Meet the accountant going to his fourth Olympic Games

How hard could it really be? Apart from the hours and hours of training, the years of dedication and the natural talent, it could've been me!

It's a little bit different for Joe Donnelly - an accountant from regional NSW. He was a rower aiming for selection at the 1976 Montreal Games when he missed his chance.

It wasn't until a holiday to Vietnam more than 30 years later that his Olympic dream finally became a reality.

Dominic Unwin has detailed Donnelly's classic tale from forgotten Olympic hopeful to four-time Olympic coach of the Vietnam team. What a wild ride it's been.

That's the beauty of the Olympics - there's always something that grabs you to pull you in. It might be Donnelly's Olympic connection, or Clare Wheeler's 'do or die" moment on her way to playing for the Matildas and at the Olympics.

Renee Valentine has spoken to Wheeler to detail her journey from Newcastle to the top as the Matildas chase a historic Olympic medal.

We're edging closer and closer to the start of the Games and the countdown is heating up.

on't believe me? Well, France's Sport Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera jumped in the Seine River a few days ago to prove it was ready for Olympic competition and no longer contaminated by ... poo.

You know things are getting serious when a politician is willing to put his/her body on the line.

To help plan your Olympic schedule, Caden Helmers has pulled together a list of the seven events and athletes you need to know about before the sleep deprivation hits.

Ariarne Titmus v Katie Ledecky - must watch. Kaylee McKeown in the pool - don't miss it. Never heard of pole-vaulter Armand (Mondo) Duplantis? Neither had I, but former Olympic champion Steve Hooker says: "If you're going to pencil in a world record at the Games that would be the one."

We'll start ramping up our coverage ahead of the opening ceremony next Saturday morning Australian time. We'll have everything from eating French during the Games to feel part of it from your lounge room to Australia's medal contenders and how regional stars are landing on the world's biggest sporting stage.

Keep an eye out for our printed Olympic guide, which will run in daily newspapers across the Australian Community Media network on Friday, and then we'll have a live blog operating for every day of competition.

In the meantime, thanks for reading and check out the must-watch events to add to your diary.

- Chris Dutton