Olympics 2016: 14 things you’ll see in Rio for the first time at a games
Triplets, rugby sevens, same-sex married couple, new countries and record-breaking 450,000 condoms among firsts
THE STAGE is set for Rio de Janeiro to become the centre of the sporting universe during the 17 days of competition in the Olympic Games.
But before any of the 2488 medals (812 gold, 812 silver and 864 bronze) are won, some history has already been made, while some beckons for others.
- And the hosts have bagged some early bragging rights ...
It will be the first Olympic Games to be held in South America.
2. But there are plenty of other firsts for those travelling to Brazil ...
Leila, Liina and Lily Luik from Estonia will make Olympic history when they cross the start line for the women's marathon in Rio.
Twins competing in the same event is not uncommon in the Games, but the Luiks are believed to be the first identical triplets to compete against each other.
The 30-year-old blond, blue-eyed sisters only took up serious distance running six years ago.
3. And on the subject of women ...
There are more women than men in Australia's Rio Olympic team, marking the first time females have dominated selection for a Summer Games.
Of the 419-strong Aussie contingent 212 are women.
4. Talking about Australian women ...
Lani Belcher, 27, who was born in Victoria, and raised in Queensland, will be representing the motherland, Great Britain, in the K2 500m sprint kayak event on her Olympic debut in Rio.
5. She won’t be the only debutant in Rio ...
After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan will also be making its Games bow.
The 206th Olympic nation will send three athletes to Rio.
Santino Kenyi, 16, is in the men’s 1500m, Guor Marial, a 33-year-old based in the US, will run his second Olympic marathon after competing at the London Games under the Olympic flag while Margret Rumat Rumar Hassan, a 19-year-old sprinter will run in the women’s 200m.
Kosovo will also have a team in action, 24 years after it was formed in the wake of Yugoslavia’s break-up.
6. They will be joined by the first ever refugee team to compete in the Games ...
The team includes Syrian swimmers, judo competitors from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a marathoner from Ethiopia.
7. But it’s not only new countries taking part ...
Rugby sevens will be introduced for the first time.
Rugby has not featured in any shape or form since the 1924 Paris Games
Twelve teams will contest the men’s and women’s tournaments.
8. Rio will also see another sport make a return to the Olympic arena ...
Golf will be back in the swing for the first time since the 1904 Games in
St. Louis, Missouri.
But you won’t see six of the top 10 ranked male players chasing gold.
World No 1, Aussie Jason Day, and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, are among those who have pulled out due to fears over the Zika virus.
9. One person who will be going is ...
Thomas Bach – it’s the first Olympics under the leadership of new IOC President.
And he knows what it takes to win gold – the German won fencing gold as part of the foil team at the 1976 Montreal Games
He’s the only president ever to win an Olympic gold medal.
RELATED STORIES
10. One married couple will enjoy the Rio experience together ...
Great Britain hockey duo Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh got married three years ago and will become the first same-sex married couple ever to compete together at the Games.
They won bronze together in London four years ago.
11. The Rio Games won’t be just for amateurs for the first time ...
The IOC have allowed professional boxers to compete this time around.
12. Two tennis professionals will also have a shot at making Olympic history ...
Wimbledon champ Andy Murray will be aiming to becoming the first man to win successive Olympic gold medals in men’s singles while Serena Williams will be hoping to do the same in the women’s tournament.
13. But it won't only be Murray and Williams hoping to create a slice of history ...
14. And the firsts for Rio will end on another historic note ...
A record-breaking 450,000 condoms will be distributed to athletes - equivalent to 42 per person!!
The condom count started in Seoul in 1988 when 8,500 condoms were provided to athletes.