GAMES

A Sergio Aguero (centre) and Lionel Messi (left) inspired Argentina beat Brazil at Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images

Gold in the Olympic football has never mattered quite as much to the host nation as it does in 2016 to the Brazilians. Although they have lifted the FIFA World Cup a record five times and have the unique distinction of taking part in every World Cup tournament, they have never been crowned Olympic football champions.

Neymar has been replaced by team-mate David Luiz (bottom left) on the Copa America Centenario website ©Copa America Centenario

Brazil have vowed to fight a decision by Barcelona which allows Neymar to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic football tournament but not in June's Copa América Centenario.

The 30-year-old from New Jersey will compete in the hijab in Rio. She’s planning to use her profile to combat bigotry – and she wants a gold medal, too

Brazilians hold posters saying "Olympics for whom?" in front of the headquarters of the Olympic Organising Committee CREDIT: AP

Brazil is in crisis. The government of President Dilma Rousseff is teetering on the brink of collapse, barely mourned by a population who equate her term in office with widespread corruption and economic mismanagement. Rousseff’s coalition partners recently pulled out of the government, pushing her ruling party closer to the exit door. Ministerial resignations have become commonplace: last week the Brazilian Sports Minister, George Hilton, departed. Suddenly the preparedness of Rio for the opening of the Olympic Games on Aug 5 has been put into stark perspective. The country appears to be in chaos.

Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt has claimed Rio 2016 will "definitely" be his last Olympic appearance, seemingly quashing any chance of him competing at Tokyo 2020. Bolt, the six-time Olympic champion who has dominated the 100 metres and 200m events since bursting onto the scene at Beijing 2008, has previously suggested his fitness may carry him through to the Games in the Japanese capital in four years’ time. The 29-year-old, winner of three golds in Beijing in 2008 and at London 2012, is targeting a "triple-triple" at this summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro. At the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in the Chinese capital, Bolt, who reasserted his monopoly of the men’s sprint races with 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold, had suggested he might end his career after Rio 2016. He had previously claimed he would bring an end to his impressive period on the track following the next edition of the World Athletics Championships in London in 2017. “It'll definitely be my last Olympics,” Bolt told Sport-Informations-Dienst (SID). “It's going to be hard to go four more years for me, to keep the motivation that I want, especially if I accomplish what I want to in Rio. “It's going to be hard to keep the motivation to go on for four more years, so it'll definitely be my last one.” Jamaican Usain Bolt won three golds at the 2015 World Championships as well as at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Jamaican Usain Bolt won three golds at the 2015 World Championships as well as at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 ©Getty Images The Jamaican says his main aim is to earn another three titles in Rio, where he goes into the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events as defending champion and favourite to reign supreme once again. “My biggest dream at the Olympics is to win three gold medals again,” said Bolt. “That's my focus, that's what I want. “And that's what I'm aiming for because that's my goal and that's my dream. “I've said the only big thing, big time I want to run is the 200 metres. “I'd love to try to go sub-19. “That's the only thing I would really, really want because that's one of my goals. “I've always talked about and always wanted it so for me, that's something I look forward to." Athletics events at Rio 2016 will be held from August 12 to 20 at the Olympic Stadium. Usain Bolt has claimed Rio 2016 will be his last Olympic Games ©Getty ImagesJamaican Usain Bolt won three golds at the 2015 World Championships as well as at Beijing 2008 and London 2012Jamaican Usain Bolt won three golds at the 2015 World Championships as well as at Beijing 2008 and London 2012

Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt has claimed Rio 2016 will "definitely" be his last Olympic appearance, seemingly quashing any chance of him competing at Tokyo 2020.

Melissa Tapper became the first Australian to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games ©ITTF

Melissa Tapper has become the first Australian to qualify to compete at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games after sealing one of three qualification berths for Rio 2016 on offer at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Oceania Championships at the Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo.

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