But while the ceremony had been like none before, day one of sport offered a much more familiar feel. Despite the absence of spectators, the world's elite athletes ran, rode, fought and swam as a hankered-for business-as-usual vibe began to build. Later at the shooting, Jin Jong-oh missed his target of a record-extending fifth individual Olympic gold as the South Korean failed to qualify for the men's 10-metre pistol final. The 3x3 basketball tournament made its debut and the hosts were well beaten by the Russians in the women's opener. "From the streets to the Olympics," is the motto of the event, pronounced three-ex-three, as basketball seeks to grow its global appeal.

Source: The Star July 24, 2021 05:26 UTC