Rio Confidential: Boomers v Team USA the hottest ticket in town

RIO CONFIDENTIAL: It was the hottest ticket in town, the shot in the arm these Olympics desperately needed.

IT WAS the hottest ticket in town, the shot in the arm these Olympics desperately needed.

The basketball showdown between Australia’s Boomers and Team USA was the place to be seen in Rio.

Celebrities packed the stands with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Cathy Freeman and Hockeyroo Anna Flanagan cheering their teams on.

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Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey watches on during Team USA’s clash with Australia. Picture: Adam Head

The Australian Boomers were also cheered on by a host of off-duty athletes at the games.

In the crowd were the 100m freestyle boys James Magnussen and James Roberts as well as newly-crowned shooting gold medallist Catherine Skinner and tennis star Sam Stosur.

Opals basketballer Liz Cambage — Boomer Andrew Bogut’s Twitter adversary — was also cheering on her compatriots.

Shooting gold medallist Catherine Skinner watches the Boomers take on Team USA. Picture: Adam Head

Actor McConaughey has had a packed Rio schedule, also supporting the US women’s sevens earlier this week and the swimming.

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Many Olympic venues have had lacklustre crowds but the basketball was an altogether different game, with a thumping energy that brought the house down.

The game was also top-streamed event on rights-holder Channel 7’s website, with 450,000 people tuning in online.

Opals star Liz Cambage watches on during the Boomers’ clash with Team USA. Picture: Adam Head

Originally published as Rio Confidential: Boomers v Team USA the hottest ticket in town