PRINTThe Olympics viewer's guide
205 countries. 32 sports. 17 days. One worldwide spectacle.
July 26, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
All TV programs broadcast on NBC
July 27
Opening Ceremony
WHEN: 6:30–11 p.m.
Watch athletes from all corners of the world enter the stadium and celebrate the tradition of lighting the Olympic torch.
July 28
Men’s cycling
WHEN: 4–10 a.m.
Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) is a favorite for the gold.
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Women’s basketball
WHO: USA vs. Croatia
WHEN: 10:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
This year the USA women’s basketball team aims to become the third team in Olympics history to win five consecutive gold medals.
Swimming
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
The first night of men’s and women’s 400-meter swimming finals.
July 29
Women’s cycling
WHEN: 6–10 a.m.
Still have an appetite for cycling after this week’s Tour de France finish? Satisfy cravings with this London road race.
Men’s water polo
WHO: USA vs. Montenegro
WHEN: 1:40–2:40 p.m.
Team USA’s water polo squad dips its toes in for its debut performance.
Women’s gymnastics
WHEN: 6–11 p.m.
America gets a first glimpse of the high-sprung heroics of Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber. Also: Men’s 4x100 relay swimming finals
July 30
Men’s swimming
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte represent the stars and stripes in the 200 freestyle. Also: Men’s gymnastics
July 31
Canoe/kayak
WHEN: 9–9:30 a.m.
This isn’t a leisurely Deliverance-style float trip; it’s a whitewater race for the gold.
Rowing
WHEN: 10:15–10:45 a.m., 1–1:30 p.m.
Row, row, row your scull, fiercely down the lane...
Women’s gymnastics
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin are gone, but USA’s chances of winning aren’t. Also: Phelps in the 200 butterfly final
Aug. 1
Men’s cycling
WHEN: 9–10 a.m.
Time trials (noun): The event in which cyclists pedal to the medal.
Men’s and women’s swim and dive
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Team USA looks to dominate more of the pool in the swimming and diving finals. Also: Beach volleyball
Women’s swimming
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
Semifinalists set the pace in the 200 breaststroke. Also: Women’s cycling
Aug. 2
Men’s whitewater finals
WHEN: 9:15–9:45 a.m.
The last time paddling was this intense, Omega Theta Rho had its charter taken.
Cycling team sprint finals
WHEN: 11:45 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Watch out: these athletes have cyclopathic tendencies and are gunning for the gold.
Rowing
WHEN: 1:20–2 p.m.
It’s time to prove whose fleet is the fleetest in the finals for men’s double sculls, men’s lightweight four and women’s eight.
Women’s gymnastics
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
The women’s all-around champion is awarded. Also: Phelps goes head-to-head with teammate and rival Lochte in the 200 individual medley
Table tennis
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
First rule of competitive table tennis: Don’t call it pingpong. The men’s singles finals get coverage. Also: Women’s whitewater canoe/kayak
Aug. 3
Beach volleyball
WHEN: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
These two elimination-round matches are a must-watch.
Women’s water polo
WHO: USA vs. China
WHEN: 1:30–2:45 p.m.
America takes on the Land of the Dragon.
Women’s track and field
WHEN: 3:30–4 p.m.
It’s rubber meets rubber for the women in this 10,000-meter final.
Men’s swimming
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Americans Phelps and Tyler McGill race in the 100 butterfly. Also: Track and field, diving, women’s volleyball and men’s trampoline
Aug. 4
Women’s singles tennis
WHEN: 8–10 a.m.
Christina McHale, Varvara Lepchenko and Venus and Serena Williams aim to bring the gold back home to America.
Men’s volleyball
WHO: USA vs. Russia
WHEN: 10:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
It’s ready, set, spike for the Olympic volleyball squad.
Cycling
WHEN: 1–1:45 p.m.
This track-cycling final is gearing up to be a race between the fast and furious.
Men’s water polo
WHO: USA vs. Serbia
WHEN: 1:45–2:45 p.m.
Endurance is a basic requirement when the easiest part of a sport is treading water.
Men’s track and field
WHEN: 3:15–4 p.m.
Who will finish the 10,000 meters first? Odds are on Ethiopia and Kenya, who traditionally dominate the event.
Beach volleyball
WHEN: 4–5 p.m.
Castaway’s Wilson gets a few hard knocks in this elimination-round match.
Swimming
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
You won’t have to give up the chlorine fix anytime soon. Four more finals, including medley relays, are covered. Also: Women’s 100-meter sprint
Women’s track and field
WHEN: 11:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
Discus finals take center stage. Also: Track-cycling
Aug. 5
Women’s marathon
WHEN: 5–8 a.m.
Too bad the runners will be moving so fast in this 26.2-mile route; there’s no time to sightsee the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace along the way.
Men’s singles tennis
WHEN: 8–10:30 a.m.
Revenge is a dish best served gold. Will 2004 gold medalist Andy Roddick showcase his unreturnable serve in this finals match?
Equestrian
WHEN: 12:30–1 p.m.
Whether you watch it for the horses or the wicked air, the first round of the team jumping final is DVR-worthy.
Women’s track cycling
WHEN: 3:30–4 p.m.
This final will attract the armchair athletes not yet tired of cycling events.
Men’s track and field
WHEN: 6–11 p.m.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt is the fastest man who’s ever lived. Watch him speed through the men’s 100-meter sprint. Also: Gymnastics apparatus finals
Men’s track and field
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
The Olympians in this year’s hammer throw would give Thor a run for his money. Also: Steeplechase and men’s singles badminton finals and high jump qualifiers
Aug. 6
Men’s water polo
WHO: USA vs. Hungary
WHEN: 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Featuring 10 veteran players who won silver in 2008, the team of 13 Californians hopes for a repeat performance.
Equestrian
WHEN: 11–11:45 a.m.
In the second round of the team jumping finals, equestrian riders soar over hurdles with their horses, who look suspiciously like Pegasus in the process.
Men’s beach volleyball
WHEN: 1–2 p.m.
It’s a no-holds-barred battle on the beach in these quarterfinals matches.
Gymnastics
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Primetime coverage focuses on the gymnastics apparatus finals. Also: Men’s 400-meter dash, men’s springboard diving, men’s beach volleyball quarterfinals and men’s track-cycling sprint final
Women’s track and field
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
It’s a field day as Olympians compete in the steeplechase and shot put finals. Also: Track-cycling quarterfinals in the women’s sprint
Aug. 7
Women’s water polo
WHEN: 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Is the water warm? It will be once this semifinal match heats things up.
Men’s diving
WHEN: 12:15–1 p.m.
Chris Colwill and Troy Dumais will try to take down the heavily favored China in the 3-meter springboard semifinals.
Women’s volleyball quarterfinal
WHEN: 1–3 p.m.
Volleyball’s root word, volley, is defined as a simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles. It all makes perfect sense now.
Men’s beach volleyball semifinal
WHEN: 3–4 p.m.
Beach volleyball was created in Santa Monica, Calif., during the Roaring ’20s. Team USA hopes to bring the gold back to the birthplace of the sport.
Gymnastics
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
A popular favorite, the men’s and women’s gymnastics finals operate on a playground of uneven bars, balance beams, vaults, pommel horses, still rings, parallel bars and high bars. Also: Track and field finals and women’s beach volleyball semifinals
Aug. 8
Canoeing
WHEN: 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
The upper body takes a beating from the canoeing sprint finals. The last time a U.S. woman won a flatwater canoeing or kayaking medal was 1964; however, a U.S. man earned one in 1992.
Women’s beach volleyball
WHEN: 1–2 p.m.
Everyone knows the faces of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. The new duo on the scene is Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, who will make their Olympic debuts.
Men’s track and field
WHEN: 3:30–4 p.m.
All eyes are on Ashton Eaton, who’s favored to lead the men’s decathlon and live up to the 2008 performance of Bryan Clay. Only the decathlon’s 400-meter race is televised.
Women’s beach volleyball finals
WHEN: 7–10:05 p.m.
Walsh and May-Treanor, commonly referred to as “the greatest beach volleyball team of all time,” provide 112 reasons to watch — one for each match of their record winning streak. Also: Men’s 110-meter hurdles and women’s platform diving
Aug. 9
Women’s volleyball
WHEN: 9–10:45 a.m.
USA placed second in the 2011 World Cup and later moved to No. 1 in world rankings. Needless to say, the team has a decent chance of passing these semifinal tests.
Women’s swimming
WHEN: 10:45–11 a.m., 11:45 a.m.–noon
Competitors race one another through 10 kilometers of open water. Good thing there won’t be any sharks.
Women’s water polo
WHEN: 2–3 p.m.
Throughout Olympics history, Team USA has been no stranger to miracles. It might take another to upset top-ranked Greece.
Beach volleyball
WHEN: 3–4 p.m.
Two teams duke it out for the bronze. And no, we’re not talking about their tans.
Men’s beach volleyball
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers look to add to their impressive résumés with another gold. Also: Men’s 200-meter sprint, women’s platform diving semifinals and finals and men’s BMX cycling quarterfinal
Women’s javelin throw
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
For proof that the Olympics have a long and varied history stretching back to ancient Greece, look no further. You might be tempted to scream “This is Sparta!” every time a javelin shoots through the air. Also: Rhythmic gymnastics qualifier
Aug. 10
Men’s water polo
WHEN: 9:45–10:45 a.m.
This semifinal match will mean boom or bust for the two teams competing.
Men’s swimming
WHEN: 11:15–11:30 p.m.
Hyde Park’s Serpentine River will play host to the men’s swimming marathon, a 10-kilometer race featuring 25 swimmers.
Synchronized swimming
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
“Water ballet,” as it’s sometimes called, is harder than it looks. In addition to perfect timing, swimmers need to have strength, endurance, flexibility and breath control. In other words, it’s not curling.
Wrestling
WHEN: 1:45–3 p.m.
The 55- and 74-kilo weight classes get their share of the spotlight in the freestyle wrestling finals.
BMX cycling
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
France leads all countries in cycling gold medals with 40, and the U.S. has 14. Also: Track relay finals, men’s volleyball final and women’s platform diving qualifier
Women’s track and field
WHEN: 11:35 p.m.–12:35 a.m.
Stay up late to watch the finals in women’s hammer throw and 5,000-meter run. Also: Men’s water polo semifinal match
Aug. 11
Canoeing
WHEN: 9–10 a.m.
Morning coverage includes finals in men’s kayak singles, doubles and canoe singles and women’s kayak singles.
Women’s volleyball
WHEN: 10 a.m.–noon
The bronze medal is up for grabs.
Rhythmic gymnastics
WHEN: 12:15–1 p.m.
Individuals or teams perform elaborately choreographed routines that combine elements of ballet, gymnastics, dance and apparatus manipulation.
Women’s basketball
WHEN: 3–5 p.m.
A lot is at stake for Team USA, which will stop at nothing to grab its seventh gold in the past eight games.
Track and field
WHEN: 7–11 p.m.
The men’s 4x100-meter relay and women’s 4x400-meter relay bookend the track events for London 2012. Also: Men’s platform diving and women’s volleyball
Men’s wrestling
WHEN: 11:30 p.m.–12:30 a.m.
There aren’t any of the aerial theatrics of Hulk Hogan or “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on this mat — just headlocks, pins and chokeholds in the finals for freestyle 60-, 84- and 120-kilo weight classes.
Aug. 12
Men’s marathon
WHEN: 5–8 a.m.
An Olympics marathon doesn’t mean watching a full day’s worth of sports programs. The runners racing in this event are a little more active.
Men’s basketball
WHEN: 9–11:30 a.m.
Carmelo. Kobe. Durant. LeBron. Coach K. Nearly Dream Team-caliber; anything less than gold is simply unacceptable.
Men’s water polo
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Only one team gets to stand highest on the winner’s podium. Will it be first-ranked Italy or Team USA?
Wrestling
WHEN: 1:45–3 p.m.
Team USA’s lean, mean wrestling machine, Jordan Burroughs, has won every tournament he’s entered since 2009 and will grapple for the gold this Olympics.
Men’s volleyball
WHEN: 3–5 p.m.
A gold medal is on the line for the winner of this match.
Closing Ceremony
WHEN: 6–9:38 p.m.
Just like that, after 17 days of goodwill in the spirit of competition, the games come to an end. The next Summer Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
