Tokyo 2020 Olympics: final countdown as Guinea team pull out – live!

I was in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games opening ceremony as a dancer. Happy to provide some choreography tips to the lads.

Sean Ingle sat down with Reece Prescod, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Geraint Thomas is aiming for a first Olympic road medal to add to his two from the track, and will have two chances of doing so in Tokyo.

The 35-year-old crashed into a ditch in Rio five years ago when in with a fine chance of winning a medal, so wants to make amends this time around.

“I was there in the mix in Rio and then unfortunately crashed on the last corner of the descent and that put me out of it,” Thomas said. “Hopefully it is third time lucky.

“I don’t lose sleep over it now but it’s still one of those things where it was there for the taking almost. A great opportunity. But that is the way it goes.

“(Psychologist) Steve Peters was always telling me, life is not fair, you don’t always get what you deserve at that moment. It just happened and it was super frustrating. Obviously I’d love to put that right here on Saturday.”

The rings are shining bright.

What a cracking start to the tournament for Australia against Argentina.

From PA: Visually-impaired judo star Chris Skelley says the sport provided the “one shining light” in his life during the devastating deterioration of his eyesight.

World number one Skelley is preparing for his second shot at a Paralympic medal, having been named in Great Britain’s four-man judo squad for Tokyo after narrowly missing out on a podium place at Rio 2016.

He has lived with genetic condition ocular albinism since birth but a decline in his vision at the age of 17 forced him to abandon a potential career as a mechanic.

Around a decade on, the 27-year-old, who now requires sunglasses, special lenses and is learning to use a cane, admits discovering his love of the Japanese martial art helped him overcome the distressing news.

“It was a very tough, dark period in my life to have everything taken away from you, out of your hands,” he told the PA news agency. “It wasn’t an easy experience to have, there were a lot of tears, a lot of question marks, not understanding what happened to me, and the one shining light in my life, the one star in a very dark period in my life, was judo.

“I think judo for me was a release, an experience where I could just go and forget what was happening in the outside world. I escaped in that world.

“I also had amazing support; amazing club coaches, they really helped me, and amazing family as well. If I didn’t have them, I think I would be in a very different position.

“It’s very tough but there are other people who are struggling more out there and you’ve just got to be grateful for what you’ve got and just live your life as best as possible.”

Right, I’m away for some scran. Will Unwin will chat you through the next hour.

And because it just came to mind, here’s one of my all-time favourite Olympic performances.

Not to be forgotten: Argentina, Olympic champions in 2004 and 2008, were beaten 2-0 by Australia earlier today. Also in that group, Spain drew 0-0 with Egypt.

Remember those days of highlighting things in the daily telly listings? Well you might want to get out your virtual Stabilo Boss for this.

Leroy Rosenior was on co-comms for Eurosport. I’ll never not picture him in this legendary kit.

They join Côte d’Ivoire at the top of Group D, Côte d’Ivoire having beaten Saudi 2-1 earlier.

Brazil could’ve scored three or four just in injury-time, and Leverkusen’s Paulinho has just stepped inside Germany’s Torunarigha to hammer a fine finish into the top corner for 4-2.

Brazil have done a pretty good job of keeping Germany away from their goal and we’re now in the second of five additional minutes.

Now then! Ake has just nodded home a fine header for Germany, and with seven minutes left it’s 3-2! This would be one of the great robberies because Brazil could’ve scored 57 and, let’s not forget, Germany are down to 10.

Yup, this Brazil-Germany game is over, the only question whether a beating grows into a thrashing. I dare say David Luiz has some thoughts on the matter.

Romania have beaten Honduras 1-0. They join New Zealand at the top of what looks like by far the weakest group; NZ beat South Korea earlier.

Meanwhile, Germany’s effort to get something off Brazil lasted roughly five minutes; Max Arnold has been sent off for a second bookable offence, extending a leg to trip Antony and causing a clash of knees. It looked a right sair yin one for both, so we had a few minutes with him lying on the floor in agony, knowing that as soon as he could get up, he was walking off. Both men are fine now, so we can enjoy a #lovelystuff.

Takefusa Kubo’s lovely finish is enough, and they join Mexico at the top of Group A with three points.

“Richarlison is a streaky finisher,” tweets Gary Naylor. “Sometimes it looks like he can’t miss; sometimes it looks like he can’t score. Five games on; ten games off. He always works hard, but could do with some exercises to lower the heart rate in front of goal.”

Yes, with any attacker, ultimately they’ll be defined by their numbers, and his aren’t good enough. But I’m sure he’s got the ability to improve them by a lot.

Germany have pulled a goal back courtesy of some hilariously bad goalkeeping from Santos, who palmed in Amiri’s speculative shot. If they can find another, we’ve suddenly got waselves a ball-game. They trail Brazil 3-1.

If you’ve not heard the name JuVaughn Harrison, you soon will – he’s competing for USA in both long jump and high jump. I know! Learn more about him – and lots of other things – here.

Another lovely goal, this time from Japan! Kubo takes the ball on the right side of the box, nips inside, and lashes a left-footer into the bottom corner! They lead SA 1-0 with 18 minutes to go.

I should say, the games now in progress are the last action for today.

Japan and South Africa is still 0-0, while Romania still lead Honduras 1-0; those games are halfway through the second half.

They now top men’s Group C, with three points; Egypt and Spain have one each, while Argentina have none.

Oh dear. Dani Ceballos went off injured in Spain’s draw with Egypt, and his ankle is in a bad way.

Plus side, this kit is exceedingly smart. But Brazil have just missed yet another chance, and this could easily be 7-1, and it’s only half-time.

Cunha takes it himself, hitting pretty hard to the keeper’s right, but it’s a nice height and Muller makes a really good save. Germany still trail 3-0.

Gosh, I think I’ve just seen the worst penalty award of all-time. Dani Alves crossed into the box, Cunha headed into the arm of Heinrichs, who was looking the other way, and the ref pointed to the spot. Absolutely ridiculous behaviour.

“Well-taken hat-trick by Richarlison,” tweets @Mysteron_Voice, “and he very probably should have had at least another couple. But is there a football equivalent to cricket’s ‘flat track bully’?”

Er, I guess the term has been adopted for use in all sports – people still say it about Cristiano Ronaldo, for example – but Richarlison is an interesting one. He looks to have a lot of what you need to be a serious player – hopefully he gets there. At 24, he’s not got loads more time.

WHAT A GOAL! Marco Tilio has just swept an outswinger into the far corner – think Beckham v Arsenal in 1999 – with his second touch since coming on, his first setting the move away. Australia now lead Argentina, who are down to 10, 2-0 with just 10 minutes left.

Dani Alves nearly scores a fourth for Brazil, and in commentary, Leroy Rosenior notes that he’s never seen a German side defend so badly.

Richarlison has a hat-trick! With a lovely finish too, bent low into the far corner. Thirty minutes gone, not bad – though the goals came in a 23-minute period.

Richarlison has scored again, so Brazil now lead Germany 2-0. I was watching Australia-Argentina, but have now moved to this game.

Back in the football, Oliva has scored in first-half injury-time to put Romania in front against Honduras.

Looking at the tennis draws, in the men’s singles, Rublev v Nishikori should be a belter, likewise Hurkacz v Fucsovics. Meantime in the women’s, we’ve got Barty v Sorribes Tormo and in doubles, Muguruza/Suarez Navarro v Mertens/Van Uytvanck looks like one to catch.

Japan v South Africa and Honduras v Romania are still goalless but Richarlison has put Brazil ahead against Germany.

Back to the football, Australia and Argentina are underway again and within 30 seconds, Australia – who’ve been much the better side – have hit the bar, courtesy of Mitch Duke’s terrific chip. Brazil and Germany have also got going in their game.