 4; Chile 0
    FT: TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    A routine win for the GB side who really could and should have won by more.
    An Ellen White double was enough to get the Olympics off to a flying start for the whole Team GB Olympics squad.

    PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!
    FULL-TIME IN SAPPORO: TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    90+4′ Parris shows great pace down the right and has White in the box but opts to keep possession instead.
    They look to see the game out at this point.
    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    90+2′ Chance for Chile down the right with Acuna in plenty of room.
    A heavy touch allows Bright to come across and see the ball out of play for a goal kick, despite Acuna’s best attempt at winning a free kick with a couple of rolls.
    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    90+1′ An even later GB change as the other Scotland star is given an early rest

    OFF – Little
    ON – Toone

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    89′ Late GB change.

    OFF – Weir
    ON – Scott

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    87′ Roebuck called into action after an aimless cross is sent into the box.
    She screams before claiming the ball unchallenged.
    Forgot she was playing in this second half……
    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    85′ Houghton reads an attempted counter on halfway and breaks herself.
    She has Parris wide on the right in acres of room but opts for a strike at goal from 25 yards which is blocked.

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    82′ Damage limitation as Chile look to see out the game at just a two-goal defeat.
    White flicks on for Parris inside the area but her header is wide.
    Then a clipped ball is headed down by Daly looking for White but it’s slashed away.
    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    80′ Chile sub:

    OFF – Lopez
    ON – Balmaceda

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    79′ Rachel Daly gets forward down the left.
    She drops inside on her right foot and fires a powerful strike at goal, straight down the throat of Endler who catches.
    THE SECOND GOAL
    A really well worked goal to double the GB lead

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    77′ Chile change

    OFF – Aedo
    ON – Acuna

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    74′ Another chance for Little as the ball flies up in the air.
    The Scottish midfielder with a volley from 15 yards which she balloons well over.

    TEAM GB 2-0 CHILE
    That SHOULD be that!
    Parris has the ball inside the box and does well to pick out Bronze outside the area.
    She drifts by a challenge and clips a ball to the back post where White acrobatically volleys home from eight yards.
    Load more entries… More

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    Football fixtures at Tokyo Olympics: Who will Team GB women play and when do the men’s fixtures take place?

    IF Euro 2020 wasn’t exciting enough, there is plenty more football to come at the Tokyo Olympics.And Team GB have their women’s side BACK at the Games, where they are looking to go for the gold they missed out on at London 2012.
    Brazil took gold last time out at Rio 2016, after beating Germany in a penalty shoot-out in the finalCredit: Splash News
    Team GB’s women starred at the London 2012 Games but were knocked out in the semi finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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    The likes of France, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Germany will be competing in Japan as football makes it’s long awaited return to the Olympics.
    The Team GB women’s football team will be right in the mix as well.
    The tournament itself will start on Wednesday, July 22 – two days before the opening ceremony – until Saturday, August 8.
    Hege Riise’s women’s side are due to play Chile in the first match of the tournament in Group E, on July 21 before also playing Canada and Chile in their other initial group games, which will all be played at the Sapporo Stadium. 
    Team GB women’s Group E fixtures:

    Wednesday, July 21 – Great Britain vs Chile – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    Saturday, July 24 – Japan vs Great Britain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    Tuesday, July 27 – Canada vs Great Britain – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)

    *Kick off times marked approximate are because games are clustered into sets of two, the Olympic organisers only give kick-off times for the early matches.
    What are the Olympic football groups?
    The men’s competition will consist of sixteen teams split up four by four per group and the women’s competition will consist of 12 teams split up in three groups.
    Men’s groups

    Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France
    Group B: New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras, Romania
    Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia
    Group D: Brazil, Germany, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia

    Women’s groups

    Group E: Japan, Great Britain, Chile, Canada
    Group F: Brazil, Netherlands, China, Zambia
    Group G: USA, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand

    The GB Women’s team qualified for the Olympics by virtue of England’s performance at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when they finished fourth in France.
    Defending champions Germany will not field a women’s side at the Olympics after they lost their World Cup quarter-final to Sweden.
    And unlike the men’s event – which is an under-23 tournament – the Olympics is one of women’s football’s biggest events, with no age restrictions.
    Olympic football fixtures in full
    Games in the same group are being played two at a time in various stadia, so second kick-off times are approximate.
    Wednesday July 21 – Women

    E: Great Britain vs Chile – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    E: Japan vs Canada – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    F: China vs Brazil – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    F: Zambia vs Netherlands – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: Sweden vs USA – 9.30am UK (5.30pm Japan)
    G: Australia vs New Zealand – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Thursday July 22 – Men

    C: Egypt vs Spain – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    C: Argentina vs Australia – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    A: Mexico vs France – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    A: Japan vs South Africa – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    B: New Zealand vs South Korea – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    B: Honduras vs Romania – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Ivory Coast vs Saudi Arabia – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    D: Brazil vs Germany – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Saturday July 24 – Women

    E: Chile vs Canada – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    E: Japan vs Great Britain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    F: China vs Zambia – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    F: Netherlands vs Brazil – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: Sweden vs Australia – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    G: New Zealand vs USA – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Sunday July 25 – Men

    C: Egypt vs Argentina – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Spain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    B: New Zealand vs Honduras – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    B: Romania vs South Korea- 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    A: France vs South Africa – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    A: Japan vs Mexico – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Brazil vs Ivory Coast – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    D: Saudi Arabia vs Germany – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Tuesday July 27 – Women

    G: New Zealand vs Sweden – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    E: Chile vs Japan – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: USA vs Australia – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    E: Canada vs Great Britain – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    F: Brazil vs Zambia – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan)
    F: Netherlands vs China – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan)

    Wednesday July 28 – Men

    D: Germany vs Ivory Coast – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Egypt – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Saudi Arabia vs Brazil – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Egypt – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    B: Romania vs New Zealand – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    A: South Africa vs Mexico – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)
    B: South Korea vs Honduras – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    A: France vs Japan – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Friday July 30 – Women

    Women’s quarter final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 2 – 10am UK (6pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 3 – 11am UK (7pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 4 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Saturday July 31 – Men

    Men’s quarter final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 2 – 10am UK (6pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 3 – 11am UK (7pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 4 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Monday August 2 – Women

    Women’s semi final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Women’s semi final 2 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Tuesday August 3 – Men

    Men’s semi final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Men’s semi final 2 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Thursday August 5 – Women

    Women’s bronze medal match – 9am UK (5pm Japan)

    Friday August 6 – Women and Men

    Women’s gold medal final – 3am UK (11am Japan)
    Men’s bronze medal match – 12 Noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Saturday August 7 – Men

    Men’s gold medal final – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan) More

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    Team GB Women vs Chile Women FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Olympic Football clash

    TEAM GB’s Women Football team are on the medal hunt in Tokyo as they take on Chile Women in their opening group fixture.Competing in this event for the first time since 2012, the 18-strong women’s side is packed with international experience and will be hopeful of going far in the tournament.

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    Team GB Women’s Olympic squad was announced in MayCredit: PA
    They have been drawn in Group E alongside Chile, hosts Japan and Canada.
    When is Team GB Women vs Chile Women?

    This opening group game will take place on Wednesday, July 21.
    Kick-off is at 8.30am BST.
    There are three groups in the women’s side of the draw, going from E-G.
    This is to avoid confusion with the men’s draw, which has groups labelled from A-D.

    Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
    There are a number of ways to watch this game here in the UK – and it will be shown on free-to-air TV.
    You can watch the match unfold live on BBC Two and Eurosport 1.
    Coverage will also be streamed on the BBC iPlayer, Eurosport Player and Discovery+.
    Lucy Bronze in training with the side at LoughboroughCredit: PA

    What is the team news?
    There are a number of high-profile stars in Team GB’s ranks, with Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and Ellen White all having represented the squad at London 2012.
    Lauren Hemp is the youngest member at just 20 years old, while Sandy MacIver, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Niamh Charles and Ella Toone are all on the reserve list.
    FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Lucy Bronze is also in the squad.
    Team GB Women’s fixtures

    Team GB vs Chile Women, Wednesday July 21 – 8.30am BST
    Japan Women vs Team GB, Saturday July 24 – 11.30am BST
    Canada Women vs Team GB, Tuesday July 27 – midday BST More

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    Football fixtures at Tokyo Olympics: Who will Team GB women play and what sides are in the men’s draw?

    IF Euro 2020 wasn’t exciting enough, there is plenty more football to come at the Tokyo Olympics.And Team GB have their women’s team BACK at the Games, where they are looking to go for the gold they missed out on at London 2012.
    Brazil took gold last time out at Rio 2016, after beating Germany in a penalty shoot-out in the finalCredit: Splash News
    Team GB’s women starred at the London 2012 Games but were knocked out in the semi finalsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The likes of France, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Germany will be competing in Japan as football makes it’s long awaited return to the Olympics.
    The Team GB women’s football team will be right in the mix as well.
    The tournament itself will start on Wednesday, July 22 – two days before the opening ceremony – until Saturday, August 8.
    Hege Riise’s women’s side are due to play Chile in the first match of the tournament in Group E, on July 21 before also playing Canada and Chile in their other initial group games, which will all be played at the Sapporo Stadium. 
    ⚽️ EXPLAINED: Why is there a Team GB women’s team but no men’s team?
    Team GB women’s Group E fixtures:

    Wednesday, July 21 – Great Britain vs Chile – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    Saturday, July 24 – Japan vs Great Britain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    Tuesday, July 27 – Canada vs Great Britain – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)

    *Kick off times marked approximate are because games are clustered into sets of two, the Olympic organisers only give kick-off times for the early matches.
    What are the Olympic football groups?
    The men’s competition will consist of sixteen teams split up four by four per group and the women’s competition will consist of 12 teams split up in three groups.
    Men’s groups

    Group A: Japan, South Africa, Mexico, France
    Group B: New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras, Romania
    Group C: Egypt, Spain, Argentina, Australia
    Group D: Brazil, Germany, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia

    Women’s groups

    Group E: Japan, Great Britain, Chile, Canada
    Group F: Brazil, Netherlands, China, Zambia
    Group G: USA, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand

    The GB Women’s team qualified for the Olympics by virtue of England’s performance at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when they finished fourth in France.
    Defending champions Germany will not field a women’s side at the Olympics after they lost their World Cup quarter-final to Sweden.
    And unlike the men’s event – which is an under-23 tournament – the Olympics is one of women’s football’s biggest events, with no age restrictions.
    Olympic football fixtures in full
    Games in the same group are being played two at a time in various stadia, so second kick-off times are approximate.
    Wednesday July 21 – Women

    E: Great Britain vs Chile – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    E: Japan vs Canada – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    F: China vs Brazil – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    F: Zambia vs Netherlands – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: Sweden vs USA – 9.30am UK (5.30pm Japan)
    G: Australia vs New Zealand – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Thursday July 22 – Men

    C: Egypt vs Spain – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    C: Argentina vs Australia – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    A: Mexico vs France – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    A: Japan vs South Africa – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    B: New Zealand vs South Korea – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    B: Honduras vs Romania – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Ivory Coast vs Saudi Arabia – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    D: Brazil vs Germany – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Saturday July 24 – Women

    E: Chile vs Canada – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    E: Japan vs Great Britain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    F: China vs Zambia – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    F: Netherlands vs Brazil – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: Sweden vs Australia – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    G: New Zealand vs USA – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Sunday July 25 – Men

    C: Egypt vs Argentina – 8.30am UK (4.30pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Spain – 11am UK approx (7pm Japan)
    B: New Zealand vs Honduras – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    B: Romania vs South Korea- 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    A: France vs South Africa – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    A: Japan vs Mexico – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Brazil vs Ivory Coast – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    D: Saudi Arabia vs Germany – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Tuesday July 27 – Women

    G: New Zealand vs Sweden – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    E: Chile vs Japan – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    G: USA vs Australia – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    E: Canada vs Great Britain – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    F: Brazil vs Zambia – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan)
    F: Netherlands vs China – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan)

    Wednesday July 28 – Men

    D: Germany vs Ivory Coast – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Egypt – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    D: Saudi Arabia vs Brazil – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    C: Australia vs Egypt – 11.30am UK approx (7.30pm Japan)
    B: Romania vs New Zealand – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    A: South Africa vs Mexico – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)
    B: South Korea vs Honduras – 9.30am UK (5.30am Japan)
    A: France vs Japan – 12 Noon UK approx (8pm Japan)

    Friday July 30 – Women

    Women’s quarter final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 2 – 10am UK (6pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 3 – 11am UK (7pm Japan)
    Women’s quarter final 4 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Saturday July 31 – Men

    Men’s quarter final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 2 – 10am UK (6pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 3 – 11am UK (7pm Japan)
    Men’s quarter final 4 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Monday August 2 – Women

    Women’s semi final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Women’s semi final 2 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Tuesday August 3 – Men

    Men’s semi final 1 – 9am UK (5pm Japan)
    Men’s semi final 2 – 12 noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Thursday August 5 – Women

    Women’s bronze medal match – 9am UK (5pm Japan)

    Friday August 6 – Women and Men

    Women’s gold medal final – 3am UK (11am Japan)
    Men’s bronze medal match – 12 Noon UK (8pm Japan)

    Saturday August 7 – Men

    Men’s gold medal final – 12.30pm UK (8.30pm Japan) More

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    Inside Tokyo’s Covid-19 secure Olympic and Paralympic village – where athletes are forced to sleep in anti-sex beds

    TOKYO is a city full of famous buildings and iconic architecture.And its Olympic and Paralympic Village comes across as a homely, if slightly sterile, home for athletes that will descend upon it next month.
    Olympians will sleep in eco-friendly, anti-sex single bedsCredit: Getty
    Chairs will bring some colour to athletes’ roomsCredit: Getty
    Stars will be instructed to eat alone in the dining areaCredit: Getty
    Athletes will sleep in single beds, with decoration kept to a minimum within the Covid-19 secure bubble.
    The Tokyo 2020 pads possess a clean feel, while tenants will be ordered to eat alone.
    Rio’s 2016 Olympics was a Tinder hotspot, with matches having rocketed up 129 per cent in the area during the games.
    Sex is set to be BANNED at this summer’s edition – but precautions have been taken anyway.
    Organisers are distributing a staggering 160,000 condoms for the event, to encourage romping athletes to be safe.
    The official line is that the mass distribution is to ‘raise awareness’.
    And rule-breaking rompers could be left red-faced if they attempt to have threesomes, as the beds will likely COLLAPSE.
    Tokyo organisers are committed to being as eco-friendly as possible, with each bed having been built from recycled cardboard.
    Athletes will take questions in a state of the art media centreCredit: Getty
    Athletes will walk these streets between July 23 and August 8Credit: Alamy
    Press were given a tour of the village this morningCredit: Getty
    FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

    A spokesperson for Airweave, who made the beds, stated: “We’ve conducted experiments, like dropping weights on top of the beds.
    “As long as they stick to just two people in the bed, they should be strong enough to support the load.”
    In the main dining hall, where athletes will be instructed to eat alone, hand sanitising stations are a regular feature.
    Pink and orange signs add some colour to the otherwise dull features.
    And multi-coloured chairs aim for the same effect.
    Competitors will be tested by anti-doping officials hereCredit: Getty
    Beds will be fully recyclableCredit: EPA
    The world’s greatest athletes will descend upon TokyoCredit: Getty

    Snowboard king Shaun White talks about sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll in Olympic village More

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    Australian basketball star Elizabeth Cambage pulls out of Tokyo Olympics over ‘terrifying’ coronavirus bubble in Japan

    AUSTRALIAN basketball star Elizabeth Cambage has pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics over fears of living in a Covid-19 bubble.Several athletes have already withdrawn from the Games due to Covid concerns, with British tennis player Dan Evans testing positive for the virus.
    Elizabeth Cambage, 29, has pulled out of the Olympics due to mental health concernsCredit: Getty
    Tokyo’s 68,000-seater stadium, built for the Olympics, will be empty this summerCredit: EPA
    All athletes competing in the delayed Games will be forced to live in a bio-secure bubble in Tokyo until their participation ends.
    Social contact will be kept to a minimum during that time, with stars even being forced to eat alone.
    There are fears the strict environment will have a detrimental effect on the mental wellbeing of the athletes, with Cambage being the first to pull out.
    The 29-year-old said: “Anyone that knows me knows one of my biggest dreams is winning an Olympic gold medal with the Opals.
    “Every athlete competing in the Olympic games should be at their mental and physical peak, and at the moment, I’m a long way from where I want and need to be.
    “It’s no secret that in the past I’ve struggled with my mental health and recently I’ve been worried about heading into a ‘bubble’ Olympics.
    “No family. No friends. No fans. No support system outside of my team.
    “It’s honestly terrifying for me. The past month I have been having panic attacks, not sleeping and not eating.
    “Relying on daily medication to control my anxiety is not the place I want to be right now. Especially walking into competition on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
    “I know myself, and I know I can’t be the Liz everyone deserves to see compete for the Opals. Not right now at least.
    “I need to take care of myself mentally and physically.
    “It breaks my heart to announce I’m withdrawing from the Olympics, but I think it’s best for the Opals and myself.
    “I wish them nothing but the best of luck in Tokyo and I hop they go forth and win a gold medal.”
    The Olympics are due to begin on July 23 – despite several athletes pulling out of the Games due to Covid-related problems.

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    Tennis stars Evans, Alex de Minaur and Johanna Konta have all been forced to withdraw from the event due to a positive Covid test.
    And tennis icon Serena Williams has decided against competing, although she hasn’t clarified whether the pandemic is a reason for her decision.
    Covid cases in Tokyo have hit a six-month high and there are fears the Olympics could become a super spreader event.
    Fans will not be in attendance at the Games but thousands of people are still expected to flood in and out of Japan in the coming weeks.
    The lack of spectators has led to tennis star Nick Kyrgios withdrawing, claiming ‘it doesn’t sit right with me’ to play with no fans.
    The Olympic village in Tokyo is deserted ahead of the GamesCredit: AP
    British tennis star Dan Evans will miss the Olympics after contracting Covid-19Credit: Getty
    Man Utd hero Gary Neville pulls hamstring during race with Team GB’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics star Dina Asher-Smith More

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    Team GB footballers confirm they WILL take knee before kick-off at Tokyo Olympics in defiance after England race shame

    TEAM GB footballers have confirmed they will take a knee before their Olympic matches.Sun Sport revealed last week that the squad, under head coach Hege Riise, had been determined to follow the stance used in the WSL as well as men’s football since last year’s restart.
    Riise has confirmed that her Team GB will be taking the knee before their games at the Tokyo 2020 gamesCredit: Reuters
    It had potentially brought the Team GB players, including two Scots and one from Wales, into conflict with Games chiefs.
    But a reversal allowing pre-match gestures sealed the deal.
    In a statement, Team GB said: “The Team GB Women’s Football squad have confirmed their intention to take the knee on the field of play ahead of kick-off in their games at the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Football tournament in Japan.
    “The squad welcomed recent clarification provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in relation to Rule 50 which now permits athletes to make gestures on the field of play, provided they are done so without disruption and with respect for fellow competitors.”
    The confirmation came as Riise announced the captaincy of the side will be rotated in the three group games to reflect the unique circumstances of three Home Nations being united under one flag.
    England skipper Steph Houghton, Wales captain Sophie Ingle and Scotland vice-captain Kim Little will each wear the armband in the opening three games against Chile, Japan and Canada.
    Team GB’s opening two matches are in Sapporo, with the side the first British athletes in action on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony.
    Riise said: “We are fortunate to have so many experienced and talented players in our squad and we think of ourselves as a ‘leaderful’ team.
    The Team GB are determined to use the stance which has been widely used in the WSL and Premier LeagueCredit: PA
    Their decision to take the stance comes after Rashford, Sancho and Saka were racially abused following their penalty misses in the Euro 2020 finalCredit: Getty
    “Where every individual brings their own leadership strengths to the group.
    “However Steph, Sophie and Kim will lead the way on the pitch.
    “This is a very close group on and off the pitch and I have been so impressed how they have all come together.
    “When you get to an Olympics you realise you are part of something veryspecial and I know the players and support team are determined to give everything they can.”
    About the decision to kneel – as both England and Wales did before all their games in Euro 2020 – Riise added: “The players and staff have been taking the knee at club and international level for over a year now.
    “And we were all united in our decision to continue doing whatever we can to raise awareness of racism and discrimination in all itsforms.
    “Standing in unity and solidarity with all those whose lives are affected.
    “We are clear that taking the knee is an important symbol of peaceful protest against discrimination, injustice and inequality in society.
    “And we are glad that the IOC have acknowledged the importance of this form of freedom of expression.
    “We will do so with The utmost respect for our fellow competitors, officials and the IOC, with due regard for the ideals that lie at the heart of the Olympic movement.”
    Team GB’s decision to take the knee comes shortly after England stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Buyako Saka were all racially abused following their penalty misses against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

    The trio were subjected to vile abuse from trolls on Twitter which has outraged the nation.
    Manchester United ace Rashford had his mural in the city vandalised. which left him on the brink of tears, but it was covered with messages of support shortly after.
    His new United team-mate Sancho also revealed he was saddened by the horrific jibes but declared that hate will never win.
    Hege Riise is appointed Team GB women’s football head coach for Tokyo Olympics More