Canadian softball team to face Mexico in Canada's 1st event of Tokyo Games

A Japanese softball player tosses the balls into a basket during a training session at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Fukushima, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The opening ceremony isn't until Friday, but Canadian athletes will be out on the softball pitch early tomorrow morning for Canada's first event of the Tokyo Olympics.

Canada will face off against Mexico on Wednesday afternoon Tokyo time -- the wee hours of the morning Eastern Time.

The Canadian roster includes four players who were on the team for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when Canada finished fourth.

Next up will be the Canadian women's soccer team, taking on Japan at 6:30 a.m. ET.

Canada has eight entries in team sports, the country's record for a non-boycotted, non-hosted Games.

Women's soccer, basketball, softball, rugby sevens and water polo and men's volleyball, field hockey and rugby sevens all qualified for the Summer Games before the pandemic.

The opening ceremony is Friday at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. The Olympic Games close Aug. 8, to be followed by the Paralympic Games from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2021.