Can Usain Bolt overcome injury cloud to create history at Rio?

JAMAICAN superstar Usain Bolt is the $1.45 favourite to win the 200m Olympic Gold Medal at the Rio Olympic Games.

The six-time Olympic Gold medallist is one of the shortest priced favourites across the Olympic board to salute in the 200m, while his odds to win the 100m Gold are just as slim at $1.65.

American Justin Gatlin is the second best in the 100m market at $2.61.

Bolt was seen as an unlikely Olympic starter after missing the Jamaican trails, but he was given a medical exception to take his place at Rio after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Gatlin – who is considered Bolt’s biggest rival for the 100m Gold – has lit a fire under their already fierce rivalry by suggesting the six-time Gold medallist got preferential treatment.

“He’s injured, gets a medical pass, that’s what his country does. Our country doesn’t do that,” Gaitland said.

Gaitland’s comments raised eyebrows given he has served two separate doping bans prior to his return to athletics.

The reigning 100 and 200m Gold medallist took exception to the comments, saying the American was ‘disrespectful’ towards arguably the greatest ever Olympic athlete.

“For me I felt it was a joke, I felt it was a disrespect they think I’d back out of trials,” said Bolt.

“I’ve proven myself year on year that I’m the greatest. I laughed when I heard it, I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.”

Men’s 100m Olympic Gold Medal betting

Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au

Usain Bolt (JAM) $1.65

Justin Gatlin (USA) $2.61

Yohan Blake (JAM) $8.50

Trayvon Bromell (USA) $9.50

Andre De Grasse (CAN) $12.00

Jimmy Vicault (FRA) $12.00

Femi Ogunode (QAT) $41.00

Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) $41.00

Marvin Bracy (USA) $41.00

James Dasaolu (GBR) $67.00

James Ellington (GBR) $67.00

Bingtian Su (CHN) $101.00

Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) $101.00

Keston Bledman (JAM) $101.00

Chijindu Ujah (GBR) $101.00

Josh Clarke (AUS) $501.00

Neymar-led Brazil favourites to collect Gold on home soil

BARCELONA superstar Neymar’s inclusion in Brazil’s Olympic squad has seen Sportsbet.com.au slash the price on the home nation to reign triumphant at $2.

Argentina ($6.50) is second in the market after naming Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa and Giovanni Simeone.

Germany’s strong squad, which includes 2014 World Cup-winner Mathias Ginter of Broussia Dortmund and Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry, is the only other team in single figures at $8.

The Barca forward Neymar was part of the squad that won Silver in London in 2012, and the mercurial 24-year-old believes his country has the squad to go one better on home soil.

“I think we have a great opportunity to make history and get the gold medal that Brazil wants.” Neymar said.

“I am already an Olympic silver medallist from the last Olympic Games. I hope that this time around we can get the gold.

“We have a strong group. We have players that play at a high level, who can also play in other positions as well. We only have 18 players, so there will be a time in the tournament where we will have to improvise and use a player in another position.

“In the end, that’s the decision of our manager, but knowing the qualities that we have as a team, there is a lot to evaluate. This is what we are doing in training, and every time we train we get to know ourselves better to start the competition and to be prepared.”

If Brazil can salute on home soil it will be first time in the nation’s history that they have won soccer’s Olympic Gold Medal.

Men’s Soccer Olympic Gold Medal betting

Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au

Brazil Olympic Team $2

Argentina Olympic Team $6.50

Germany Olympic Team $8

Portugal Olympic Team $11

Colombia Olympic Team $17

Nigeria Olympic Team $19

Denmark Olympic Team $21

USA Olympic Team $21

Mexico Olympic Team $23

Sweden Olympic Team $26

Japan Olympic Team $34

China Olympic Team $34

Algeria Olympic Team $34

South Africa Olympic Team $36

Qatar Olympic Team $41

Fiji Olympic Team $81

Honduras Olympic Team $81

Sportsbet open up novelty markets on the Rio Games

The Rio Olympic Games will be the first time ever that the Summer Olympics has visited South America, and to honour the occasion sportsbet.com.au has opened a number of novelty markets.

The shortest odds in the novelty market is the highly likely scenario that the Aussies will not move into the Olympic village, while a total power cut to occur before the during the opening ceremony is next best at $7.

The least likely occurrence according to sportsbet is for the Olympic Games to be called off before they even start.

Olympic Game novelties

Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au

The entire Australian team to not move into their Olympic village accommodation $7

A total power cut to occur at the opening ceremony $11

The Olympic Flame not to ignite at all when lit at the opening ceremony $16

Rugby Sevens competition to get cancelled due to a shortage of rugby balls $51

Football competition to get cancelled due to a shortage of soccer balls $51

The Rio Olympics to get completely cancelled prior to commencement $101