The Rio de Janeiro Olympics kick off on August 5 for some two weeks of competitive games drawing athletes as well as audiences from around the world. As they prepare to cover the event, Reuters photographers look back on their favourite pictures from past Olympics where they captured the action on the ground as well as the participants' tears and joy that followed. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

A scantily-clad brunette is pictured passed out on the pavement. Mayhem hits the streets of Newcastle, UK as clubbers out on the Toon have a little too much to drink as they enjoy the Bank Holiday on August 29, 2016. Photographs take last night show scantily-clad women passed out on the pavement, while boozed-up men were caught arguing with police. (Photo by XposurePhotos.com)

Kenny Wallace, driver of the #09 Family Farmers Toyota, spins into Justin Allgaier, driver of the #31 Brandt Chevrolet, who is lifted into the air by Reed Sorenson, driver of the #52 Means Racing Chevrolet, as Michael Annett, driver of the #43 Pilot Flying J. Ford, tries to avoid the wreckage during the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

A dog walks on the street as it snows in Kyoto on January 25, 2024. (Photo by Philip Fong/AFP Photo)

A boy holds a machine gun at a military hardware exhibition during a swear-in ceremony for new recruits of the Russian military-patriotic club “Yunarmia” (Young army) in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, October 27, 2018. (Photo by Pavel Rebrov/Reuters)

A woman learns how to use an AK-47 assault rifle during a civilians self-defence course in the outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, on March 4, 2022. The Russian army occupied on March 4, 2022 the Ukrainian nuclear power plant of Zaporozhie (south), the largest in Europe, where bombings in the night have raised fears of a disaster as more than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, United Nations figures showed on March 4, 2022. (Photo by Daniel Leal/AFP Photo)

Naked riders seen participating during the World Naked Bike Ride to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets in London, United Kingdom on June 9, 2018. People chose to ride naked to celebrate cycling and body freedom. (Photo by Brais G. Rouco/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Lucaz Adamus (3), from Lucan, enjoying the Dublin Racing Festival, at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland on February 5, 2023. (Photo by Tom Maher/Inpho)