dates, times and key events to watch

After a one-year delay brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic Video games are lastly upon us. With greater than 11,000 athletes competing in nearly 350 occasions over 17 days, discovering the highlights will be bewildering. 

The viewing schedule beneath has been compiled by our Olympics consultants to make sure that when to tune in for the important thing occasions. The complete schedule for every day of competitors will be discovered on the backside of that day’s entry.

Saturday July 24 

5 must-watch occasions

03:00-10:15: Biking, males’s highway race
4 British riders will bid for achievement with Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart and twin brothers Simon and Adam Yates all in motion. All bar the latter come into the Video games off the again of this yr’s Tour de France whereas Chris Froome, winner of medals on the final two Olympics, missed out on choice for Tokyo.

03:00-12:00: Tennis, males’s and ladies’s singles and doubles first spherical
Andy Murray has made the Olympics area his personal in recent times, profitable back-to-back gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Whereas a variety of huge names have declined to participate in Tokyo, together with Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, Murray, who underwent hip surgical procedure in 2019, is again once more to guide the British workforce. 

08:30-13:30: Soccer, ladies’s group stage, Japan v Nice Britain
Having opted towards sending a workforce for the Rio Video games, Britain can be hoping to win a medal right here below supervisor Hege Riise. They play the second match of their marketing campaign in Sapporo towards Olympic hosts Japan, who England beat within the 2019 World Cup group stage.

10:30-14:15: Hockey, males’s pool levels: Nice Britain v South Africa
Britain’s first job at these Video games can be to make it out of the pool stage – one thing they unexpectedly did not do final time round in Rio. Since that shock consequence, England have completed fourth within the 2018 World Cup and fourth on the 2021 EuroHockey Nations Championship, and GB start their marketing campaign towards one of many weaker sides within the competitors.

11:00-13:30: Swimming, males’s 100m breaststroke heats
Over the previous six years, Britain’s Adam Peaty has proved he has no rival over the 100m breaststroke. The reigning Olympic and triple world 100m breaststroke champion has the 20 quickest occasions in historical past and his world report is greater than a second faster than anybody else has ever managed. Count on easy progress right here.

Brit to look at

Seonaid McIntosh – The primary gold medal of the Olympics will possible arrive in capturing, with the ultimate of the ladies’s 10m air rifle. Though the weaker of the 2 occasions McIntosh will contest in Tokyo, the Scot has beforehand claimed a World Cup silver medal and will develop into the primary British lady to make an Olympic capturing podium.

Star within the making

Cheavon Clarke – Simply six years in the past, British males’s heavyweight Cheavon Clarke was working as an HGV driver, delivering merchandise for B&Q and Homebase. The Jamaican-born boxer has gained medals at European and Commonwealth degree however that is his first stab on the Olympics.

It’s time to get into

3×3 basketball – Lengthy performed informally on courts worldwide, three-a-side basketball makes its Olympic debut simply 9 years after the game’s first World Cup was held. It’s performed on a half courtroom with each groups capturing into the identical hoop.

Sunday July 25

5 must-watch occasions

23:00-08:20: Browsing, males’s and ladies’s spherical 1&2
Climate-permitting, the primary ever day of browsing at an Olympics will happen with the opening rounds of the women and men’s shortboard competitions. Proficient surfer Sky Brown has opted to focus solely on skateboarding, so Britain is not going to be represented. Count on the USA, Australia and Brazil to dominate.

01:30-05:45: Hockey, ladies’s pool levels: Britain v Germany
Issues haven’t fairly gone to plan since Nice Britain gained a dramatic gold medal on the Rio 2016 Olympics. England had been dumped on the quarter-finals when hosts of the 2018 World Cup, they usually completed fifth on the EuroHockey Nations Championship in June.

02:30-04:20: Swimming, ladies’s 400m particular person medley ultimate
In a sport accustomed to rivals excelling over a number of distances, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu is taken into account one of the vital versatile. She burst onto the Olympic stage at a comparatively late age with three golds in Rio and is completely dominant within the 400m IM, turning into the primary lady ever to win 5 world titles in the identical occasion.

05:00-09:35: Biking, ladies’s highway race
Lizzie Deignan (nee Armitstead) made historical past at London 2012 when she gained highway race silver for the host nation’s first medal of the Video games. She missed the rostrum when ending fifth at Rio 2016, however stays Britain’s finest hope right here though it will likely be powerful to get previous the Dutch pair of Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten.

05:45-09:25: Archery, ladies’s workforce occasion: quarter-finals, semi-finals, medal matches
Britain didn’t qualify to contest the ladies’s workforce occasion final time spherical in Rio, however secured their spot by claiming bronze on the 2019 World Championships. New mom Naomi Folkard is the workforce’s spearhead and she is going to line up at her fifth Olympics, having initially meant to retire after the Rio Video games.

Brit to look at

Jade Jones – Nicknamed ‘The Headhunter’ on account of her penchant for kicking folks within the head, Jones will bid to finish an Olympic taekwondo hat-trick after triumphing within the 57kg class at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Win and she or he can be the primary British feminine to say gold at three consecutive Olympic Video games.

Star within the making

Nyjah Huston – You could not know his identify, however Huston has nearly 5 million Instagram followers and his personal Nike shoe vary. He’s additionally the very best avenue skateboarder on the planet and favorite to win the primary ever Olympic gold.

It’s time to get into

Skateboarding – Considered one of 5 sports activities making their debuts on the Olympics, skateboarding sees women and men compete in park and avenue disciplines, beginning with the lads’s avenue occasion. Athletes are judged on pace, issue, originality, timing, stability and total stream.

Monday July 26

5 must-watch occasions

22:30 (Sunday) – 01:00 (Monday): Triathlon, males’s race
The Alistair Brownlee period is perhaps over after the double Olympic champion did not qualify for these Video games, however his brother Jonny will try to make sure the title stays within the household after bronze at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016. Younger expertise Alex Yee is Britain’s different entrant.

01:00-11:30: Rugby sevens, males’s pool competitors
Rugby sevens solely made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016, the place Britain’s males’s workforce snuck previous Argentina and South Africa within the knockout levels earlier than dropping to Fiji within the ultimate. They completed fifth in final yr’s pandemic-curtailed World Sequence and start their pool marketing campaign right here. 

02:30-04:40: Swimming, males’s 100m breaststroke ultimate
Given his complete dominance over the occasion, it could be one of many largest surprises of the Video games if Adam Peaty didn’t double his Olympic gold-medal tally right here. For the previous half-dozen years the query has not been whether or not he’ll win, however how briskly he can go. It’s largely a race towards the clock.

07:00-08:00: Diving, males’s 10m platform synchro ultimate
On the age of 27, Tom Daley is already competing at his fourth Olympics wanting so as to add to 2 bronze medals. He competes within the 10m platform synchro alongside Matty Lee right here, with the pair profitable bronze on the 2019 World Championships, in addition to two gold medals this yr: on the European Championships and World Cup in Could, the place the all-conquering Chinese language had been absent.

11:00-14:10: Gymnastics, males’s creative workforce ultimate
It’s outstanding to assume that when Louis Smith gained bronze in 2008, he ended an 80-year gymnastics medal drought for Britain. In 2016, Max Whitlock gained double gold and he’ll spearhead a British workforce who solely simply missed the rostrum in fourth place final Olympics.

Brit to look at

Marcus Mepstead – Britain’s sole fencer in Tokyo, however two-time Olympian is to not be underestimated. Moved to New York to maintain his Olympics dream alive when funding was minimize after which gained world silver in 2019. Certified as Europe’s main foil fencer.

Star within the making

Tom Pidcock – The 21-year-old proficient British all-rounder may simply be lining up within the highway race on his Olympic debut, however the reigning under-23 world cyclo-cross champion has opted as an alternative for mountain biking. Having recovered from surgical procedure on a damaged collarbone he has declared gold is his intention.

It’s time to get into

Mountain biking – Admitted into the Olympics at Atlanta 1996, mountain biking is the one type of cross-country biking contested on the Olympics. Programs usually encompass forest paths and different trails, testing a rider’s bike dealing with in addition to their pace.

Tuesday July 27

5 must-watch occasions

22:30 (Monday) – 01:05 (Tuesday): Triathlon, ladies’s race
Such is the power in depth inside Britain’s feminine triathlon ranks that there are a variety of ladies not chosen for Tokyo who might need thought of themselves medal contenders. The three who made it are Olympic bronze medallist Vicky Holland, 2020 world champion Georgia Taylor-Brown and 2019 world silver medallist Jess Learmonth.

07:00-08:00: Diving, ladies’s 10m platform synchro
British duo Lois Toulson and Eden Cheng secured their Olympic spot when claiming World Cup silver in Could, earlier than matching that end on the European Championships. Toulson completed fifth alongside Tonia Sofa on the final Olympics, with Britain final profitable a feminine diving medal in 1960.

09:00-14:40: Equestrianism, workforce dressage ultimate
Guided by three-time Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin, Britain will firmly anticipate profitable a workforce dressage medal after claiming gold in 2012 and silver in 2016. As ever, count on common medallists Germany to offer the stiffest competitors.

11:00-14:30: Taekwondo, males’s +80kg ultimate
The battle to be chosen as Britain’s sole consultant was fierce with Rio bronze medallist Mahama Cho chosen forward of Lutalo Muhammad, who gained bronze at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016 in a lighter class. Additionally competing is Tongan Pita Taufatofua, famed for his topless look as his nation’s flag bearer on the 2016 opening ceremony. 

11:45-14:10: Gymnastics, ladies’s creative workforce ultimate 
The outstanding Simone Biles led the USA to gold at Rio 2016 as one among 4 Olympic titles she claimed. Every part suggests the identical will occur once more right here, with Britain hoping to edge their method into the minor medals after a powerful displaying at this yr’s European Championships.

Brit to look at

Bianca Walkden – The British fighter is likely one of the most adorned ladies in Taekwondo historical past, a part of an elite membership of simply 4 to have gained three world titles. Ranked No 1 on the planet within the +67kg class, she heads to Tokyo absolutely anticipating to enhance on the bronze medal she gained at Rio 2016 and return residence with gold.

Star within the making

Sunisa Lee – The 18-year-old can be a part of the American ladies’s gymnastics workforce bidding for gold however it gained’t all be the Simone Biles present. Lee, the primary Hmong American on the Olympics, really posted a better all-around rating than Biles on the US trials and is a surprise on the uneven bars. 

It’s time to get into

Softball – Final contested in 2008, softball returns to the Olympics for a one-off stint earlier than it’s dropped once more for 2024. Contested solely by ladies, it’s a sister occasion to baseball and follows most of the identical guidelines and conventions.

Wednesday July 28

5 must-watch occasions

00:30-03:40: Rowing, males’s 4 ultimate
There are few occasions by which Britain has a richer historical past than the lads’s coxless 4, having gained Olympic gold at each Video games this century. The workforce has a distinct look to it this time although, albeit they did take European gold earlier this summer season.

03:30-09:40: Biking, males’s and ladies’s time trials
Whereas a variety of main males’s names will most likely be lacking, the ladies’s race is more likely to be hotly contested between the Dutch all-star line-up of Anna van der Breggen and Anna van Vleuten. British hopes lay with Tao Geoghegan Hart and Geraint Thomas within the males’s race, with Anna Shackley within the ladies’s.

07:00-08:00: Diving, males’s 3m synchro
Jack Laugher and Chris Mears grew to become Britain’s first Olympic diving champions once they gained this occasion in Rio. Mears has since retired, with Laugher now competing alongside Daniel Goodfellow. The pair gained world silver in 2019 and warmed up with victory on the World Sequence in Tokyo in Could.

08:30-11:00: Rugby, males’s bronze medal match, gold medal match
With the quarter-finals full, Britain will hope to have remained within the hunt for a medal after claiming silver final day out in Rio. Nevertheless, conventional powerhouses New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa can be arduous to beat.

12:45-15:35: 3×3 Basketball, women and men’s finals
The primary 3×3 basketball champions can be topped because the debut sport reaches its climax. Reigning males’s world champions United States did not even qualify for the Olympics with none present NBA gamers thought of for choice. Serbia have traditionally been the strongest males’s nation, with France and China among the many finest ladies’s international locations.

Brit to look at

Charlotte Dujardin – Courtesy of her three Olympic and two world titles, Dujardin is broadly thought of to be Britain’s most profitable ever dressage rider. Her victories at London 2012 and Rio 2016 got here together with her horse Valegro, who retired earlier than 2017. In Tokyo, she can be on a brand new experience, Gio.

Star within the making

Dusan Bulut – Serbia are the kings of males’s 3×3 basketball and their level guard Bulut is the world’s standout participant. Now aged 35, that is his likelihood to exhibit his abilities to the world on the most important stage of all.

It’s time to get into

Browsing – Making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, the browsing competitors in Tokyo consists of women and men’s shortboard contests. 4 rivals participate in every 20 to 25-minute warmth and scoring is decided by issue of manouevres carried out. Climate-depending, immediately would be the day the primary Olympic champions are topped.

Thursday July 29

5 must-watch occasions

23:30 (Wednesday) – 08:00 (Thursday): Golf, males’s first spherical
When golf made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016 it was Britain’s Justin Rose who grew to become the primary ever gold medallist, beating Sweden’s Henrik Stenson by two strokes however neither certified this time. Amid a raft of high identify withdrawals, the USA nonetheless boasts a formidable quartet of Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau.

02:30-05:10: Swimming, males’s 100m freestyle ultimate
Typically thought of swimming’s blue riband occasion, the 100m freestyle pits Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers towards Caeleb Dressel, of the USA. Dressel has gained an astonishing 13 world titles because the final Olympics and is anticipated to make an enormous assertion at these Tokyo Video games.

06:00-08:45: Canoe slalom, ladies’s C1 ultimate
Not contested at earlier Olympics, the ladies’s C1 sees Britain’s Mallory Franklin try to observe 2016 champion Joe Clarke in turning into an Olympic canoe slalom gold medalist. Franklin gained the world title in 2017 and is an everyday on World Cup podiums. Count on Australia’s Jessica Fox to be close to the highest of the standings.

11:00-14:45: Hockey, Nice Britain v Netherlands, Ladies’s pool A
There was nearly nothing to separate these two sides once they met within the ultimate at Rio 2016, with Britain ultimately edging their option to gold in a dramatic penalty shootout. Their rematch right here is an early one within the pool stage as they give the impression of being to safe their quarter-final locations. Earlier within the day, the respective males’s groups additionally face off.

11:50-14:05 Gymnastics: ladies’s all-round particular person
Welcome to what’s anticipated to be the Simone Biles present. The American is on her option to turning into essentially the most adorned gymnast in historical past after profitable 4 Olympic titles at Rio 2016. She has claimed 5 of the final six world all-around gold medals, having opted to take a seat out in 2017.

Brit to look at

Helen Glover – Few folks anticipated Glover to compete in Tokyo. The double Olympic rowing champion had retired after profitable her second ladies’s pair gold at Rio 2016 and has since develop into a mom to 3 kids. However she confirmed her return to the game earlier this yr and gained European gold with new associate Polly Swann in April.

Star within the making

Matt Coward-Holley – Rugby’s loss is capturing’s achieve with Coward-Holley having returned to the game after harm dashed his oval-ball goals. His transition from double entice (not an Olympic self-discipline) to entice has additionally paid dividends with world gold in 2019, adopted by the European title this yr.  

It’s time to get into

BMX racing – Since making its debut on the 2008 Olympics, BMX racing has develop into one of the vital exhilarating fixtures of the Video games with as much as eight riders per race doing battle over a 400-metre downhill course that includes jumps and banked corners.

Friday July 30

5 must-watch occasions

00:45-02:55: Rowing, ladies’s and males’s eight finals
Britain head into the lads’s eight as reigning champions, after upgrading a silver and bronze on the previous two Olympics to gold in 2016. They may do nicely to repeat the feat in Tokyo, having failed to complete increased than third at subsequent World Championships. The British ladies claimed Olympic silver final time – their first medal within the occasion

02:00-04:20: Biking, males’s and ladies’s BMX racing finals
One of the thrilling occasions reaches its conclusion, with eight women and men hurtling down the course within the BMX racing finals. American Connor Fields will try to retain his crown, though Sylvain Andre of France might show his stiffest competitors. Colombia’s double Olympic champion Mariana Pajon stays the lady to beat.

02:30-04:10: Swimming, males’s 200m backstroke ultimate
Britain’s Luke Greenbank watched the final Olympics from residence a yr after competing on the World Junior Championships. Now, aged 23, he’s a agency medal prospect after profitable world bronze in 2019 and European silver earlier this yr, behind Russian Evgeny Rylov on each events.

06:00-09:00: Canoe slalom, males’s K1 ultimate
Such is the competitors in Britain’s K1 ranks that shock reigning Olympic champion Joe Clarke was controversially omitted from the workforce in favour of Bradley Forbes-Cryans based mostly on efficiency on the 2019 World Championships. Neither synthetic the highest eight on the latest European Championships.

04:00-12:00: Tennis, males’s doubles gold medal match
The primary tennis medal of the Tokyo Video games is within the males’s doubles. Andy Murray hyperlinks up with Joe Salisbury, though it could be one thing of a shock to see them within the ultimate given the Scot’s harm troubles, whereas Jamie Murray resurrects his partnership with Neal Skupski after Dan Evans withdrew on account of catching Covid.

Brit to look at

Keely Hodgkinson – The European indoor 800m champion, who broke the world under-20 report in January, served discover of intent on the British Olympic trials by beating Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie to the title. Proficient teenager has been tipped to interrupt Dame Kelly Holmes’ 1995 nationwide report.

Star within the making

Simone Manuel – Manuel’s standing doesn’t but befit turning into the primary African-American lady to win a person Olympic swimming title when she claimed 100m freestyle gold in 2016. She has since claimed 9 world titles and appears set to be one of many stars of Tokyo.

It’s time to get into

Trampoline – Launched into the Olympics in 2000, trampoline sees gymnasts spring as much as heights of eight metres whereas finishing a variety of twists and somersaults. Britain made the rostrum for the primary time at Rio 2016 courtesy of silver medallist Bryony Web page.

Saturday July 31

5 must-watch occasions

23:30 (Friday) – 01:25 (Saturday): Triathlon, blended relay
Launched for the primary time at these Olympics, the blended relay sees groups of two males and two ladies compete over a short-course (300m swim, 8km bike, 2km run) earlier than tagging a team-mate in a race lasting round 90 minutes. Britain will hope to win a medal, however France, United States and Australia ought to be robust.

02:30-04:20: Swimming, ladies’s 800m freestyle finals
Katie Ledecky gained her first gold medal on this occasion on the 2012 Olympics, however it was 4 years later in Rio that she really burst onto the worldwide stage with 4 extra Olympic titles. She has gained the 800m freestyle at each Olympics and World Championships since 2012.

04:00-09:10: Taking pictures, ladies’s 50m rifle 3 positions
On the final Olympics, Jennifer McIntosh was Britain’s consultant on this occasion. Having retired from aggressive capturing, it’s Jennifer’s youthful sister Seonaid who now takes the reins. Aged 25, she is already one among Britain’s most profitable ever feminine shooters and is ranked world No 1.

04:00-12:00: Tennis, ladies’s singles gold medal match
Olympic tennis gold medallists are usually not at all times the best to foretell, with the unseeded Monica Puig profitable Puerto Rico’s first ever Olympic title in Rio. Serena Williams has opted to not journey, whereas Simona Halep is out injured, however Japan’s Naomi Osaka would show a preferred winner for the house crowd. 

11:00-13:55: Athletics, ladies’s 100m ultimate
The ladies’s 100m ultimate guarantees to be a captivating race. Dina Asher-Smith gained world silver in 2019 behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and the double Olympic champion seems very arduous to beat once more in Tokyo. The unknowns are Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah. 

Brit to look at

Emma Wilson – Following within the footsteps of her mom Penny, who was a windsurfer at two Olympics, Emma Wilson makes her Staff GB debut in Tokyo. A double world youth champion, Wilson made the European podium in 2018 and 2019. Count on Holland’s Lillian de Geus and reigning Olympic champion Charline Picon, of France, to problem within the medal race.

Star within the making

Rhyan White – The 21-year-old backstroke specialist triggered one of many largest upsets of the US Olympic swimming trials when she beat reigning 200m world champion and world report holder Regan Smith. Her profitable time made her the third quickest American lady of all-time and expectations can be excessive she will ship once more within the occasion in Tokyo.

It’s time to get into

BMX freestyle – One other sport making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, BMX freestyle sees rivals given 60 seconds to execute as many tips as they will on skate park obstacles together with partitions, field jumps and spines.

Sunday August 1

5 must-watch occasions

02:10-04:50: Biking (BMX freestyle), ladies’s and males’s park ultimate
The primary ever Olympic BMX freestyle medals can be awarded, with Britain hoping to make it onto the rostrum. Charlotte Worthington is firmly within the medal hunt after profitable European gold in 2019 and bronze on the final two World Championships. Nevertheless, America’s Hannah Roberts can be extraordinarily arduous to beat.

02:30-04:25: Swimming, males’s and ladies’s 50m freestyle finals
The motion from the swimming pool involves an in depth with 5 gold medals out there together with the 2 quickest races on the programme. Count on double Olympic and 13-time world champion Caeleb Dressel to be favorite within the males’s race, with a captivating battle within the offing among the many main ladies.

04:00-12:00: Tennis, males’s singles gold medal match
Andy Murray has already skilled loads of Olympic highs however a 3rd consecutive gold, after getting back from hip surgical procedure, would certainly high all of them. The Briton is again on the workforce however match health stays a priority. Plenty of high gamers, similar to Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem, will certainly be absent although, that means possibilities will open up for others.

11:00-13:55: Athletics, males’s 100m ultimate
This would be the first time somebody apart from Usain Bolt has gained the monitor programme’s blue riband occasion since 2004. America’s Trayvon Bromell seems like the person to beat after battling his method again from critical accidents. Count on Canada’s Andre De Grasse to problem for the medals, with Zharnel Hughes, given a discretionary place after false-starting on the trials, Britain’s finest hope.

12:30-15:00: Badminton, ladies’s singles gold medal match
Rio 2016 noticed Spain’s double world champion Carolina Marin win gold and China fail to make the rostrum for the primary time since 1996. Marin, nevertheless, can be absent in Tokyo after tearing her ACL, giving reigning world champion PV Sindhu an important likelihood of turning into India’s first feminine champion within the occasion.

Brit to look at

Max Whitlock – Whitlock grew to become Britain’s first ever Olympic creative gymnastics champion when he gained each the ground and pommel horse on the identical day in 2016. He has opted solely to defend his pommel horse title right here however will face an intriguing battle from younger Irish star Rhys McClenaghan, who pipped Whitlock to gold on the 2018 Commonwealth Video games.

Star within the making

JuVaughn Harrison – Having gained each occasions on the US trials, Harrison, 22, is the primary American to contest the excessive leap and lengthy leap at an Olympics for greater than a century. Extremely, he’s ok to win a medal in each.

It’s time to get into

Excessive leap – The winner of immediately’s males’s ultimate will nearly definitely exceed 2.30m. Even in case you rise up and attain as excessive as you may, you’ll most likely not have the ability to contact the gold-medal peak.

Monday August 2

5 must-watch occasions

04:00-10:00: Crusing, ladies’s 49er FX medal races
Annemiek Bekkering and Annette Duetz may solely end seventh on the Rio Video games, however the reigning world champions look the pair to beat in Tokyo. Brazil’s reigning Olympic champions Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze must also put up a stiff title defence, with Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey going for Britain.

07:30-10:30: Biking (monitor), ladies’s workforce dash ultimate
The opening day of motion from the velodrome sees the primary gold medal awarded within the ladies’s workforce dash. China upgraded their London 2012 silver to gold at Rio 2016, though they may solely end behind Germany and Australia at the latest World Championships. Britain is not going to be concerned.

09:00-14:25: Equestrianism, eventing workforce ultimate
Britain has a wealthy historical past within the eventing workforce self-discipline, claiming a medal at each Olympics this century till solely managing to complete fifth at Rio 2016 after an unexpectedly poor cross-country efficiency. Having triumphed on the 2018 World Equestrian Video games, they are going to be hopeful of returning to the rostrum in Tokyo.

09:00-11:15: Gymnastics, ladies’s flooring ultimate
Whereas Simone Biles is the undisputed gymnastics queen, it’s on the ground that she really dazzles. She has not one, however two flooring strikes named after her and has gained each World Championships she has contested since 2013. Defeat can be nearly unimaginable. One to savour.

12:00-15:00: Badminton, males’s singles gold and bronze medal matches
Solely as soon as this century have China not gained males’s singles gold, with Chen Lengthy victorious final time in Rio. Their grip may finish right here although. Japan’s world No 1 Kento Momota has claimed the final two world titles, whereas Danish duo Viktor Axelsen and Anders Antonsen are harmful.

Brit to look at

Cindy Sember – Sember emerged from her older sister Tiffany Porter’s shadow when ending fourth over 100m hurdles on the final Olympics. She then suffered a career-threatening Achilles harm however battled again over a variety of years and is operating quicker than ever this summer season with a medal a definite goal.

Star within the making

Emily Campbell – Eyes can be on the ladies’s +87kg weightlifting occasion with transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard representing New Zealand. Nevertheless it is going to even be an opportunity for Britain’s Emily Campbell to show her clear capacity on the most important stage, with the Commonwealth Video games bronze medallist having taken European gold in April.

It’s time to get into

Creative swimming – Previously often called synchronised swimming, the game sees rivals carry out a choreographed routine within the water set to music. It checks power, flexibility, artistry, synchronisation and the power to carry breath whereas the other way up underwater.

Tuesday August 3

5 must-watch occasions

07:00-08:30: Diving, males’s 3m springboard ultimate
Jack Laugher grew to become the primary British diver to win a number of Olympic diving medals on the identical Video games when he backed up males’s 3m synchro gold with silver on this particular person occasion in Rio. He gained world bronze in 2019 however has struggled this yr and faces a problem to beat the historically robust Chinese language contingent.

07:30-10:10: Biking (monitor), males’s workforce dash ultimate
Britain’s males accomplished a hat-trick of consecutive Olympic titles on this occasion at Rio 2016 when Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner blasted their option to gold. A much-changed line-up of Kenny, Ryan Owens and Jack Carlin claimed silver on the 2020 World Championships, however the Netherlands seem like the workforce to beat.

07:30-10:10: Biking (monitor), ladies’s workforce pursuit
The ladies’s workforce pursuit was solely added to the Olympic programme in 2012 and Britain have gained each gold medals out there. They’ve since gained three successive world silvers, however Laura Kenny leads their quest to return to the highest of the rostrum in Tokyo.

09:00-11:15: Gymnastics, males’s parallel bars ultimate
Joe Fraser grew to become the primary British gymnast ever to win a world parallel bars title when he triumphed in 2019. That victory raised his profile significantly, though any color medal in Tokyo can be an enormous success.

11:00-13:55: Athletics, ladies’s 200m ultimate
Competitors was scarce when Dina Asher-Smith gained the world title in 2019, though she nonetheless set a British report within the course of. That is her stronger occasion of the 100/200m, however she faces extremely powerful competitors from the likes of Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Gabby Thomas and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Brit to look at

Giles Scott – Scott adopted within the footsteps of three-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie when he gained Finn gold at Rio 2016. He has additionally gained the world title 4 occasions however not because the identical yr he gained Olympic gold and he solely managed to complete ninth this yr.

Star within the making

Mondo Duplantis – Born and raised in America, however representing Sweden, Duplantis seems set to rewrite what many thought doable within the pole vault. He already has the world report and nobody comes shut when he’s at his finest.

It’s time to get into

Sport climbing – The brand new fast-paced Olympic sport provides one gold medal apiece for women and men, who should compete throughout three distinct climbing disciplines: pace, bouldering and lead.

Wednesday August 4

5 must-watch occasions

22:30 (Tuesday) – 01:10 (Wednesday): Swimming, ladies’s 10km marathon
The primary of two open-water swimming races in Tokyo, the ladies’s 10km race sees many of the main swimmers from Rio 2016 return together with Dutch defending champion Sharon van Rouwendaal, and Italy’s runner-up Rachele Bruni. Alice Dearing would be the first black feminine swimmer to signify Britain at an Olympics.

23:30 (Tuesday) – 08:00 (Wednesday): Golf, ladies’s first spherical
The inaugural Olympic ladies’s golf event noticed a full complement of the world’s finest gamers, with South Korea’s Inbee Park beating New Zealand’s Lydia Ko. Park is one among three South Koreans close to the highest of the world rankings alongside America’s Nelly Korda. Mel Reid and Charley Hull go for Britain.

07:30-11:00: Biking (monitor), males’s workforce pursuit ultimate
Lately, Britain and the lads’s workforce pursuit have gone hand in hand, with gold medals on the final three Olympics. Solely Ed Clancy stays of the workforce from Rio 2016 although, so it will likely be a battle with conventional rivals Australia for high spot.

10:30-14:00: Athletics, males’s 800m ultimate
The race seems huge open after America’s world champion Donavan Brazier unexpectedly did not qualify. All three British rivals – Elliot Giles, Oliver Dustin and Daniel Rowden – have medal aspirations after coming by way of a fearsome battle on the trials to safe their locations on the workforce.

10:30-14:00: Athletics, males’s 200m ultimate
With triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt retired, the mantle seems set to cross to America’s world champion Noah Lyles, who’s the fourth-fastest man in historical past over the gap. Competitors may come from his compatriots, together with 17-year-old Erriyon Knighton. Adam Gemili would love to enhance on his fourth place on the final Olympics.

Brits to look at

Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre – Mills gained crusing 470 silver at London 2012 and gold at Rio 2016, each occasions with Saskia Clark as her crew. She now has a brand new associate in McIntyre, whose father gained an Olympic crusing gold in 1988, and collectively they gained the world title in 2019. Victory would make Mills essentially the most profitable feminine Olympic sailor in historical past.

Star within the making

Sky Brown – She solely turned 13 on July 12, however Brown has already develop into the world’s youngest skilled skateboarder, launched a music single and gained the American TV programme Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. She contests the ladies’s park occasion in Tokyo.

It’s time to get into

Handball – Though vastly in style in continental Europe, handball is essentially ignored in Britain. Much like indoor soccer – however utilizing arms as an alternative of ft – it is likely one of the most fast-paced and thrilling workforce sports activities.

Thursday August 5

5 must-watch occasions

01:00-07:05: Athletics, males’s 110m hurdles ultimate
Among the best indoor 60m hurdlers on the planet, Andrew Pozzi has tended to fade within the closing levels of the longer out of doors model. Nevertheless, 2020 was his quickest yr and he ended it ranked world No 2. World champion Grant Holloway seems nearly inconceivable to beat except he makes a mistake.

06:00-08:10: Boxing, males’s featherweight (52-57kg) ultimate
Peter McGrail is one among a variety of British fighters in Tokyo with real medal aspirations. He has made main podiums a variety of occasions in his profession – together with profitable European and Commonwealth gold – and is likely one of the main candidates for featherweight glory.

07:30-10:50: Biking (monitor), males’s omnium
Britain have made the omnium podium each occasions because it joined the Olympic programme, with Ed Clancy taking bronze in 2012 and Mark Cavendish silver in 2016. Matt Partitions is the person tasked with extending that streak. He gained world bronze final yr after which adopted up by claiming the European title.

11:00-13:10: Hockey, males’s gold medal match
If Britain have made it to the final two it could be an enormous achievement that can have seen them punch above their weight and world rating of sixth (as England). Argentina are the defending Olympic champions after an surprising victory in Rio, whereas Belgium, Australia and the Netherlands are additionally main contenders.

11:00-13:45: Athletics, ladies’s heptathlon
Had been it not for harm, Katarina Johnson-Thompson can be the lady to beat in Tokyo, after profitable her first world heptathlon title in 2019. A critical Achilles harm meant she barely competed earlier than these Olympics although, which places Olympic champion Nafi Thiam in pole place if she will get better from her personal harm points.

Brit to look at

Liam Heath – Topped Olympic canoe dash K1 champion in Rio, Heath went on to finish a clear sweep by including the world and European titles the next yr. He’s the reigning world champion after one other success in 2019, though he was pipped into silver on the newest European Championships in June.

Star within the making

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix – Spendolini-Sirieix, the daughter of tv persona Fred Sirieix, is the youngest diver on the British workforce aged 16, however she gained two medals on the European Championships in Could.

It’s time to get into

Karate – Showing as a one-off earlier than it’s ditched for Paris 2024, the Olympic karate programme options separate medals for Kumite (sparring towards an opponent) and Kata (solo demonstrations of strikes).

Friday August 6

5 must-watch occasions

11:00-13:10: Hockey, ladies’s gold medal match
Have Britain been in a position to give themselves an opportunity of replicating their success of 2016 by making the ultimate? It appears unlikely given leads to the years since however they could be there. Extra more likely to make it are the Netherlands – defeated finalists on the final Olympics – and Australia. However upsets do occur as Eire confirmed by making the final World Cup ultimate.

03:00-06:00: Soccer, ladies’s gold medal match
Given their international dominance over latest a long time, it could be a shock if the USA didn’t make the ultimate, though they unexpectedly misplaced within the quarter-finals at Rio 2016. Reigning Olympic champions Germany didn’t even qualify for the Tokyo Video games. Britain, returning to the Olympics area, reached the quarter-finals in 2012.

06:30-12:15: Fashionable pentathlon, ladies’s competitors
Rio 2016 was the primary time Britain had did not make the rostrum since fashionable pentathlon was launched for girls on the flip of the century. Kate French completed fifth in Brazil and made the rostrum on the 2019 World Championships. She competes alongside compatriot Joanna Muir right here.

07:30-11:15: Biking (monitor), males’s dash ultimate
Participating in his fourth Olympics, Jason Kenny already has the joint-highest variety of gold medals for Britain and will go clear on the high with a seventh in Tokyo. He has gained the final two Olympic dash titles, however did not make the quarter-finals of the final World Championships and is now 33.

11:50-14:55: Athletics, males’s and ladies’s 4x100m relay finals
On the Rio 2016 Olympics, Britain’s dash relay programme was midway by way of an enormous turnaround in efficiency. Solely the ladies’s workforce secured a medal there, however between them they’ve gained one gold and three silver medals on the final two World Championships. As ever, the USA and Jamaica are the most important threats.

Brit to look at

Laura Muir – That Muir has by no means gained an Olympic or world out of doors medal owes primarily to the power of her rivals. She has completed fifth, fourth and fifth over 1,500m on the final three World Championships, however is in one of many hardest occasions in athletics. The absence of a few of the world’s finest ought to imply she makes the rostrum right here.

Star within the making

Shauna Coxsey – Sport climbing’s inclusion for the Tokyo Olympics was an enormous second for Coxsey, who’s Britain’s most profitable ever climber. She claimed double bronze on the 2019 World Championships and can hope to win a medal right here.

It’s time to get into

Seashore volleyball – The ladies’s ultimate heralds the penultimate day of seashore volleyball motion, a sport performed in pairs on sand which requires supreme agility and reflexes. United States and Brazil are the standard superpowers.

Saturday August 7

5 must-watch occasions

23:00 (Friday) – 02:15 (Saturday): Athletics, ladies’s marathon
The final time the world’s finest feminine marathon runners raced at a serious championships, carnage ensued with a number of collapses within the oppressive midnight warmth of Qatar in 2019. Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich triumphed that day to win the world title, however compatriot and world report holder Brigid Kosgei is the lady to beat.

03:30-05:30: Basketball, males’s gold medal match
Given the power of the NBA league, it’s maybe no shock that the USA are the dominant pressure in males’s basketball. They’ve gained six of seven gold medals out there since NBA gamers had been allowed to compete and are anticipated to triumph once more right here. Reigning world champions Spain are their largest menace.

06:30-12:15: Fashionable pentathlon, males’s competitors
Fashionable pentathlon has featured at each Olympics since 1912 however Britain have by no means gained a males’s particular person medal. Joe Choong and Jamie Cooke may each finish that drought. Cooke gained the world title in 2018 and European gold a yr later, whereas Choong claimed gold on the 2019 World Cup Remaining.

12:30-15:30: Soccer, males’s gold medal match
Making an attempt to foretell the winner of an Olympic males’s soccer event (restricted to Beneath-24 gamers, plus three over-age additions) is notoriously troublesome, with 12 completely different nations experiencing glory within the final 13 Video games. Brazil gained a penalty shootout towards Germany to take gold in 2016 and have gained medals at six of the final 9 Olympics. 

11:00-14:20: Athletics, males’s and ladies’s 4x400m relay finals
The standard finale to the monitor programme is sort of at all times a possibility for the USA so as to add two extra gold medals. Their ladies haven’t misplaced on the Olympics since 1992, and males solely twice since 1984. Britain’s males will possible wrestle to make the ultimate, however the ladies may threaten for a minor medal.

Brit to look at

Tom Daley – Daley was simply 14 when he competed at his first Olympics, and he claimed a primary 10m platform world title a yr later. It has been a generally rocky highway since, however he gained bronze in the identical occasion at London 2012 and regained his world title in 2017. 

Star within the making

Charley Davison – Davison’s boxing journey really first began aged eight earlier than profitable world silver as an adolescent, however the newest chapter comes after taking a seven-year break to present delivery to 3 kids. She returned by profitable the nationwide championship in 2019. A medal on her Olympics debut will go down a deal with together with her two sons and daughter. 

It’s time to get into

Baseball – Again on the Olympics for the primary time since 2008, the baseball event options simply six nations. Also known as an American model of cricket, all of it comes right down to the variety of runs scored throughout 9 innings.

Sunday August 8

5 must-watch occasions

23:00 (Saturday) – 01:45 (Sunday): Athletics, males’s marathon
The ultimate athletics occasion of the Olympics sees the world’s finest marathon runners do battle on the streets of Sapporo. Reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge stays the favorite regardless of a uncommon poor outing on the 2020 London Marathon. Britain’s Callum Hawkins has his eye on a medal.

02:00-05:15: Biking, males’s keirin
Taking up from Chris Hoy, who triumphed in 2008 and 2012, Jason Kenny added keirin gold to his already bulging Olympic medal assortment in 2016. He had a poor outing finally yr’s World Championships although, and Netherlands’ Harrie Lavreysen is the possible favorite.

03:30-06:00: Basketball, ladies’s gold medal match
Maybe much more so than their male counterparts, the USA ladies’s basketball workforce is totally dominant at Olympic degree, profitable eight of the final 9 gold medals. Something apart from victory in Tokyo can be an enormous shock. Australia are their closest challengers.

06:00-07:55: Boxing, males’s tremendous heavyweight (+91kg) ultimate
He was Anthony Joshua’s understudy in 2012 and omitted in favour of Joe Joyce in 2016, however now it’s Frazer Clarke’s flip to line up towards the most important males in Olympic boxing. He gained Commonwealth gold in 2018 and, aged 29, has loads of expertise to name upon.

12:00-15:00: Closing ceremony
Granted, the closing ceremony could have a really completely different look to it on account of coronavirus restrictions and the actual fact all athletes should go away Japan 48 hours after their competitors finishes. However you will be positive Tokyo organisers will nonetheless wish to placed on a present to spherical off what has been an epic enterprise. Plus there can be a glimpse of what Paris 2024 has to supply.

Brit to look at

Laura Kenny – Having already competed within the Madison and workforce pursuit in Tokyo, Laura Kenny rounds off her third Olympics by trying to efficiently defend the omnium title she has gained on the previous two Video games. She returned from harm to win European omnium silver in November 2020.

Star within the making

Caroline Dubois – Dubois, the youthful sister {of professional} heavyweight Daniel, has gained youth Olympic and world titles. Now, aged 20, she steps as much as the senior ranks. She was crushed by Eire’s Kellie Harrington within the ultimate of the European Olympic qualifier in June.

It’s time to get into

Water polo – Dominated on the Olympics by jap European international locations, water polo is likely one of the most bodily demanding sports activities, in addition to having the capability to show brutal every now and then.