The ceremony is done.
The first day of competition in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics opens with a significant influx of notable local athletes as the Games schedule has the Island's contribution to the Canadian effort in Brazil front-loaded.
Beginning their Games competition today are swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria, the Langford- and PISE-based Canadian women鈥檚 rugby sevens team, several of the Elk Lake-based rowers and three University of Victoria Vikes alumni field-hockey players.
鈥淭his is what you train for . . . this is why we do all the work,鈥� said swimmer Ryan Cochrane of Victoria.
Cochrane has a chance for the podium today in the men鈥檚 400-metre freestyle. It鈥檚 the minor event for the two-time Olympic 1,500-metre freestyle medallist. Although best known for the longer distance, the Claremont Secondary graduate is also a factor in the shorter distance, as attested by his bronze medal in the 400 metres at the last world championships.
鈥淚 am sprinting even better [as his career progresses] . . . I don鈥檛 look at the 400 as a bonus event anymore,鈥� said Cochrane.
He also has something to prove after a tactical error during qualifying cost Cochrane a spot in the 400 freestyle final at the 2012 London Olympics.
Swimming qualifying begins this morning at 9 a.m. with the finals beginning tonight at 6 p.m.
Also favoured for a medal are the world third-ranked Canadian women's rugby sevens players, who have spent the last four years training for this moment at Westhills Stadium in Langford and PISE in Saanich.
鈥淲e want to win the gold medal. That鈥檚 why we are [here],鈥� said rocket-fast star Canadian player Ghislaine Landry.
鈥淲e are building belief we can do it. We are capable of it. We are a family and we are all here for each other. There have been some tough times, but that鈥檚 all part of being a family.鈥�
sa国际传媒 opens this morning at 8:30 a.m. against Japan before meeting host Brazil at 1:30 p.m. Pool play concludes Sunday at 7 a.m. against Great Britain. The quarter-finals begin at 1 p.m. Sunday, with the medal rounds Monday.
The Olympics has a whole other vibe to it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a different feeling than just another [World Series] Tour event,鈥� said Landry.
The emotional core of this team is provided by captain Jen Kish.
鈥淚t is a huge honour and a privilege to lead these beautiful women to Rio,鈥� said Kish.
Kish noted the bonding that has occurred over the past four years in Greater Victoria: 鈥淲e are a squad of sisters. What you will see is a sisterhood. You will see 12 dreams come true and see the dedication it took for that to happen.鈥�
The Elk Lake-based men鈥檚 quad opens today in rowing on the Lagoa River, which has been the subject of much pre-Games controversy because of questions about its cleanliness.
UVic Vikes products Brenden Bissett, Matthew Sarmento and Keegan Pereira, part of the Canadian men鈥檚 field hockey team which qualified for the Rio Olympics against all odds and despite a lack of funding, opens today against two-time defending Olympic-champion Germany at 2 p.m. That鈥檚 quite an opening-game challenge for the Canucks, but nobody said this was going to be easy.
Notable Island openings Sunday in Rio include Victoria rowers and medal contenders Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee in the women鈥檚 lightweight double sculls and Jamie Broder of Victoria in women鈥檚 beach volleyball.
