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      in Soccer

      Why is there no Team GB men’s football team when a women’s team are playing at Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

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      THE TOKYO OLYMPICS sees Great Britain field a women’s football team this summer, but there’s NO men’s side.Hege Riise, the Team GB head coach, named an 18-person squad for the games and they have already qualified for the quarter-finals.
      Team GB’s women were the first Brits to compete at the Tokyo Olympics as they beat Chile 2-0 in their football opener
      Why is there no Great Britain men’s football team at the Olympics?
      When London won the rights to hold the Olympics in 2012, Great Britain immediately began plans to enter a men’s team for the games.
      The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FA, however, expressed doubts over taking part over fears they would lose their Home Nations status which had been established by Fifa.

      Fifa president at the time Sepp Blatter assured all four nations that their individuality would not be lost, despite combining to create Team GB for the Olympics.
      A compromise was reached and only English and Welsh players took part for Team GB in London.
      Plans were put forward for a team to be created for the Rio Olympics in 2016, but they were once again rejected by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations.
      And subsequently, no efforts were made for a men’s team to enter the Tokyo games.

      Ryan Giggs captained the men’s Team GB side at the 2012 OlympicsCredit: PA:Press Association
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      But Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England says that potential success from the women’s team may spark up a revival for the men’s side.
      He said: “I would absolutely love to take a men’s football team to the Olympic Games.
      “I think the experiences that the women have had through the home country FAs hopefully will be that positive step and impetus for an open dialogue on men’s teams in the future.
      “Obviously the strength now that we can see in women’s football (means) we’d be very disappointed if, in France in Paris in 2024 and on to Los Angeles in 2028, we weren’t fielding competitive teams across all sports but in particular competitive teams in football as well.”
      However, even if the four football associations had agreed to a Team GB men’s side, they would not have qualified for the Olympics this year.
      The women qualified for the Olympic Games by virtue of England’s run to the semi-final of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
      However, qualification for the men’s tournament was decided by performance in the 2019 Under-21 European Championship.
      And in that tournament, England failed to get out of the group stage after being beaten by France and Romania.
      As a result of their runs to the semi-finals of that competition, France, Romania, Germany and Spain are Uefa’s representatives at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. More

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      in Athletics

      Tokyo 2020: Team GB’s Aimee Willmott fails to secure first Olympic medal with seventh-place finish in individual medley

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      AIMEE WILLMOTT’S hopes of crowning her career with an Olympic medal were shattered as she failed to deliver at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.The 28-year-old from Middlesbrough had been the second fastest qualifier for the 400m individual medley final.
      Team GB star Aimee Willmott finished seventh in her 400m individual medley finalCredit: PA
      But the exertions of Sunday night’s sessions too a heavy toll as Willmott faded to finish seventh behind home heroine Yui Ohashi, who became Japan’s second gold medal winner of the Games.
      Willmott’s final time of 4:38.30 was three seconds slower than her qualification swim.
      Americans Emma Weyant and Hali Flickinger took silver and bronze.
      She said: “I shocked myself in the heat but it was always going to be tough toi back that up and I didn’t have the time.
      “It seems to be seventh is where I’m at, after doing the same in Rio. But I’m happy with my career.”
      Her disappointment came after Max Litchfield just missed out on an unlikely medal in a humdinger of a 400m individual medley.
      Yorkshire’s Litchfield, whose younger brother Joe is also on Team GB, waa the slowest qualifier and only seventh after the butterfly leg.
      But as American Chase Kalisz went away from the field on the breaststroke leg to claim gold ahead of compatriot Jay Livingston, Litchfield made his move.
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      An excellent freestyle effort saw the 26-year-old close the gap but fall just short of bronze medallist Brendon Smith of Australia.
      Litchfield finished joint fourth in 4:10.59, just two tenths of a second behind Smith.
      Kalisz won in 4:09.42, more than five seconds outside Michael Phelps’ 2008 Olympic and world record.
      There was a major shock in the men’s 400m as Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnoui, the slowest qualifier, shocked the field with a stunning second half of the race.
      The 18-year-old was still second behind Aussie Jack McLoughlin with 50m to go but finished like a train to take gold in 3:43.36, with Kieran Smith of the USA third.
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      in Athletics

      Bryson DeChambeau OUT of Tokyo 2020 golf tournament after testing positive for Covid before leaving USA for the Olympics

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      AMERICAN golfer Bryson DeChambeau is OUT of the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for coronavirus.The 27-year-old has been replaced by Patrick Reed for Team USA ahead of the first round in Japan on Thursday.
      Bryson DeChambeau will not be competing for Team USA in Tokyo after testing positive for coronavirusCredit: Reuters
      DeChambeau has contracted Covid back in his homeland as part of the final testing before departing for Asia.
      And he has spoken of his disappointment at missing out on his first Olympic Games.
      He said: “I am deeply disappointed not to be able to compete in the Olympics for Team USA.
      “Representing my country means the world to me and it is was a tremendous honour to make this team.
      “I wish Team USA the best of luck next week in Tokyo.
      “I will now focus on getting healthy, and I look forward to returning to competition once I am cleared to do so.”
      Reed, who finished 11th at Rio 2016, is now undergoing his testing protocol before linking up with Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.
      Commenting on his call-up, he remarked: “I am so excited to have the opportunity to represent our country and be a part of Team USA in Tokyo.
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      “I wish Bryson nothing but the best, and I know how disappointed he is to not be able to compete, and I will do my best to play my best and represent our country.”
      USA Golf Executive Director Andy Levinson added: “We’re obviously disappointed for Bryson, as we know how much he was looking forward to representing the United States in his first Olympics.
      “But we’re thrilled that Patrick Reed is excited to play for his country when he is called upon, even with the strenuous testing protocols and he is set to arrive just in time to compete – on a golf course he will have never seen prior to the start of competition.
      “It really illustrates the importance of the Olympics and the value Patrick places on playing for Team USA and for his country.
      “We’re excited to welcome him to Tokyo soon and know he’ll be a formidable competitor for Team USA.”
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      in Athletics

      Tokyo 2020: Team GB’s European 400m champion Matthew Hudson-Smith out of Olympics on ‘medical grounds’ – but NOT Covid

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      TEAM GB’s European 400m king Matthew Hudson-Smith is out of the Olympics on medical grounds NOT related to Covid-19.The Wolverhampton sprinter, 26, has been replaced in the 4x400m relay squad by 21-year-old Welshman Joe Brier.
      Matthew Hudson-Smith is coming to terms with his Tokyo 2020 dream ending before it properly started, due to a medical problemCredit: Getty – Contributor
      West-Midlander Matthew Hudson-Smith won gold at the European Championships in 2018 but has pulled out of the OlympicsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Team GB confirmed Hudson-Smith’s withdrawal from Tokyo 2020 and Brier’s promotion from travelling reserve.
      Hudson-Smith was earmarked for superstardom when he won European 400m silver in 2014 aged 19 and made the Olympic final at Rio two years later.
      He then won gold at the European Championships in Berlin three years ago, plus silver in the 4x400m relay. 
      Just last month he told the BBC Sport was “never plain sailing for anyone”.
      He said: “I don’t want to be one of those athletes who looks back in their career and says they could have done more.

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      “I want to feel I have done everything in my power. That is what drives me.
      “It is never plain sailing for anyone in sport. Everyone goes through it.
      “You almost have to rediscover your passion and goals every day.”
      He had been spending his fourth season training in the USA, with Olympic 400m champions Wayde van Niekerk and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

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      Tokyo 2020 organisers forced to move events due to typhoon threat that could hit Olympics in coming days More

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      in Soccer

      Egypt vs Argentina FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Olympic Games football

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      ARGENTINA are staring down the barrel at elimination as they take on Egypt in Olympic football.The Albiceleste were beaten 2-0 by Australia in their first match and will be desperate to win today with a strong Spain side to come in their final game.
      Argentina will be out of the Olympic Games if they lose to EgyptCredit: Alamy
      Egypt are in a slightly better position, having held Spain to a goalless draw in their opener.
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      What time does Egypt vs Argentina kick off?

      Egypt take on Argentina on Sunday, July 25.
      The match kicks off at 8.30am UK time – 4.30pm in Tokyo.
      It will be played at the Sapporo Dome – a venue that already holds some bad memories for the Argentines as they were beaten there 1-0 by England in the 2002 World Cup.

      What TV channel is Egypt vs Argentina on and can I live stream it?

      Egypt vs Argentina will be an online-only event in the UK.
      You can find it on the EuroSport Player or discovery+.

      Can I watch Egypt vs Argentina for free?

      Team news
      Left-back Francisco Ortega is suspended for this game after his sending off against Australia.
      Marcelo Herrera is set to come in in his place.
      Manager Sergio Baptista may opt to bring in Ezequiel Ponce or Pedro de la Vega ahead of under pressure Adolfo Gaich.
      Egypt are likely to continue with a five-man defence that has Ahmed Hegazi at its heart.
      Ahmed Yasser Rayan should start up front.
      Latest odds
      Egypt 4/1
      Draw 5/2
      Argentina 7/10
      *Odds from Betfair correct as of Saturday, July 24 More

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      in Athletics

      Tokyo 2020: Youngest Olympics competitor Hend Zaza, 12, loses to table tennis opponent 27 years older

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      THE Olympics’ youngest competitor has crashed out of the Tokyo Games in the preliminary round of the women’s table tennis event.Team Syria star Hend Zaza, 12, lost in straight sets against Austrian opponent Liu Jia who is 27 years her senior.
      Syrian star Hend Zaza, 12, is out of the Olympics after losing to Austria’s Liu JiaCredit: Getty
      Veteran table tennis player Jia won 4-0 in straight sets against Zaza in TokyoCredit: Reuters
      Chinese-born athlete Jia, 39, won 11-4, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 to secure her place in the first round.
      But Zaza, who is the youngest Olympian since Spanish rower Carlos Front in 1992, more than held her own.
      She was even leading 6-2 in the second set, only for the veteran player to show her class.
      Speaking after her Olympics debut, Zaza said: “It was very tough to mentally be prepared for (the Olympics).
      “But I think I somehow managed to overcome this, and this is the part that I think I did the best during the match.
      “The main lesson was the loss of this match, especially in the first match.
      “So next time, I will be working hard to pass the first, second, third round, because I want to play more in this competition.”
      Zaza – the fifth-youngest person to compete in the Olympics in the modern era – secured her entry at Tokyo after winning West Asia Olympic qualification tournament in Jordan last year.
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      Her coach Adham Jamaan has stated she has only been able to play up to three external games a year due to the Syrian Civil War.
      Commenting on her upbringing, Zaza remarked: “For the last five years, I’ve been through many different experiences.
      “Especially with the war happening around the country and the postponement of the funding for the Olympics.
      “It was very tough, but I had to fight for it. And this is my message to everyone who is in the same situation — fight for your dream.
      “Try hard regardless of the difficulties that you’re having and you will reach your hope.”
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      in Athletics

      First Tokyo 2020 Olympic cancellation due to Covid as women’s beach volleyball game scrapped after player tests positive

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      THE opening match of the women’s beach volleyball event at the Tokyo Olympics was cancelled due to coronavirus.Czech Republic star Marketa Slukova tested positive for Covid earlier this year – which knocked her and partner Barbora Hermannova out of the Games.
      Czech Republic women’s beach volleyball pair Marketa Slukova and Barbora Hermannova are out of the Olympics due to coronavirusCredit: Reuters
      Their game on Saturday became the first event of the Tokyo Games to be called off due to Covid.
      As a result, Japan’s pair of Megumi Murakami and Miki Ishii have been handed a 2-0 victory.
      So far there have been six confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Czech Republic Olympic team, including Slukova’s husband and coach Simon Nausch.
      Men’s beach volleyball ace Ondrej Perusic has also tested positive, along with table tennis player Pavel Sirucek and cyclist Michal Schlegel.
      Slukova has spoken of her dismay at being unable to compete in the Olympics as she claimed she was reduced to tears.
      She remarked: “It’s awfully sad for me, that Barbora and me, we had to quit this way.”
      Before adding: “We cried, then we swore, then we cried again.
      “I am just hoping that no other athletes will follow us.
      “Because I think that something like this is a nightmare for any athlete, for any Olympian, who gets this far, this close to the Olympic competition.”
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      All of those in the Czech team that tested positive arrived in Tokyo in the same charter plane, prompting the country’s Olympic Committee to launch an investigation.
      The Committee said: “The investigation will focus on whether all safety measures against COVID-19 spread were upheld before, during, and after the flight and whether some individuals have neglected their duties.”
      A total of 14 athletes were on the plane from Prague to Tokyo, with the other people on the flight testing negative on their PCR tests.
      Commenting on the cases, Czech team doctor Martin Doktor declared: “The situation is serious.
      “We have done our best to stop spreading the virus. Unfortunately, we didn’t avoid sport tragedies. I’m deeply sorry.”
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      in Boxing

      Tokyo 2020: Team GB boxing brothers Pat & Luke McCormack hope ‘jail craic’ Olympic cocoon can help them make history

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      PAT AND LUKE McCORMACK reckon the “jail craic” of Tokyo hotel life can help them make history.The boxing twins from Sunderland, 26, do not shy away from their bad boy pasts.
      Luke McCormack is ready to take on the Tokyo Games – and is fully focused on successCredit: Getty
      His twin brother Pat is also in Japan as they put their bad boy pasts behind themCredit: Reuters
      Pat admitted: “If you are around bad stuff you can get dragged into it.
      “Without boxing I definitely know my life could have turned out an awful lot worse. It’s kept me out of trouble.”
      Despite that, neither welterweight Pat nor lightweight Luke really trust themselves if they are let off the leash.
      So being confined to their training camp in Yokohama, and now the Olympic Village, is the only sure way they will not waste their chance to become the first British brothers to win gold.
      Luke said: “It’s got my head a little bit battered having to stay in all the time.
      “But if we were allowed to do whatever we wanted to do, after we finished training at six o’clock we’d be off and out.
      “It’s worked out better for us because you can’t make any mistakes.
      “When you come over here there’s a lot of stuff to do to get sidetracked. But in the hotel you’re eating right and going to bed early, at 9.30pm.
      “A late night can mess you up. We’re making the most of it.
      “When we’re in camp we call it ‘jail craic’ because we’re with each other all the time. So it’s just like jail craic.”

      That the twins’ banter has an edge is not in doubt. They are, unquestionably, instinctively hardcore party animals.
      But both can fight, too, part of a crack squad that has the quality to exceed the five medals — including golds for Anthony Joshua, Luke Campbell and Nicola Adams — won in London 2012.
      Pat is world No 1 and favourite for gold, with team captain Frazer  Clarke calling him “the standout  fighter” in the squad.
      Luke is up against Indian army officer Manish Kaushik tomorrow morning.
      He has what it takes in his division, after missing out on selection in Brazil   — although there was an upside.
      Luke recalled: “It was tough not to make it to Rio but I knew my time would come.
      “I always knew I would make it to Tokyo. I’ve improved probably ten times.
      “When Pat came back, everybody thought I was him. So I was getting free drinks every weekend. It was cush.”

      Pat, though, has an Olympic score to settle, still convinced he was robbed in his last 16 clash against Cuban bronze medallist  Yasniel  Toledo last time out.
      He said: “If I can win the Olympic gold I know I will become a big name 100 per cent because of what the sport means.
      “It’s the biggest stage an amateur can get, with the world watching. It’s your chance to become a hero.
      “I know I belong at the very top level. I’ve done my apprenticeship and had my bad decisions and I’m looking to bring the gold home.
      “Being the No 1 seed makes me feel better because I’m meant to win it.
      “I was seeded No 1 in the Europeans and got gold and No 2 in the world when I got silver so I want to be No 1 seed because I know I can meet that.
      “I’d rather be the No 1 seed, expected to win gold, than the underdog who had to pull out a big win.”
      Although maybe, just maybe, not against his fiercest rival of all.
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      Luke added: “If we’re playing a game against each other there’s a high level of competition.
      “We’re not really allowed to spar much because it gets out of hand. It always did when we were younger.
      “But when it comes to boxing, there’s no rivalry. I want to see him win and he wants to see me win.”
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      What to expect from Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic games More