PICK OF THE SPORT: It is always a special occasion when the Olympics come around and this weekend the Games will get underway, writes Dylan Bettencourt.
The Olympic Games are always a special occasion when they come around every four years. They bring with them so much hope.
There is be no greater feeling in sport than winning an Olympic gold medal, or any medal at the Games.
While South Africa only won three medals last time out in Tokyo, the country hopes to improve that number in Paris.
There has been some action earlier in the week, but the official ceremony kicks off at 8pm on Friday.
Focusing on the events where South Africa has a chance at making it the distance, at least on paper, the women’s swimming heats along with one men’s swimming heat get underway from 11am on Saturday.
The men’s hockey team then play the Netherlands at 12.30pm in their first pool A fixture.
At 3.30pm the Blitzboks will play in the rugby sevens semi-final against hosts France, with South Africa going into the fixture as underdogs, a label many South Africans are used to overcoming.
There will be more women’s swimming action between 8.30 and 9.45pm.
The swimming action continues on Sunday morning from 11am with both men’s and women’s heats.
The women’s hockey team then face Australia in their opening pool fixture at 12.45pm.
The same two teams compete in the women’s rugby sevens at 4pm. The South African women’s team then face Ireland at 7pm.
The men’s hockey team are back in action at 8.10pm against Great Britain.
Swimming action ends the night between 8.30pm and 9.45pm.
The full Olympic schedule can be seen here as the action continues until 6 August.
All the action will be live on various DStv and SABC channels.
➤ On Thursday, the South African sevens team caused the year’s major sevens upset when they outplayed the top-ranked All Blacks.
This came after their massive, near faultless performance against Japan scoring seven converted tries to one and winning by 49-5 to fight their way into eighth place in the finals.
On Saturday, they will need another miracle if they are to beat France at a packed Stade de France in Paris – and if they do, they will already have won a bronze medal and they will have a real chance at Olympic Gold.
Facing France, with Antoine Dupont and a totally partisan crowd, the South Africans are taking on a tough challenge, but the Blitzboks are on an amazing trajectory to victory – and don’t be surprised if they pull off another miracle.
Blitzboks vs France, Saturday 3.30pm on DStv channel 205.
➤ Things are really hotting up in the world of Formula 1.
Max Verstappen is heading into his fourth race without a win and the Dutch driver will be looking to leave his losing streak behind and get back to winning ways at the iconic Spa-xFrancorchamps circuit in Belgium.
With McLaren seemingly having the fastest car on the grid, Lando Norris will be hoping that team orders will not get in the way of him winning the race.
The race will begin at 3pm on Sunday, live on DStv channel 215.
Pictured above: The Olympics.
Source: Paris2024/X
