Thousands of international volunteers join forces with Brazilians to build the spirit of the Games
About 20 per cent of the 50,000 volunteers at Rio 2016 are foreigners, coming from the USA, Great Britain and a host of other countries
Amateur passion fuels the 'Green Machine': Irish men’s hockey team back at Olympic Games after 108-year wait
Absent from the Olympic Games since 1908, a team made up mainly of amateurs and part-funded by fans will be one of the highlights of the Rio 2016 hockey tournament
‘I know the sport needs me to win and come out on top,’ says Usain Bolt
Jamaican superstar sprinter still worries about injury but is convinced he can add to his gold medal collection in Rio
Brazil’s barbers buzzing ahead of Olympic Games
National competition in the Olympic city featured Rio 2016 as a design theme, with Christ the Redeemer also making the cut
Brazilian archer Bernardo Oliveira takes inspiration from 'mindblowing atmosphere' of London 2012
After just missing out on qualification four years ago but attending the Games, the Brasília-born archery star is keen to make his mark on Rio 2016
Running in Rio: the Olympic city's best places to burn off calories
Rio de Janeiro is a city obsessed with fitness. Check out some of the best trails to work on a body worthy of the Olympics
Neymar gets into the swing of Rio 2016 with a shot at golf for the first time
The Brazil football star takes a break from Olympic preparations to test his skills at golf, Panasonic's Dream "FITA" Project
Germans to vote to choose Rio 2016 flagbearer
Fans can choose from a shortlist of five veteran Olympians on the website of the country's National Olympic Committee
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls on all nations to observe traditional Olympic truce
"A respite in fighting would manifest the values that the Games seek to promote: respect, friendship, solidarity and equality,” Ban Ki-Moon said
Time for a paws: Rio 2016 welcomes stray cats to new shelter
Initiative supported by World Animal Protection ensures humane treatment of Olympic host city's street cats
