Lindsey Horan #9 of Team United States is challenged by Sofia Jakobsson #10 of Team Sweden during the Women’s First Round Group G match between Sweden and United States during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on July 21, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.
Rising COVID-19 cases among athletes have become a concern at the Tokyo Olympics days before the Opening Ceremony. While cases among athletes continue to pop up, the director of the World Health Organization says the Games should go on.
“The Games should go ahead to demonstrate what can be achieved with the right plan and safety measures. He said the Olympics have the power to bring the world together and to inspire and show what’s possible,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom said.
The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday evening in Japan with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in route to attend.
Olympic action has already begun though. It started with a stunner in soccer for the U.S. Women’s National Team. The team getting routed by Sweden in their first match of group play.
Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters.
“We got our ass kicked. We just looked a little bit nervous. I think we played a little bit tight –we don’t ever need to play that way. I don’t know if we’ve been cooped up or just excited or a long wait, but [Sweden’s] had the same thing. Taking this one in stride, we got bopped. We got to take that on the chin and move forward,” forward Megan Rapino said after the match.
Only two teams in Olympic history have won the gold medal after losing their opening match of the tournament. Norway in 2000 and the U.S. women’s team in 2008 in Beijing.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
North Texas athletes are also making their way to Tokyo. Unlike in years past, athletes will be arriving at different times to keep the number of people in the athlete village down to a minimum due to COVID concerns. Vincent Hancock (men’s skeet) and Austen Smith (women’s skeet) have been in Tokyo for a few days getting acclimated to the area. Both will start competition on Sunday, July 25.
Allisha Gray of the Dallas Wings is also in Tokyo. She is part of Team USA’s first 3v3 women’s basketball team. Gray making history in the inaugural Olympics for the event.
Today— we got a look at the live shot locations we will broadcast from for NBC DFW . The iconic Olympic Rings behind us are at Odaiba Marine Park. I’m the background are the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, and city skyscrapers.
This iron sculpture is 108.27ft wide and 48.21ft high.
My photographer Juan and I were all smiles, but what you can’t tell is how hot it is! Surprisingly, it feels hotter than North Texas right now! Temps in the 90’s with feels like temps to 110°!
The sun rises around 4:40a in Tokyo… so this was literally the scene at 4:30a out of my hotel window…
It’s so crazy!!!!
4:46p (Monday) in Tokyo
2:46a (Monday) in DFW
NBC DFW photographer Juan and I are hard at work getting some #TokyoOlympics coverage together!
We will see you at 10p on NBC 5 📺
The Hall of Famer is here to cover women’s soccer for the #TokyoOlympics with NBC Sports… and my whole year has been made seeing her! ⚽️ MORE: https://on.nbcdfw.com/vT241ag
The Hall of Famer is here to cover women’s soccer for the #TokyoOlympics with NBC Sports… and my whole year has been made seeing her! ⚽️
The Hall of Famer is here to cover women’s soccer for the #TokyoOlympics with NBC Sports… and my whole year has been made seeing her! ⚽️
The Hall of Famer is here to cover women’s soccer for the #TokyoOlympics with NBC Sports… and my whole year has been made seeing her! ⚽️
🗽 1/7 the size of the actual Statue of Liberty in NYC
🗽transferred from Paris to Tokyo in 1998
It’s Wednesday morning here in Tokyo and I’m less than 30 minutes from my 10p Tuesday live shot for NBC DFW! Grabbing a little energy, water and jet fuel before! See ya soon, North Texas! (Yes. I brought my own snacks to make sure I’m never hungry 😂)
and I will see ya tomorrow! (Your Wednesday night our Thursday morning)
We just finished our dinner and about to do a Wednesday morning live shot on NBC DFW !
