The match between the Italian and Austrian men on Saturday was the first in the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. ___8 a.m.Pope Francis has written a letter of encouragement to the first team of refugees to participate in the Olympic Games. Australia and New Zealand are the favorites for the women's gold medal, which will be decided Monday. The Olympic women's basketball teams from Turkey and France want to shift the conversation away from attacks and back to national pride. ___11:15 a.m.American shooter Virginia Thrasher has won the first gold medal of the Rio Olympics in the women's 10-meter air rifle.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 06, 2016 09:56 UTC