The world will turn its eyes to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, 2016 as they host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.
More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries – including Kosovo and South Sudan for the first time – are expected to compete for 306 sets of medals in 28 sports. Rio is the first city in South America to host the Summer Olympics and the beautiful vistas of Ipanema Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain will be juxtaposed against serious water quality issues, poverty and crime in the favelas and concerns over the Zika virus.
Athletics have been competed at every modern Olympics games since 1896 in Athens and in 2016 the men will compete in 24 separate events and the women in 23. Canada has won more medals in athletics (54) than any other Olympic sport. Percy Williams won the men’s 100m & 200m double gold in 1928, the same year that Ethel Catherwood of Saskatoon won gold in the high jump. She remains the only Canadian female to win an Olympic track and field gold. Perhaps that will change this year with Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Humboldt a medal favourite in the heptathlon. The cache overlooks the home of the U of S Huskies track team – Griffiths Stadium. Bring your own writing stick.