THE Olympic Games opening ceremony is tomorrow in Rio and flying the flag for north Hampshire at the event will be Justin Rose, Alex Danson and Leonora Mackinnon.

Odiham hockey star Danson will be hoping to fire Great Britain to gold this time around, after being part of the British team which won the bronze at London 2012.

This will be the 31-year-olds third games having also played for her country at the Beijing Olympics.

Danson is one of the most experience players on the team with 261 appearances for England and Great Britain and has scored 93 goals and would love to chalk up her century in Rio.

Great Britain start their quest for gold against Australia (Sunday 0.30am BST) followed by games against India (Monday 10pm) and then Argentina (Wednesday 5.30pm).

Their final group games are against Japan ( Friday August 12 0.30am) and then USA (Saturday August 13 10am). The top four of each group make the quarter-finals.

Looking ahead to Rio, Danson said: “We have got a very, very talented squad with a lot of depth and also have a nice blend of experience and youth which is fantastic. We are really excited going into these Olympics.”

Basingstoke-born fencer Leonora Mackinnon, who is representing the country of her mother’s birth Canada, will be action from 1pm on Saturday in the Women’s Epee.

In a full day of competition, the medals will be decided later on in the day, with Mackinnon needing to win six fights to secure a medal.

Looking ahead to her first Olympics she said: “I am very excited to get to Rio. I have seen pictures of the Canada building inside the Olympic village and I can’t wait to move in.

The 21-year-old added: “The draw has been released and I know I have the possibility of fencing one of two opponents, Japan’s Nozomi Sato or Romanian Simona Pop (Romania), but I won’t know which one I am fencing until I get to Rio.

“Both of these fights will be close and I’m predicting a very good match whatever the outcome. They both could go either way.”

Former Robert May’s pupil Justin Rose is not in action until a week today at the Olympic Golf Course in what will be his Olympic debut for Great Britain.

The Englishmen warmed up for the event as he finished tied 22nd on four under at the PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey last weekend.