Who needs Usain Bolt when there’s Sky Brown? New stars set to shine at Tokyo Olympics

The teenage skateboarder heads a list from Great Britain taking part in debut sports at a decidedly odd Olympic Games

The Olympics is happening - and for that we can only be grateful. But these Games, the 32nd of the modern era, are likely to be odd ones in, for the first time, an odd-numbered year. Some of the dominant characters of the past decade will be absent, either retired or finally showing human fallibility: so no Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps or Mo Farah. Nor will there be many fans. International supporters have been banned from entering Japan, while spectators will be barred from most events.

But Simone Biles, the gravity-scoffing US gymnast will be there, as will her compatriot, swimmer Katie Ledecky, the closest the world has seen to an actual mermaid. And giving Tokyo 2020 (as it is still called) a much-needed pep, the Olympics will welcome five new sports: skateboarding, karate, surfing, sport climbing and BMX freestyle. That eyebrows might be raised at a couple of these even being sports" is now moot; the International Olympic Committee has decreed it, so best deal with it, grandad.