The digital art piece “Visor” by Mad Dog Jones is pictured ahead of an auction at Sotheby’s in London, United Kingdom on June 1, 2021. (Photo by Mad Dog Jones/Reuters)

Zuo Tong of China performs on floor exercise during the women's team artistic gymnastics event of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Monday, September 25, 2023. China team won the gold. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Hong Kong's He Jianxin performs at the Wushu Women's Nandao competition for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Tuesday, September 26, 2023. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Italy's #01 Valentina Gottardi waits for the ball in the women's pool A beach volleyball match between Italy and Egypt during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Thomas Samson/AFP Photo)

Vanessa Low of the ACT competes in the Women's PA Senior Long Jump Final during the 2025 Australian Open and Under 20 Athletics Championships at WA Athletics Stadium on April 10, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Okame Flowering Cherry tree blossoms are seen frozen on Valentine's Day in front of RX3 Compounding Pharmacy in Chester, Virginia, February 14, 2021. (Photo by Kristi K. Higgins/progress-index.com/USA Today Network via Reuters)

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (L) visit Seppeltsfield Winery in Barossa Valley, Australia, 10 November 2015. The royal couple are on a 12-day tour visiting seven regions in New Zealand and three states and one territory in Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/EPA)

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)