The document provides an overview of preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympics. It discusses Brazil's preparations of venues and infrastructure as well as expected tourism. It then profiles some of Greece's top athletes competing in events like swimming, sailing, gymnastics and their hopes of medaling. Many Greek athletes nearly didn't compete due to economic difficulties but a sponsorship program helped support them. The document concludes with information on expected numbers of athletes and events at the Rio Olympics.
Le Grand Slam à Paris avec Teddy Riner - février 2013 - Communiqué de PresseAgence Double Numérique
Après le grand succès de l’édition 2012 du Grand Slam Paris Ile-de-France avec un nombre record du nombre de spectateurs (23 526 dont 10 699 le samedi et 12 827 le dimanche) et un nombre record lui aussi de délégations : 109 nations présentes pour 434 athlètes sélectionnés en fonction de leur classement mondial et leur volonté de décrocher une sélection aux Jeux Olympiques de Londres. La Fédération Française de Judo a eu le plaisir d’accueillir les meilleurs athlètes judoka sur les tapis du Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy.
Cette année encore, les 9 et 10 février 2013, seront le lieu et le temps de la fête du Judo et de tous les judoka, qu’ils soient spectateurs ou combattants, enseignants, dirigeants, arbitres ou simples pratiquants.
Les Jeux Olympiques à Londres ont eu lieu et la plupart des médaillés seront présents en France à Bercy ; leur prestation sera attentivement suivie dont Teddy Riner soutenu par CLOUDWATT ; mais aussi d’autres athlètes feront leur entrée sur nos tapis et tenteront de contester les tenants des titres olympiques ou mondiaux. C’est la loi du sport et c’est avec cordialité et amitié que nous les accueillons tous dans l’esprit du Judo et, bien sûr, de l’olympisme.
Venez avec nous voir la course qui débutera à Bercy en février 2013 pour se terminer en août 2016 à Rio de Janeiro.
Este documento describe el desempeño de los deportistas colombianos en los Juegos Olímpicos de Río de Janeiro 2016, donde Colombia obtuvo 8 medallas igualando su mejor participación. Por primera vez, Colombia ganó 3 medallas de oro, con victorias de Óscar Figueroa en halterofilia, Mariana Pajón en BMX y Caterine Ibargüen en salto triple.
Este documento resume las nuevas reglas de arbitraje de la Federación Internacional de Judo (IJF) para el periodo 2014-2016. Algunos puntos destacados son: se requiere un impacto real en la caída para considerar ippon; las caídas en puente serán siempre consideradas ippon; habrá tres shidos antes de la descalificación; y se implementará un sistema de clasificación mundial para árbitros. También se modifican algunas reglas sobre osaekomi, kansetsu-waza, shime-waza, el peso de los
El documento proporciona una descripción detallada de los fundamentos del Judo, incluyendo los saludos, posturas, agarres, desplazamientos, uso de la fuerza, desequilibrio, colocación para técnicas, proyecciones, caídas, entradas y diferentes formas de práctica del Judo como individual, con pareja y libre.
El judo es un deporte que involucra todo el cuerpo del practicante, en su desarrollo físico, moral e intelectual. Es recomendado por la UNESCO como uno de los deportes que mayores beneficios brinda a los niños, jóvenes y adultos.
Para más información, visite http://www.deportes.gov.co/judo-presentacion.html
El documento describe la historia, instalaciones, vestuario, técnicas y clasificación del judo. Explica que el judo fue creado por Jigoro Kano a finales del siglo XIX en Japón y ahora es un deporte olímpico practicado por más de 10 millones de personas. Se detalla el dojo, el judogi, los cinturones de grado y las categorías de peso.
The document discusses the pros and cons of hosting the Olympic Games for cities. While hosting the Games can boost a city's economy through tourism and investment, there are also significant financial risks if costs are underestimated. The impacts of hosting also depend on other factors like the economic stability of the country and whether it is a Summer or Winter Games. Overall, most cities that host the Olympics experience economic benefits in the long run, though there are no guarantees and each city's experience is different.
Le Grand Slam à Paris avec Teddy Riner - février 2013 - Communiqué de PresseAgence Double Numérique
Après le grand succès de l’édition 2012 du Grand Slam Paris Ile-de-France avec un nombre record du nombre de spectateurs (23 526 dont 10 699 le samedi et 12 827 le dimanche) et un nombre record lui aussi de délégations : 109 nations présentes pour 434 athlètes sélectionnés en fonction de leur classement mondial et leur volonté de décrocher une sélection aux Jeux Olympiques de Londres. La Fédération Française de Judo a eu le plaisir d’accueillir les meilleurs athlètes judoka sur les tapis du Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy.
Cette année encore, les 9 et 10 février 2013, seront le lieu et le temps de la fête du Judo et de tous les judoka, qu’ils soient spectateurs ou combattants, enseignants, dirigeants, arbitres ou simples pratiquants.
Les Jeux Olympiques à Londres ont eu lieu et la plupart des médaillés seront présents en France à Bercy ; leur prestation sera attentivement suivie dont Teddy Riner soutenu par CLOUDWATT ; mais aussi d’autres athlètes feront leur entrée sur nos tapis et tenteront de contester les tenants des titres olympiques ou mondiaux. C’est la loi du sport et c’est avec cordialité et amitié que nous les accueillons tous dans l’esprit du Judo et, bien sûr, de l’olympisme.
Venez avec nous voir la course qui débutera à Bercy en février 2013 pour se terminer en août 2016 à Rio de Janeiro.
Este documento describe el desempeño de los deportistas colombianos en los Juegos Olímpicos de Río de Janeiro 2016, donde Colombia obtuvo 8 medallas igualando su mejor participación. Por primera vez, Colombia ganó 3 medallas de oro, con victorias de Óscar Figueroa en halterofilia, Mariana Pajón en BMX y Caterine Ibargüen en salto triple.
Este documento resume las nuevas reglas de arbitraje de la Federación Internacional de Judo (IJF) para el periodo 2014-2016. Algunos puntos destacados son: se requiere un impacto real en la caída para considerar ippon; las caídas en puente serán siempre consideradas ippon; habrá tres shidos antes de la descalificación; y se implementará un sistema de clasificación mundial para árbitros. También se modifican algunas reglas sobre osaekomi, kansetsu-waza, shime-waza, el peso de los
El documento proporciona una descripción detallada de los fundamentos del Judo, incluyendo los saludos, posturas, agarres, desplazamientos, uso de la fuerza, desequilibrio, colocación para técnicas, proyecciones, caídas, entradas y diferentes formas de práctica del Judo como individual, con pareja y libre.
El judo es un deporte que involucra todo el cuerpo del practicante, en su desarrollo físico, moral e intelectual. Es recomendado por la UNESCO como uno de los deportes que mayores beneficios brinda a los niños, jóvenes y adultos.
Para más información, visite http://www.deportes.gov.co/judo-presentacion.html
El documento describe la historia, instalaciones, vestuario, técnicas y clasificación del judo. Explica que el judo fue creado por Jigoro Kano a finales del siglo XIX en Japón y ahora es un deporte olímpico practicado por más de 10 millones de personas. Se detalla el dojo, el judogi, los cinturones de grado y las categorías de peso.
The document discusses the pros and cons of hosting the Olympic Games for cities. While hosting the Games can boost a city's economy through tourism and investment, there are also significant financial risks if costs are underestimated. The impacts of hosting also depend on other factors like the economic stability of the country and whether it is a Summer or Winter Games. Overall, most cities that host the Olympics experience economic benefits in the long run, though there are no guarantees and each city's experience is different.
The 2016 Rio Olympics was held from August 5-21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Events took place across 18 existing and 9 new venues. Over 10,500 athletes from 207 countries participated in 28 sports. New records were set in several sports. Germany topped the medal table, while India's medals included a silver from PV Sindhu and a bronze from Sakshi Malik. However, the Olympics faced several controversies over infrastructure delays, the Zika virus outbreak, and Russia's state-sponsored doping program. The total cost of hosting the Olympics in Rio exceeded $13 billion, far above original estimates.
This document discusses whether the Olympic Games are a waste of money. It notes that hosting the Games requires huge costs, with the Montreal Games costing $1.48 billion and the London Games costing $14.6 billion. It examines where hosting countries get the money from, who benefits, and the impact on the host country. While the Games provide economic benefits through infrastructure improvements, tourism boosts, and publicity, some argue the costs outweigh these benefits and that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Olympic Games Cisse Olympic champion focused on France Olympic successEticketing.co
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The document provides information about upcoming events related to Team USA and the Road to Rio tour. It discusses:
1) The Road to Rio tour stopped in San Diego in September, featuring Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and diver Greg Louganis. Athletes from the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center also participated.
2) The next stops on the Road to Rio tour will be in Boston in October 2015 and Los Angeles in 2016.
3) Information on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, which are less than a year away, including sports, venues, and qualification processes for the US Paralympic team.
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Paris Olympic fans worldwide can book Olympic Games 2024 Tickets from our online platforms eticketing.co. Fans can book Olympic Tickets on our website at discounted prices.
The Special Olympics World Games will take place in Los Angeles from July 25-August 2, 2015. Over 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will compete in 25 Olympic-style sports. This will be the largest sporting event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympics. The Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is expected to draw 80,000 spectators. In the year leading up to the Games, 100 Southern California cities will host cultural experiences for the visiting athletes.
Paris 2024 Messi's Paris Olympics Journey, Gender Equality in Athletics and A...Eticketing.co
Paris 2024 fans from all over the world can book all Olympics Packages from our online platform e-ticketing.co. France Olympic can book Olympic Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
The document discusses predictions for the future of rugby in 2026 based on a report by HSBC. Some key points:
- More countries are expected to become competitive in rugby sevens internationally, including China and Brazil who are investing in the sport due to Olympic inclusion. New competitions like a "Big Bash" rugby sevens league may emerge.
- Participation in rugby is predicted to double to 15 million players worldwide by 2026, driven by growth in markets like the US, Brazil, and Germany. Women's rugby is one of the fastest growing sports and will be a major driver of increased participation.
- Younger audiences will increasingly engage with rugby through social media rather than traditional channels. Technologies enhancing the
Squash Ontario AGM - Squash at the pan am games toronto 2015 sq cansquashontario
The 2015 Pan Am Games will be held in Toronto from July 10-26, 2015, hosting over 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 41 countries competing across 51 sports. Squash will be one of the sports featured, held at CIBC Pan Am Park with seating for 1,000 spectators across 4 courts. The Games aim to promote diversity and leave a legacy of new and renovated sports facilities for athletes in Toronto.
The document discusses the history and background of the Olympic Games, including their origins in ancient Greece and their modern focus on the Olympic spirit of friendship and fair play. It also notes that hosting the Olympics is very expensive for countries and can expose issues like Russia's doping scandal and Brazil's current economic and political problems. There is debate around whether countries with these issues should still be allowed to participate or host the Games.
In August the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, a large city in Brazil. The Olympic Games are the biggest, broadest sporting event in the world. Every four years, hundreds of countries send a team of athletes to compete in sports ranging from running and jumping to swimming and basketball.
In the Burnet News Club we’ll be looking at how a big sporting event like the Rio Olympics can affect society, and finding out whether you think sport is good or bad for society.
The document provides details about the Dansprint Ergometer, a high-tech kayak/canoe simulator, including its specifications and endorsement by Olympic medalist Kim Wraae Knudsen. It also provides contact information for Dansprint ApS, the manufacturer of the Dansprint Ergometer. The ergometer is described as having an unparalleled authentic water feeling for indoor and outdoor use.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
Paris 2024 Denis Petrashov secured a spot at the Paris Olympic in swimming.docxEticketing.co
Paris Olympic fans worldwide can book Olympic Games 2024 Tickets from our online platforms eticketing. co. Fans can book Olympic Tickets on our website at discounted prices.
The 2016 Rio Olympics was held from August 5-21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Events took place across 18 existing and 9 new venues. Over 10,500 athletes from 207 countries participated in 28 sports. New records were set in several sports. Germany topped the medal table, while India's medals included a silver from PV Sindhu and a bronze from Sakshi Malik. However, the Olympics faced several controversies over infrastructure delays, the Zika virus outbreak, and Russia's state-sponsored doping program. The total cost of hosting the Olympics in Rio exceeded $13 billion, far above original estimates.
This document discusses whether the Olympic Games are a waste of money. It notes that hosting the Games requires huge costs, with the Montreal Games costing $1.48 billion and the London Games costing $14.6 billion. It examines where hosting countries get the money from, who benefits, and the impact on the host country. While the Games provide economic benefits through infrastructure improvements, tourism boosts, and publicity, some argue the costs outweigh these benefits and that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Olympic Games Cisse Olympic champion focused on France Olympic successEticketing.co
France Olympic, Cheick Sallah Cisse, a former Olympic champion, is determined to regain an Olympic medal at the upcoming France Olympic. His primary focus is on qualifying for the Olympic Paris. Followed by his pursuit of another medal for Africa and his home country, Ivory Coast. The year 2023 has started on a positive note for Cisse. He has emerged victorious in all three events he has participated in thus far.
The document provides information about upcoming events related to Team USA and the Road to Rio tour. It discusses:
1) The Road to Rio tour stopped in San Diego in September, featuring Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and diver Greg Louganis. Athletes from the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center also participated.
2) The next stops on the Road to Rio tour will be in Boston in October 2015 and Los Angeles in 2016.
3) Information on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, which are less than a year away, including sports, venues, and qualification processes for the US Paralympic team.
Olympic 2024 Shanghai and Budapest to Host Inaugural Olympic BMX Freestyle Qu...Eticketing.co
Paris Olympic fans worldwide can book Olympic Games 2024 Tickets from our online platforms eticketing.co. Fans can book Olympic Tickets on our website at discounted prices.
The Special Olympics World Games will take place in Los Angeles from July 25-August 2, 2015. Over 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will compete in 25 Olympic-style sports. This will be the largest sporting event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympics. The Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is expected to draw 80,000 spectators. In the year leading up to the Games, 100 Southern California cities will host cultural experiences for the visiting athletes.
Paris 2024 Messi's Paris Olympics Journey, Gender Equality in Athletics and A...Eticketing.co
Paris 2024 fans from all over the world can book all Olympics Packages from our online platform e-ticketing.co. France Olympic can book Olympic Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
The document discusses predictions for the future of rugby in 2026 based on a report by HSBC. Some key points:
- More countries are expected to become competitive in rugby sevens internationally, including China and Brazil who are investing in the sport due to Olympic inclusion. New competitions like a "Big Bash" rugby sevens league may emerge.
- Participation in rugby is predicted to double to 15 million players worldwide by 2026, driven by growth in markets like the US, Brazil, and Germany. Women's rugby is one of the fastest growing sports and will be a major driver of increased participation.
- Younger audiences will increasingly engage with rugby through social media rather than traditional channels. Technologies enhancing the
Squash Ontario AGM - Squash at the pan am games toronto 2015 sq cansquashontario
The 2015 Pan Am Games will be held in Toronto from July 10-26, 2015, hosting over 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 41 countries competing across 51 sports. Squash will be one of the sports featured, held at CIBC Pan Am Park with seating for 1,000 spectators across 4 courts. The Games aim to promote diversity and leave a legacy of new and renovated sports facilities for athletes in Toronto.
The document discusses the history and background of the Olympic Games, including their origins in ancient Greece and their modern focus on the Olympic spirit of friendship and fair play. It also notes that hosting the Olympics is very expensive for countries and can expose issues like Russia's doping scandal and Brazil's current economic and political problems. There is debate around whether countries with these issues should still be allowed to participate or host the Games.
In August the 2016 Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, a large city in Brazil. The Olympic Games are the biggest, broadest sporting event in the world. Every four years, hundreds of countries send a team of athletes to compete in sports ranging from running and jumping to swimming and basketball.
In the Burnet News Club we’ll be looking at how a big sporting event like the Rio Olympics can affect society, and finding out whether you think sport is good or bad for society.
The document provides details about the Dansprint Ergometer, a high-tech kayak/canoe simulator, including its specifications and endorsement by Olympic medalist Kim Wraae Knudsen. It also provides contact information for Dansprint ApS, the manufacturer of the Dansprint Ergometer. The ergometer is described as having an unparalleled authentic water feeling for indoor and outdoor use.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
The document provides information about the Olympics including its history, sports, and details about the 2012 London Olympics. It discusses how the Olympics began in Athens in 1896 and has grown into a major global event bringing countries together every four years. It also outlines some of the 26 sports that will be featured at the 2012 London Olympics and notes that over 250 people attended an event about the Games hosted by the British Embassy in Armenia.
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Paris Olympic fans worldwide can book Olympic Games 2024 Tickets from our online platforms eticketing. co. Fans can book Olympic Tickets on our website at discounted prices.
Paris 2024 Denis Petrashov secured a spot at the Paris Olympic in swimming.docx
RioOlympics2016
1. 62 Spetses Spotlight Spetses Spotlight 63
Going for gold
More than 10,500 athletes of 206 nations are
expected to take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics,
participating in 28 different sports. We take a
sneak peEk at what’s cooking in Brazil’s capital
and talk to some of Greece’s hopefuls.
B y I s a b e l l a Z a m p e ta k i ; P h o t o s b y N i k o s K a r a ni k o l a s
Preparationfor the Olympics
has been as fast-paced as the steps of
your typical samba. Rio de Janeiro has
prepared 34 competition venues, built 43
miles of road and planted 15,000 trees.
According to Embratur, Brazil's state-
owned tourism agency, an estimated
380,000 foreign tourists are expected
in Rio during the Games, creating high
demand for hotel rooms. Restricted
availability has, for the first time in the
history of the Olympics, prompted the
local organizing committee to name
Airbnb as the event's official alternative
accommodation services supplier.
The opening ceremony is highly
anticipated, as a vision of “what the
country can become”. Fernando
Meirelles, Brazilian filmmaker and part of
the creative team, elaborates, “We have
listened to specialists who have different
visions of what Brazil is; the ceremony
will be a synthesis of our popular culture.”
The acclaimed director of City of God
and The Constant Gardener notes, “It
will be ten times smaller than the London
Rio from above;
swimmer
Kelly Araouzou (left);
the Brazilian
Copacabana (below)
in the City of God
photo:Riotur
2. 000 Spetses Spotlight Spetses Spotlight 65
Sailing champions
Panayiotis Mantis and
Pavlos Kagialis (left);
sprinter Lykourgos
Tsakonas (above);
the Sugarloaf Cable
Car (right)
2012 opening ceremony. It does not make
sense to be extravagant in this moment that
the country is facing. It will not be a high-tech
ceremony; it will be high-concept.”
High morale is one thing that Brazil and the
Greek delegation definitely have in common,
as they overcome substantial economic
difficulties for the sake of the Olympics.
Greeks on the road to Rio
Over 60 athletes are expected to represent
Greece in 11 different sports in the 2016
Olympics. Commenting on the Greek
delegation, Spyros Kapralos, president of the
Greek Olympic Committee, says: “We have a
strong presence in track-and-field, swimming,
sailing and rowing. What is more important
is that most of our athletes have already won
in European and World Championships
and have true potential to be Olympic
winners.” He singles out Lefteris Petrounias,
a gold winner in the World Gymnastics
Championship 2015, Sophia Asoumanaki and
Katerina Nikolaidou, who won silver medals
in rowing at the World Championship last
September, and Byron Kokkalanis, ranked as
one of the top five windsurf athletes in the
world by the International Sailing Federation.
“Marathon swimmers Spyros Gianniotis and
Kelly Araouzou are also among the best on a
global level,” he continues. “Anna Korakaki,
at age 19, and Efthimios Mitas are two young
talents in shooting. Ilias Iliadis has won a
medal in Judo both in Athens and in the
London Olympics.”
Greece will be represented in only one team
sport, men’s water polo, but Kapralos believes
the chances to bring home a medal are high.
It is ironic that, in spite of their excellent
performance, many Greek athletes have
considered quitting their preparation for the
Olympics due to economic restraints and the
inability of the state to sponsor their effort.
However, as Kapralos explains, “It takes a lot
of time and work to create Olympic athletes
and it would be unthinkable for us to let the
‘investment’ we have already made to be
wasted.” This is one of the main reasons why
they created the ‘Adopt an Athlete on the
Road to Rio’ programme, he says. “The key
to its success is that we brought sponsoring
companies in direct contact with the athletes.
Sponsors can see that their money goes where
it is supposed to and athletes feel not just
economic, but also moral, support. Most of our
athletes are supported under this programme
and I believe that they will be ‘paying us back’
by offering us the moments of pride that we
are in great need of these days.”
What does it mean, however, for an athlete to
participate in the Olympics?
Swimmer Kelly Araouzou is determined to
make the most of this opportunity: “When
you participate in an event of this magnitude,”
she says, “you cannot but aim for a distinction.
I do not view swimming just as something I
enjoy doing; it is what earns me my living and
I consider it my responsibility to honour the
sponsors who support me. I feel well prepared
and determined to win.” When asked which
aspects of the Rio Olympics she most looks
forward to, Araouzou gives a surprising reply:
“I am already enjoying the journey. I feel
proud for all that I have achieved since I first
started and for where I stand today. Taking a
minute to think about the progress covered so
Three events not
to be missed
Beach Volleyball
It is, after all, a signature
Brazilian event, especially
when played in a party
atmosphere on Rio's
Copacabana Beach.
Football (pronounced 'foo-
chee-bol' in Portuguese)
Brazil will be redeeming
itself against Germany as
its supporters work their
drums, fireworks and
coloured banners in support
of the home team.
Marathon
The Rio Marathon will
start and finish in the
Sambadrome. The steeply-
raked stands on either side
of the circuit are a reference
to Ancient Greece.
3. Spetses Spotlight 6766 Spetses Spotlight
Ioannis
Drymonakos,
swimmer (left);
the Museum
of Tomorrow
(far left)
Ioannis Drymonakos, European
swimming champion, has set himself
a tough challenge: to be amongst
the very few Olympians who have
competed in the Sydney Olympics
and the Rio Olympics, spanning
an incredible career of 16 years.
“I am aware of the difficulties of
my journey to Rio, but I am really
determined and I draw courage from
my friends, fellow athletes and my
sponsors who support and believe
in me,” says Drymonakos, who was
just 16 when he swam for Greece
in Sydney. “Every Olympic Games
I have participated in has been
very different. It’s not only that
the hosting cities are different; my
perspective has changed as I grew
from a young talent to a decorated
athlete,” he says. “The only thing that
has never changed, though, is how
proud I always feel when I wear the
national emblem on my swimming
cap and line up at the start of the
race next to the best athletes of the
world.” Drymonakos is hoping that
his journey and achievements will not
only inspire the young generation to
take on competitive swimming, but
also to encourage participation by all
age groups in swimming and triathlon
competitions such as the Spetses mini
Marathon and Spetsathlon.
As to what makes the Rio Olympics
unique, Spyros Kapralos points out:
“Brazil is a country facing substantial
economic and political challenges.
I believe that the Games’ ‘magic’
will help everything come together
nicely.” He continues, “What makes
these Olympics special is that most
of the venues are new builds but also
the Brazilians' high and lively spirits,
which is a promise to have some of the
most festive Games in the history.”
Let the Games begin!
far is also what gives me strength to
move on.” She doesn’t lose her sense
of focus, even when it comes to the
sensitive issue of water pollution in
the bay of Rio. “We definitely hear a
lot about the pollution,” she says, “but
I can assure you that the cleanliness
of the water is the last thing you are
thinking about when you are racing!”
Men of gold
For sprinter Lykourgos Tsakonas,
Rio is his second Olympics and he
feels that he is in his best shape ever.
“The conditions under which Greek
athletes train are far from ideal,” he
comments, “but I believe in doing the
best I can, under any circumstances.”
His goal is to keep improving his
personal record of 20.09’’ for 200m.
When asked what he thinks of to give
himself strength to continue even
during hard times, he replies, “There
are no thoughts. There is only a target.
Once your mind is set on the goal, you
simply focus on achieving it.”
The same seems to apply to World
and European sailing champions
Panayiotis Mantis and Pavlos
Kagialis. “The Olympics are obviously
a very special event but a race is still
a race,” says Mantis. “When you are
competing, your mind is set on the
fight you are fighting and nothing
else.” Acknowledging the difficulties,
Kagialis points out that while the
hardest part of their experience so far
was finding sponsors to support their
effort, other sailing teams from all
over the world started their training
in Brazil as early as three years ago.
But they aren’t complaining. They
draw strength from each other and
their coach, Thanasis Pachoumas.
Having qualified for the Olympics,
they will be striving for a place among
the top three.
Rio Olympics in numbers
10,500 athletes
206 countries
306 medal events
42 sports, including
two new: rugby and golf
7.5 million tickets
315 horses
60,000 clothes hangers
25,000 tennis balls
11 million meals
34,000 beds
100,000 chairs
72,000 tables
The Rio 2016 logo
was designed
by Tatil Design
and represents
contagious
energy,
harmonious
diversity,
exuberant
nature, and
Olympic spirit.
The official
mascots, Vinicius
and Tom, are
both named
after Brazilian
musicians
(Vinicius de
Moraes and
Tom Jobim)
and represent
Brazilian
wildlife.
Take five from
the Olympics:
Time out in Rio
1. Hiking and trekking in Tijuca
National Park: Tijuca, the largest
urban forest in the world, covers
15 square miles around Rio de
Janeiro. Apart from hundreds of
miles of trails amongst unique
species of flora and fauna, it also
offers some of the best views of
Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer
and Pedra da Gávea.
2. Visit the Museum of
Tomorrow: It may be one of
the world’s most extraordinary
buildings, but it also aspires
to become known as one of
the planet’s most powerful
arguments for sustainability.
Combining science and art, this
brand-new Santiago Calatrava-
designed museum devotes itself
to the need for change in order
to avoid climate disaster.
3. Get behind the scenes in
Maracana Stadium: Picture
Pele’s 1,000th goal where it
actually happened: at Maracanã
Stadium. Take a 4-hour small-
group tour of this iconic temple
to football. Enter locker rooms
and VIP press boxes, and even
take a seat on a team bench.
Listen to stories of the legendary
matches that took place here,
including Brazil’s heartbreaking
loss at the 1950 World Cup.
4. Dance the samba in
Lapa: Lapa, one of Rio’s most
bohemian neighbourhoods,
stands out for its lively social
scene. It’s the perfect place to
enjoy live Brazilian music and to
break out some samba moves.
5. Blend in with the locals at
Copacabana: From popular
Copacabana and Ipanema to
lesser-known Grumari, a day on
one of Rio’s sandy beaches is an
absolute must-do.