While the world is getting all geared up for the Rio 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony on Aug 5 and non-stop chatter surrounding the Games ensues, here are some facts you might not have known about the historic event that has been going on for centuries.

1. This is the first Olympic Games to be held in a South American country

But it is the third time the Games is held in the southern hemisphere. The other two times the event was held in the southern hemisphere were in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

2. Most number of participating countries

With 207 countries, this makes 2016 the year with the most number of participating countries. South Sudan and Kosovo will be taking part for the first time ever.

3. Youngest athlete to compete is 13 years old

Gaurika Singh will be representing Nepal for swimming, so look out for her in the women’s 100m backstroke event. She currently holds Nepal’s national record of 1:07.31 for 100m backstroke.

4. Golf is returning to the Games; Rugby Sevens makes a debut

The last time golf was included was in Missouri 1904, but it is now returning after a century-long hiatus. However the world’s top four players will not be present, naming Zika as the reason for pulling out.

There has only been Rugby with 15-a-side held previously in 1924. So it’s been decades after that Rugby Sevens is making a debut. Each game will last 15 minutes and both men and women’s team will have medal contenders.

5. First time there’ll be a refugee team

Competing as Refugee Olympic Team (ROT), five middle-distance runners from South Sudan, two swimmers from Syria, two judokas from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a marathon-runner from Ethiopia will be the first-ever refugees team. This is the first time the International Olympic Committee is allowing refugees to take part.

One of the swimmers, 18-year-old Yusra Mardini, made headlines earlier this year when she and two others swam and pulled a boat for three hours to reach Greece. So, look out for #TeamRefugees this Games! 

6. Security is extra tight with 85,000 soldiers and policemen to be deployed

Around 85,000 soldiers and policemen will be deployed – the largest security force assembled at any event in Brazil’s history and twice as large as the security presence for London 2012. Already with the cases of robbery for the Australian team as well as Chinese hurdler Shi Dongpeng, it looks like the added security measures is needed. 

Other interesting Olympic facts include…

7. Tug of war used to be an Olympic sport

As unbelievable as it sounds, this childhood game that stirs up memories in the playground was an Olympic sport from 1900-1920.

8. The ancient Olympics were competed in the nude

Competitors often oiled themselves up for looks as a tribute to the Gods. It was one of the reasons why only men were allowed to compete – up until the 1900 Paris Games.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters

rissaho@sph.com.sg

Tokyo – A pint-sized Japanese woman with a humble, Zen-like philosophy is taking kickboxing by storm, battering rivals to become a world champion in the violent Thai martial art.

Ayaka Miyauchi, a former dentist’s assistant who goes by her fighting name “Little Tiger,” has captured six world titles in Muay Thai but insists the true mark of a champion is how they behave outside of the ring.

“A belt isn’t the only thing which defines a champion,” the 33-year-old flyweight queen told AFP in an interview.

“A real champion is a champion even outside the ring.”

Though she packs a knockout punch that belies her 1.57-metre (5ft 2in) frame, Miyauchi looks to the moral code of Japan’s ancient samurai warriors for spiritual guidance.

“Although I’m a woman I want to inherit the samurai spirit,” said the Tokyo-born fighter, who tips the scales at just 46 kilograms.

“My motto is to conquer myself first,” added the trailblazing Miyauchi after finishing a workout in red trunks and green T-shirt with emblazoned with six stars — one for every one of her world crowns.

Miyauchi works out of a backstreet Tokyo gym just a few miles from where former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was knocked out by Buster Douglas in 1990 in arguably boxing’s biggest-ever upset.

But while Japan has enjoyed boxing success in the lighter weight divisions, Muay Thai – known as the “art of eight limbs” because it involves the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins — is still a relatively minor sport in the country.

Small-sized Japanese woman is world’s Muay Thai champ

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP

Few people recognise Miyauchi, who is one of around 10,000 kickboxers, professional and amateur, in Japan.

The combat sport is huge in Thailand, however, where she gets VIP treatment and a police escort with sirens blaring as she makes her way through the Bangkok traffic to her title fights.

“I want more Japanese people to know about Muay Thai,” said Miyauchi, who earns a mere 300,000 yen ($2,900) per bout in stark contrast to the megabucks raked in by boxing world champions.

“Hopefully I can introduce it to Japan in my own way,” she said. “That’s my mission.”

Miyauchi’s career in martial arts began at the tender age of just five as a toddler who tried karate.

After flirting briefly with dentistry in her early twenties, Miyauchi began kickboxing and the less delicate procedure of rearranging people’s teeth with her fists and feet.

Since her professional debut in 2007, Miyauchi has racked up 27 wins, including nine knockouts, and 15 losses against four draws. She has only been knocked to the canvas once in her career.

“Her kicks are very strong and heavy,” said ‘Don’, a 45-year-old Thai trainer, breathing hard after cushioning Miyauchi’s stinging spinning kicks in a ring flanked by two Thai-style Buddhist altars.

“She has all the weapons — kicks, punches and elbow attacks. She hits almost as hard as a man.”

Often the only woman in a tiny Tokyo gym echoing to the sound of gloves smacking into punchbags and heavy with the smell of sweat and aromatic Thai oils, Miyauchi refuses to brag.

While paying tribute to the boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died last month, she said sheepishly: “I don’t want to be famous. I don’t look good with a big mouth.”　

Tokyo – A pint-sized Japanese woman with a humble, Zen-like philosophy is taking kickboxing by storm, battering rivals to become a world champion in the violent Thai martial art.

Ayaka Miyauchi, a former dentist’s assistant who goes by her fighting name “Little Tiger,” has captured six world titles in Muay Thai but insists the true mark of a champion is how they behave outside of the ring.

“A belt isn’t the only thing which defines a champion,” the 33-year-old flyweight queen told AFP in an interview.

“A real champion is a champion even outside the ring.”

Though she packs a knockout punch that belies her 1.57-metre (5ft 2in) frame, Miyauchi looks to the moral code of Japan’s ancient samurai warriors for spiritual guidance.

“Although I’m a woman I want to inherit the samurai spirit,” said the Tokyo-born fighter, who tips the scales at just 46 kilograms.

“My motto is to conquer myself first,” added the trailblazing Miyauchi after finishing a workout in red trunks and green T-shirt with emblazoned with six stars — one for every one of her world crowns.

Miyauchi works out of a backstreet Tokyo gym just a few miles from where former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was knocked out by Buster Douglas in 1990 in arguably boxing’s biggest-ever upset.

But while Japan has enjoyed boxing success in the lighter weight divisions, Muay Thai – known as the “art of eight limbs” because it involves the use of fists, elbows, knees and shins – is still a relatively minor sport in the country.

Few people recognise Miyauchi, who is one of around 10,000 kickboxers, professional and amateur, in Japan.

The combat sport is huge in Thailand, however, where she gets VIP treatment and a police escort with sirens blaring as she makes her way through the Bangkok traffic to her title fights.

“I want more Japanese people to know about Muay Thai,” said Miyauchi, who earns a mere 300,000 yen (US$2,900) per bout in stark contrast to the megabucks raked in by boxing world champions.

“Hopefully I can introduce it to Japan in my own way,” she said. “That’s my mission.”

Miyauchi’s career in martial arts began at the tender age of just five as a toddler who tried karate.

After flirting briefly with dentistry in her early twenties, Miyauchi began kickboxing and the less delicate procedure of rearranging people’s teeth with her fists and feet.

Since her professional debut in 2007, Miyauchi has racked up 27 wins, including nine knockouts, and 15 losses against four draws. She has only been knocked to the canvas once in her career.

“Her kicks are very strong and heavy,” said ‘Don’, a 45-year-old Thai trainer, breathing hard after cushioning Miyauchi’s stinging spinning kicks in a ring flanked by two Thai-style Buddhist altars.

“She has all the weapons – kicks, punches and elbow attacks. She hits almost as hard as a man.”

Often the only woman in a tiny Tokyo gym echoing to the sound of gloves smacking into punchbags and heavy with the smell of sweat and aromatic Thai oils, Miyauchi refuses to brag.

While paying tribute to the boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died last month, she said sheepishly: “I don’t want to be famous. I don’t look good with a big mouth.”