Team GB hockey player Tess Howard believes wearing the “right” kit in events like the Paris 2024 Olympics can “make the difference to feel like you belong on the world stage”.

It’s half-time in the two opening men’s football matches and we’ve had goals in both now.

First, Uzbekistan found a leveller just before the break against Spain, Eldor Shomurodov who plays for Roma in Italy, scoring that equaliser from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 in Group C.

And in Group B, it could be a bit of a surprise on the cards as a well-worked goal saw Soufiane Rahimi score from close range after a great move down the right, Morocco leading Argentina 1-0 there.

It was a fast start from Samoa to the rugby sevens opener, but a brace from Henry Hutchison and a scorching second half score from Nathan Lawson and help take Australia to a 21-14 victory in Paris. The Aussies do have 15s flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase in their squad, though we didn’t see much of the Wallaby in the opener.

A vital win, that, with medal contenders Argentina and the ever-dangerous Kenya also in Group B. But a try with the clock dead could prove crucial for Samoa with points difference likely to determine which two of the three third-placed finishers make the last eight.

There is one North Star at the Olympics, one inalienable truth that guides this movement through uncertain times. Athletes measure success in gold, silver and bronze but the International Olympic Committee is a bit more brutal about the real bottom line.

Without sponsors and broadcasters, the Olympics would be a shell event, which is why the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) may soon be forced to make some difficult decisions about the future of dressage.

The first goal of the Paris Olympics has gone in - Spain lead 1-0 against Uzbekistan thanks to Marc Pubill, a 21-year-old defender who plays for Almeria at club level.

Here are the rest of today’s matches and timings, if there are any you particularly want to catch:

2pm: Group B - Argentina 0-0 Morocco (first half)

2pm: Group C - Uzbekistan 0-1 Spain (first half)

4pm: Group A - Guinea v New Zealand

4pm: Group C - Egypt v Dominican Republic

6pm: Group B - Iraq v Ukraine

6pm: Group D - Japan v Paraguay

8pm: Group A - France v USA

8pm: Group D - Mali v Israel

Women’s football group stage matches start tomorrow, Thursday.

Sport number two of Paris 2024 is rugby sevens, back for a third Olympics with one of the faces of the games set to feature for France. Antoine Dupont, the best rugby player in the world, will spearhead the hosts’ gold medal bid ahead of Saturday’s medal matches, but first out on the opening day of competition at the Stade de France are Australia and Samoa.

No goals in the two early matches but there are group stage games all day today in the men’s football event.

Argentina have just won the Copa America at senior international level; Man City’s Julian Alvarez is one who was in both that squad and this one now in Paris, with the team being coached by former Liverpool and Barcelona star Javier Mascherano. They are currently 0-0 with Morocco.

Elsewhere, Spain are similarly involved just weeks after triumphing with their seniors, having won Euro 2024. They are 0-0 with Uzbekistan - Alex Baena and Fermin Lopez are both playing having been squad members in Germany too.

Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games on Wednesday following a vote of the International Olympic Committee.

The US city, which hosted the 2002 Winter Games, earned 83 votes out of 89 at the IOC session, having been named the preferred choice in June.

“To the people celebrating back home: we are back baby, the Olympics are coming back to Utah,” said Utah governor Spencer Cox, who was part of the presentation team, along with Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn, to the IOC session in Paris.

Could Keely Hodgkinson lead Team GB to a glittering Olympics? Ben Bloom looks at Great Britain’s chances of athletics success in Paris:

We have lift off. The action at Paris 2024 is underway with men’s football first to kick off. Argentina are facing Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint Etienne, where the atmosphere sounds electric, while Uzbekistan and Spain are just getting going at the Parc des Princes, too.