What a way to start the Olympics. The Opening Ceremony was visually stunning and had all the style that Rio is known for. Now who is ready for the actual Games?
The Olympics get off to a fast start on Saturday, with medals already being awarded throughout the day.
What should I be watching?
Oh look, everyone! Sports other than soccer! Not that soccer is a bad sport, but too much of a good thing is always unhealthy. There are other events to enjoy, after all.
Morning slots:
Coverage of the Olympics starts bright and early at 8 a.m. ET on NBC with qualifying rounds of rowing and men’s road racing, but the real headliner in the 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. slot is the men’s water polo match between the United States and Croatia. Croatia is the defending Olympic champion and will be facing off against a hungry American team that finished fourth in FINA’s final rankings in 2015.
Americans Taylor Phinney and Brent Bookwalter will be huge underdogs in the men’s road cycling race. The U.S. was only able to send two riders, while powerhouses like Great Britain and Spain sent five-man teams. If you want an American underdog story to root for, this is the one.
Viewers will also be able to see some of the best sharpshooters of the world compete in team archery and women’s 10m air rifle shooting at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN. The United States is looking to return to the podium for archery after winning a silver medal in 2012. If you’re a fan of firsts, the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event is expected to be the first event to award medals.
Afternoon slots
Stay tuned on NBCSN at noon ET when the United States women’s rugby sevens team takes on Fiji — the first rugby at the Olympics since 1924. If that wasn’t enough, the U.S. women play again at 5 p.m. ET on CNBC … on the same day. The Americans aren’t expected to medal but are a scrappy bunch that will surprise some rugby fans.
Also at noon ET is a women’s handball battle between Norway and host country Brazil on MSNBC. And no, this isn’t a team of players bouncing a ball off a wall. This is a physical sport that’s kind of like water polo on a basketball court. It’s not popular in the U.S., but it can be wildly entertaining.
If basketball is your thing, and you want a little taste before Team USA plays later on Saturday, Australia faces off against France on NBCSN at 1 p.m. ET. NBA players Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw and Rudy “the Stifle Tower” Gobert will represent the French, while Andrew Bogut and Patty Mills suit up for Australia.
Ending the afternoon session of games will be women’s soccer at 4 p.m. on NBCSN in what could be the United States’ toughest test in group play against France. Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd shined bright for Team USA in their 2-0 win against New Zealand, but they will need to step up their efforts against France, who defeated Colombia 4-0 on Wednesday.
