The Tokyo Games could feature an exciting rematch in the 1,500 meters between two generations of University of Oregon Ducks as sophomore Cole Hocker edged out 2016 Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz at the Olympic trials in June.

If you like cheering for hometown athletes — or former Ducks, Zags or Huskies — you’re in luck when the Summer Olympics starts this week. The team rosters for the USA and a bunch of foreign countries are chockablock with athletes with Pacific Northwest ties.

Fifty U.S. Olympians have strong connections to Oregon or Washington. At least 51 more athletes are at the Olympics representing foreign countries after starring for universities or turning pro in the Northwest.

The Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Friday is almost exactly one year later than originally planned due to the pandemic. The games, still branded Tokyo 2020, run through August 8. The International Olympic Committee and Japanese government are proceeding with these games in spite of persistent calls to cancel them coming from worried citizens of the largely unvaccinated host nation.

The athletic contingent with Northwest ties is headlined by two Olympic veterans. In women’s basketball, the Seattle Storm’s Sue Bird is chasing her fifth straight gold medal. In fencing, Mariel Zagunis of Beaverton is also at her fifth Olympics, looking to add to the two golds and two bronze medals she already has.

There will be no family and friends in the stands cheering them on because Japan banned nearly all spectators at the Olympics as a COVID-19 pandemic precaution. Weightlifter and first-time Olympian Harrison Maurus, of Auburn, Washington, said it was nice that the USA Weightlifting federation invited family members to the team’s training camp location in Hawaii to view the games together from there.

“Really that’s been good for my training to know that they’ll still be able to follow me through the end of my journey and support me to the end,” Maurus said during a team media briefing.

Oregon born and raised shot putter Ryan Crouser also carries gold medal hopes on his broad shoulders. The product of Barlow High School in Gresham set a new world record in shot put on the opening day of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene last month.

“There’s been a lot of improvising, adapting and overcoming this year,” said Crouser after making his second Olympic team. “It’s been such a difficult year — not only for me, but for so many people around the world — it was a really special moment for me and all the guys.”

Two days after Crouser heaves the shot in Tokyo, track and field fans could be at the edge of their seats again for a showdown between current and former stars from the University of Oregon. Now a Portland-based pro runner, Matthew Centrowitz arrives in Tokyo as the defending Olympic champion in the men’s 1500 meters. He not only has to defeat international challengers to repeat as gold medalist, but also a Oregon Duck up-and-comer. Oregon Duck sophomore phenom Cole Hocker edged out Centrowitz at the finish line at last month’s Olympic trials.

The success of the University of Oregon running program in minting future Olympians is perhaps rivaled only by the storied University of Washington crew team. The university’s rowing program placed five graduates in Team USA boats for the Tokyo Games. Another eleven Husky crew alumni are competing in Tokyo for foreign countries including Australia, Italy, Great Britain, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

U.S. women’s Olympic soccer players said the absence of their supporters in the stands was incredibly sad. But they added the impact was greater on their families than on the athletes themselves who are in many ways walled off and in an all business mindset during world competitions.

“Going to these events, business is first and foremost,” said Crystal Dunn, who plays for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Portland Thorns when not with the national team. “Our families are there to support us, but they are usually having a grand old time without us.”

The U.S. women’s team is a gold medal favorite going into the delayed Tokyo Games. Besides Dunn, the national team roster includes three other Portland Thorns players — Adrianna Franch, Lindsey Horan and Becky Sauerbrunn — along with two stars from the Tacoma/Seattle-based OL Reign, Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle.

Another strong medal contender from the Northwest is 19-year-old canoeist Nevin Harrison, of Seattle. Harrison has a chance to win the first Olympic gold medal by a female in her event, solo canoe sprint. Women’s canoe racing is on the Olympic program for the first time as part of a push for gender parity at the games.

The Tokyo Games will see the debut of several new Olympic sports, which were added to the program partly to appeal to younger eyeballs and sensibilities. They are skateboarding, sport climbing, karate, surfing and 3-on-3 basketball.

The half court, 3-on-3 basketball tournament features three noteworthy players with local connections. The U.S. women’s squad includes former University of Washington star Kelsey Plum and Seattle Storm forward Katie Lou Samuelson. The Japanese men’s squad includes U.S.-born, ex-Gonzaga Bulldog Ira Brown, who is now a naturalized Japanese citizen.