Tameka Yallop celebrates scoring for the Matildas. Credit: Tokyo2020/Twitter
While the Games of the XXXII Olympiad have not been declared open officially, the action is well and truly in the swing of things in Tokyo as the events got underway on Day -2. For all your Tokyo 2020 coverage, stay tuned to The Inner Sanctum’s Olympic hub and the Olympics Central.
Women’s Softball and Women’s Football were the events that took place as the Host for the 2032 Olympic Games was announced.
Brisbane Announced as 2032 host
The Olympics are returning Down Under.
Brisbane won the rights to host the 2032 Olympic Games, bringing the games back to Australia for the third time after Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000 previously.
All IOC Members were given the opportunity to vote on Wednesday evening in Tokyo. With all other bids withdrawn, it was seen as a mere formality with 72 of the 77 votes cast in favour of the Australian city.
Host nation off to winning start
To kick off the Softball event, and Tokyo 2020 as a whole, Australia took on Japan at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.
The reigning Olympic Champions flexed their muscles on home soil, recording a comfortable 8-1 victory in five innings, due to the mercy rule.
The Spirit were the first on the board, courtesy of Michelle Cox getting home off a Chelsea Forkin hit by pitch.
The Australians blew multiple chances to even up the matchup, having bases loaded multiple times before striking and hitting out ending the innings.
Next up to the plate was Italy and the United States with the Americans recording a 2-0 victory across 7 innings.
The Americans getting on the board in consecutive innings through Valerie Arioto and Janie Reed running into home.
Canada and Mexico were next up with the Canadians cruising to a comfortable 4-0 win in 7 innings.
Canada burst out of the blocks going up 2-0 in the first innings and followed it up with scores in the third and the fourth to build a lead and record the win.
More Tokyo 2020 News
Concerns over sewage water during the Tokyo games
Tokyo 2020 Preview: Road Cycling – No yellow bricks on the way to gold
Tokyo 2020 Preview: Basketball – is it Australia’s time?
Matildas on the board, Sweden stun the states as women’s football begins with a bang
The Matildas got their Olympic campaign off to the perfect start with a comfortable win 2-1 over their Trans- Tasman rivals New Zealand in their Group G clash.
Two first-half goals through Tameka Yallop and skipper Sam Kerr set up an early advantage for Australia. Gabby Rennie pulled a late goal back for the Football Ferns in stoppage time to create a slightly tense finish but it was job done for Australia when the final whistle went, recording their first win at Tokyo 2020.
The big surprise though came a couple of hours earlier as Sweden stunned the United States with a 3-0 win in the other Group G clash. Two goals from Stina Blackstenius, one in each half and one from second-half substitute Lina Hurtig brought the USA’s 44 game winning streak to an end.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands got themselves on the board with a crushing 10-3 win over Zambia in their Group F clash. Brazil easily accounted for China 5-0 in the other Group F clash.
Great Britain also got their Olympic campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over Chile thanks to an Ellen White double. Japan and Canada, the other clash in Group E finished in a 1-all draw.
For all your Tokyo 2020 coverage, stay tuned to The Inner Sanctum’s Olympic hub and the Olympics Central.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
About Author
