Flame first to be powered by hydrogen

Inspired by the sun, the Tokyo Olympic cauldron is designed to be better for the planet. The flame at Tokyo’s National Stadium and another cauldron burning along the waterfront near Tokyo Bay throughout the games will be sustained in part by hydrogen, the first time the fuel source will be used to power an Olympic fire. Previous flames have usually run on propane, although magnesium, gunpowder, resin and olive oil have also been used since the first modern cauldron was lit for the Amsterdam Games in 1928. The torch relay was introduced eight years later for Berlin. Unlike propane, hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide when combusted.

Covid count goes past 100

The Covid-19 cases associated with the Tokyo Olympics breached the 100-mark today with the announcement of 19 new infections and the Czech contingent seemed among the worst hit after a fourth athlete — road cyclist Michal Schlegel — tested positive for the virus. The worrying milestone was touched on the day the Games officially opened. The city logged 1,359 cases today.

Archer loses consciousness in heat

Russian archer Svetlana Gomboeva lost consciousness during a competition in intense heat today. Gomboeva collapsed shortly after completing the qualifying round and was attended by medical staff, coach Stanislav Popov said in comments published by the Russian Olympic Committee. Temperatures in Tokyo were above 30°C. The heat in Tokyo’s summer months already prompted organizers to move the marathons and race-walking events to the cooler city of Sapporo.

Hockey teams set to open campaigns

The men would be seeking to reclaim a glorious past, while the women would be aiming to script some history of their own when the two Indian hockey teams begin their campaign here tomorrow. Men will be up against eighth-ranked New Zealand, followed by the women’s clash with the Netherlands. Going by form and current ranking, the Indians definitely start as favourites against New Zealand as after the 2016 Olympics, the Manpreet Singh-led team has beaten the Black Sticks eight times out of the 11 encounters between the two sides. But India’s chief coach Graham Reid has asked his men to stay on guard. “New Zealand are mentally very tough, and they never give up,” said Reid. For the women’s team, a tough opener awaits as it faces the world No. 1 Netherlands in their Group A fixture. Agencies