A viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 — Tokyo, Japan
Simone Bidding for Olympics History Daily TV Schedule
Simone Biles is aware of the pressure. She welcomes it. Look no further than the sequined goat she’s nicknamed “Goldie” that finds its way onto her competition leotard. The symbol — a play on the acronym for greatest of all-time — is both a nod to her hard-earned status as the most talented gymnast (and maybe athlete) on the planet and the outsized expectations she faces, both internally and externally. It’s a delicate dance, one that will take center stage when the 24-yearold American steps in front of the world in Tokyo. All she has to do is somehow one-up her staggering performance in Rio de Janeiro, when she won five medals (including four gold) and entered the rarified air of Olympic royalty reserved for the likes of Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Nadia Comaneci. Yes, it’s a lot. Then again, whatever bar is set for her by others pales in comparison to the bar Biles sets for herself. It’s why she found herself in tears at the U.S. Olympic Trials, when an off night in the finals left her frustrated and angry. “I feel like anything rather than my best will tick me off,” Biles said. It’s that drive that led Biles to return to the gym after a year off following her remarkable success in Brazil. New coaches Laurent and Cecille Landi helped her put together a plan that didn’t ask her to simply regain the skills that made her the best in the world, but build upon them. She’s unveiled a series of boundary-pushing elements over the last four years, and her latest — the Yurchenko double-pike vault — will become the latest to bear her name. Yes, Biles is well aware of her influence. “When somebody is striving for perfection and doing her skills, it pushes other athletes to know that it’s
Events and ceremonies will be broadcast on NBC, NBC Sports Network, USA, CNBC and the Olympic Channel. All broadcast times are Eastern Daylight unless noted.
possible and that they can do it, too,” Biles said. “So, I feel like I would say we have reached a point where gymnastics is getting more difficult and more difficult and a little bit more dangerous.” TALENT OVERLOAD The Americans are heavily favored to win their third straight Olympic title. Sunisa Lee, who actually outscored Biles in the all-around during the second day at Olympic Trials, is a revelation on uneven bars. Jordan Chiles steadiness in 2021 turned her from a fringe Olympic candidate to a gymnast who may come back to the States with multiple medals. There’s so much wiggle room, national team coordinator Tom Forster admitted he actually potentially sacrificed a few tenths of a point by choosing Grace McCallum to fill out the four-woman team instead of Skinner. “We’re so, so fortunate that our athletes are so strong that I don’t think it’s going to come down to tenths of a point in Tokyo,” Forster said. THE MEN In the men’s competition, Russia, China and potentially host Japan figure to be in a fight for the top of the podium. Russian Nikita Nagornyy leads the field in the men’s all around. There has been a changing of the guard of sorts among the American men, who are trying to get back to the podium for the first time since the 2014 world championships. Brody Malone supplanted six-time national champion and two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak as the program’s standard-bearer after winning the U.S. championships.
FRIDAY, JULY 23 NBC 6:55 a.m. - 11 a.m. — Opening Ceremony (LIVE) 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. — Preview Show 7:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Opening Ceremony NBCSN 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Mexico vs. France 4 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Japan vs. South Africa 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Brazil vs. Germany 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Softball - U.S. vs. Italy Softball - U.S. vs. Canada Rowing - Qualifying Heats 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - China vs. Brazil 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - Japan vs. Canada 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. Sweden 12 a.m. - 2 a.m. — 3x3 Basketball Archery - Mixed Team Elimination Rounds Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) OLYMPIC CHANNEL 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles USA 7:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Rowing - Qualifying Heats & Repechages (LIVE) Cycling - Men’s Road Race (LIVE) SATURDAY, JULY 24 CNBC 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. — 3x3 U.S. Women’s Basketball Qualifying Round Softball - U.S. vs. Australia (LIVE) Rowing - Qualifying Heats Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) NBC 9 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. — Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. France (LIVE) 10:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. — 3x3 U.S. Women’s Basketball Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan Rowing - Qualifying Heats 2:45 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Swimming - Qualifying Heats Beach Volleyball - Men’s Qualifying Round Gymnastics - Men’s Team Competition 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Gymnastics - Men’s Team Competition 12 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - Men’s Street Final (LIVE) NBCSN 2 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. — Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) Softball - U.S. vs. Mexico (LIVE) Archery - Mixed Team Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball Women’s Soccer - Sweden vs. Australia (LIVE) Men’s Handball - France vs. Argentina 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. New Zealand (LIVE) 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - Netherlands vs. Brazil Table Tennis - Elimination Round Equestrian - Dressage Badminton Qualifying Round Men’s Handball - Denmark vs. Japan
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule Still Plenty of Power at Olympic Pool for USA
8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan Beach Volleyball - Men’s Qualifying Round Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. France Softball - U.S. vs. Australia OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round USA 2 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. — Cycling - Men’s Road Race (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing - Qualifying Heats and Repechages Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Women’s Water Polo - China vs. Taiwan Beach Volleyball - Qualifying Round Men’s Handball - Germany vs. Spain Fencing - Men’s Sabre & Women’s Epee Finals Shooting - Women’s Air Rifle Weightlifting - Women’s Final Boxing - Elimination Rounds Judo - Finals Taekwondo - Finals Table Tennis - Elimination Round Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. New Zealand 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - Men’s Street Qualifying (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Archery - Women’s Team Elimination Round Skateboarding - Men’s Street Final (LIVE) Cycling - Women’s Round Race (LIVE) SUNDAY, JULY 25 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) Diving - Women’s Synchronized Springboard Final (LIVE) Archery - Women’s Team Final (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - Women’s Street Final (LIVE) Rugby - Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Archery - Men’s Team Elimination Round Skateboarding - Women’s Street Final (LIVE) Fencing - Men’s Individual Foil Round of 32 Men’s Basketball Argentina vs. Slovenia (LIVE) NBC 8 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. — Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) Women’s 3x3 Basketball - U.S. vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Beach Volleyball Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan Rowing - Qualifying Heats & Repechages Cycling - Women’s Road Race 12:15 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Canoe Slalom - Qualifying Skateboarding Men’s Street Final Surfing Day 1 Report Swimming - Qualifying Heats Diving - Women’s Synchronized Springboard Final Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. France 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. — Triathlon - Men’s Final (LIVE) Gymnastics Women’s Team Competition 9:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Women’s 100m Butterfly Men’s 100m Breaststroke Women’s 400m Freestyle Men’s 4x100 Freestyle Relay Skateboarding - Women’s Street Qualifying 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - Women’s Street Final (LIVE)
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Even without Michael Phelps, plenty of star power will be on display at the $515 million, 15,000-seat Tokyo Aquatics Centre. From Caeleb Dressel to Katie Ledecky, from Adam Peaty to Ariarne Titmus, myriad swimmers are capable of playing a leading role in Tokyo. “Obviously, losing Michael was huge for this team, but we haven’t had him since 2016,” said American breaststroke star Lilly King. “We always do great, so I don’t know why we would think it wasn’t going to be great just because Michael’s not there.” King stirred up the already heated rivalry with the Australians by making a bold prediction: “I think the (U.S.) women, if we have the meet we can have, can win every single individual gold,” she said. The Aussies are eager to shine after failing to capture an individual women’s gold at the Rio Games. They turned in some brilliant performances at their country’s Olympic trials, led by Kaylee McKeown setting a world record in the 100-meter backstroke. But really keep an eye on Titmus, a 20-year-old known as “The Terminator.” She made it clear she plans to challenge Ledecky’s dominance. “She’s not going to have it all her own way,” Titmus told Australian media. “I can’t control what she does. If I do the best I can and put myself in the position to win a gold medal, it’s going to be a tough race.” Things to watch for at the pool: DRESSEL’S MOMENT The 24-year-old Floridian has emerged as the world’s best male swimmer since Phelps retired. Dressel really broke out at the 2017 world championships in Budapest, where he won seven gold medals. Dressel qualified in three individual events, the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 butterfly, and he might get a chance to swim on four relays. Despite his staggering accomplishments, Dressel doesn’t see himself as a one-man team. “I don’t think that falls on my shoulders alone,” Dressel said. “Michael was one guy within USA Swimming, but he wasn’t USA Swimming, I think that’s what makes USA Swimming so strong is the team and as a collective whole.” UNBEATABLE ADAM
Michael Andrew from the U.S. is seeking gold in several events and will battle teammate Caeleb Dressel for dominance on the men’s side.
There are no sure things at the Olympics, but it’s hard to see anyone beating Britain’s Adam Peaty. He’s held the men’s world record in the 100 breaststroke since 2015. There’s room to go even faster, Peaty insisted. OLYMPIC DEBUT The hefty Olympic program will grow even larger with three new events in Tokyo. Ledecky is most excited about the women finally getting a chance to swim the 1,500 freestyle. “We’re making history,” said Ledecky, a big favorite to win gold in the 30-lap race. “I’ve always enjoyed the distance training and the work it takes to put together a good mile. It takes a lot of mental strength and toughness and strategy.” The men will be competing in the 800 free for the first time since 1904, but the most entertaining new event is likely to be the 4x100 mixed medley relay. Each team must use two men and two women, but there’s no restriction on who gets picked to swim each stroke. That leads to plenty of strategy and an often chaotic race — the only one where men and women can wind up racing each other. —
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 — Tokyo, Japan
Naomi Osaka Makes Road Races Will Yield Daily TV Schedule Return At Olympics Early Drama for Games As it was, Naomi Osaka would have been one of the most-watched, most-discussed, most-supported athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. She’s the highest-earning female athlete in the world, a tennis superstar and represents Japan, making her a strong medal contender for the host country. Then, of course, came the series of events that began unfolding about two months before the July start of the Summer Games. Just ahead of the French Open in late May, Osaka announced she wouldn’t speak to the press at Roland Garros. Then, after her first-round victory, she skipped the mandatory news conference. The next day, Osaka withdrew from the French Open entirely to take a mental health break, revealing she has dealt with depression. She sat out Wimbledon, too. So the Tokyo Games mark her return to competition — and it’s an occasion that matters to Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father. “The Olympics are a special time, when the world comes together to celebrate sports. I am looking forward most to being with the athletes that had waited and trained for over 10 years, for celebrating a very hard year (2020) and having that happen in Japan makes it that much more special,” Osaka said. DJOKOVIC & FEDERER For all that Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have accomplished — the Grand Slam titles, the weeks ranked No. 1 and more — neither has an Olympic singles gold. Djokovic earned a singles bronze (at Beijing in 2008); Federer won a doubles gold (with Wawrinka in 2008) and singles silver (at London in 2012). Federer has pulled out of action. MURRAY DEFENDS Andy Murray’s been through two hip operations and assorted other injuries since he became the first tennis player with multiple Olympic singles golds by winning in 2012 and 2016. His ranking is outside the Top 100, but past success — including three Grand Slam trophies — earned him a special spot in the Tokyo field for Britain.
The men’s and women’s road races kick off the cycling program at every Summer Olympics. The men’s race should be a wide-open affair with dozens of potential winners. The women’s race will amount to the Dutch and the rest. All eyes will be on the races, too. They offer two of the first gold medals for an Olympics that has been delayed an entire year by the COVID-19 pandemic The men’s road race and the other cycling disciplines — the time trial, mountain biking, BMX freestyle and racing and the track program — should prove a whole lot more difficult to handicap than the women. MOUNTAIN BIKING In the men’s race, defending champion Nino Schurter of Switzerland will go for his fourth consecutive Olympic medal. BMX FREESTYLE The new discipline for the Tokyo Games should be a medal bonanza for the U.S., which features two of the world’s top five men (Justin Dowell and Nick Bruce) and women (Hannah Roberts and Perris Benegas). TRACK CYCLING Britain has dominated events in the velodrome during the past two Olympic cycles, and despite a scandal that caused major changes to the team structure, Jason Kenny and Co. should be hard to beat at the track in the small city of Izu. Kenny, who has come out of retirement, has six gold medals and a silver on his resume, and another gold would break a tie with Chris Hoy for most among British cyclists.
Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Taiwan NBCSN 2 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. New Zealand 3x3 Basketball 4:30 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Brazil vs. Ivory Coast 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. — Soccer - Australia vs. Spain (LIVE) 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Japan vs. Mexico (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Men’s Water Polo 1:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Equestrian - Dressage Table Tennis Elimination Rounds Men’s Soccer - Japan vs. Mexico Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Argentina 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Japan Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Argentina Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. France OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Singles, First Round Women’s Singles, First Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, First Round 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) USA 2 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. — Cycling - Women’s 3x3 Basketball - U.S. vs. Romania (LIVE) 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Archery - Boxing - Weightlifting - Surfing 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. — Triathlon - Men’s Final (LIVE) Women’s Beach Volleyball (LIVE) 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. — Softball - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. — 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Beach Volleyball Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing - Semifinals Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. China (LIVE) MONDAY, JULY 26 CNBC 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Men’s Basketball - Argentina vs. Slovenia (LIVE) Shooting Skeet 8 p.m. - 10:10 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. South Africa (LIVE) 10:10 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Rugby 12 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Softball - Bronze Medal Game (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Canoe Slalom - Men’s Final Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. China Women’s 3x3 Basketball - U.S. vs. China Skateboarding - Women’s Street Final 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. — Diving - Men’s Synchronized Platform Final Gymnastics - Men’s Team Final 9:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Men’s 200m Freestyle Women’s 100m Backstroke Men’s 100m Backstroke Women’s 100m Breaststroke Triathlon - Women’s Final 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. China NBCSN 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Men’s Beach Volleyball Softball - U.S. vs. Japan 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. — 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Fencing - Men’s Individual Foil & Women’s Individual Sabre Finals (LIVE) Beach Volleyball -
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N O R T H D A K O TA S TAT E FA I R
JULY 2021
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule /RW 5LGLQJ RQ 6XUõQJ LQ LWV 2O\PSLFV 'HEXW
Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rowing - Semifinals & Qualifying Heats Men’s Handball - Egypt vs. Denmark Badminton - Qualifying Round Men’s Handball - Spain vs. Norway Women’s Water Polo - Australia vs. Netherlands Men’s Volleyball - Poland vs. Italy Men’s Basketball Argentina vs. Slovenia 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. China Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Taiwan U.S. Rugby - Qualifying Round Triathlon - Women’s Final OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Second Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Second Round 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Second Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Second Round 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals USA 2 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. — Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. China (LIVE) Diving - Men’s Synchronized Platform Final (LIVE) Fencing - Men’s Individual Foil & Women’s Individual Sabre Quarterfinals Canoe Slalom - Men’s Final (LIVE) Rugby - Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball - Brazil vs. Argentina (LIVE) 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Archery - Men’s Team Final Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Final Surfing Report Day 2 Cycling - Men’s Mountain Bike Weightlifting - Women’s Final Shooting - Women’s and Men’s Skeet Finals Boxing - Elimination Rounds Taekwondo - Finals Judo - Finals 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Triathlon - Women’s Final (LIVE) 11 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Archery - Individual Elimination Rounds 12:40 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Nigeria TUESDAY, JULY 27 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. — Diving - Women’s Synchronized Platform Final (LIVE) Slalom Canoeing - Women’s Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Rowing - Finals and Semifinals (LIVE) Cycling - Women’s Time Trial (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round Cycling - Men’s Time Trial (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Slalom Canoeing - Women’s Final Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round Cycling - Women’s Mountain Bike 3x3 Basketball - Quarterfinal Swimming - Qualifying Heats Diving - Women’s Synchronized Platform Final Swimming - Qualifying Heats 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Gymnastics - Women’s Team Final Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Women’s 200m Freestyle Men’s 200m Butterfly Women’s 200m Individual Medley Women’s 1500m Freestyle Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay 12:35 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Cycling - Women’s Team Trial Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary (LIVE) NBCSN 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying
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Surfing has a lot riding on its Olympic debut: a taste of the mainstream spotlight, athletic legitimacy for the uniquely four-dimensional sport, and, perhaps, some newfound respect so it can finally shake the stereotype as merely the pleasure pursuit of beach town himbos. Acceptance has been a century in the making. The International Surfing Association has been lobbying the International Olympic Committee since 1995, though the effort to include the sport dates back to the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm. That was when Duke Kahanamoku, the five-time medalist in swimming and Hawaiian icon revered as the godfather of modern surfing, first pushed for it to become an Olympic sport. Back then, the act of stylishly riding an ocean wave on a board in competition was virtually unknown outside of his native Hawaii. DREAMS OF MAINSTREAM Surfing is a $10 billion industry, yet professional surfing, led by the World Surf League, largely remains niche and little understood. Surfing requires a well-rounded athleticism, including immense strength, agility, and grace to pull off maneuvers based on what the big, wild ocean delivers in the moment — think of the vagaries of the ocean as the fourth dimension in this sport many see as a spiritual pursuit. There’s hope now that the visually stunning sport will finally get its due with a mainstream audience at the Games, though some viewers may struggle to follow given the complexity and metrics of competition. A DEBT TO HAWAII The geopolitics of the Olympics will be on display when Carissa Moore and John John Florence are in the surf zone. They’re two of professional surfing’s biggest stars and both compete in the World Surf League under the Hawaii flag. They were both born and raised on O’ahu, and Moore is also ethnically part native Hawaiian. WSL’s decision to acknowledge Hawaii’s place in the surfing world and role in inventing the sport now runs counter to the IOC’s decision against the sovereignty movement’s longshot efforts for a Hawaii team. LOCAL ADVANTAGE It’s a full-circle kind of Olympic connection for Kanoa Igarashi, the 23-year-old Californian with dual Japanese citizenship who is representing Japan. He’s been surfing at the Olympic site, Tsurigasaki beach, his whole life and the location is deeply sentimental for his family. His father, Tsutomu Igarashi, a Japanese native who moved to the U.S. before Kanoa was born, said he helped popularize the waves there as a young surfer himself. “At some point, it became the only place I surfed, so it’s
so weird that the spot was chosen as an Olympic venue,” the elder Igarashi said in Japanese. “Sometimes, I feel like I used to surf there as if I knew that the Olympics were coming.” MOTHER NATURE’S MERCY Surfing is a sport that depends on many uncontrollable factors, including when, exactly, competitions will happen once the event period begins on July 25. Organizers generally monitor the waves with oceanography and atmospheric science data to decide if surf conditions -- wave height, wind direction, tidal movement -- are ideal for competition the day of, which means there is much potential for down time, known as lay days. And even when the surfers get out into the lineup, the waves at Tsurigasaki may be disappointing for those expecting powerful surf conditions like those seen in the movies. This particular beach break is known for smaller waves and is not considered an extraordinary surfing competition site. There is hope, however: The Olympics are being held in peak typhoon season. Kelly Slater, at 49 years old, is likely the oldest and most famous Olympic alternate. The 11-time world champion is surfing’s most decorated athlete and has the broadest mainstream appeal (lest we forget he starred as Jimmy Slade on the cult favorite television show “Baywatch”). There’s speculation that Slater may have a shot to shine in Japan, as the U.S. male qualifiers, Florence and Kolohe Andino, both have had significant injuries requiring surgery in recent months.
U S A Surfing CEO Greg Cruse said it will be up to the qualifiers to decide, but that he hopes Slater will come to Japan as a standby, though the celebrity surfer has not yet committed to doing so.
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 — Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule
U.S. forward Carli Lloyd (10) slides on the turf after scoring in the first minute against Jamaica during the first half of their 2021 WNT Summer Series soccer match, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Houston.
U.S. Women the Team to Beat. Of Course. The United States women’s national soccer team has something to prove at the Tokyo Olympics. It’s not so much about revenge after a surprising loss to Sweden at the 2016 Rio Games but, rather, a new goal: The U.S. can become the first team to win an Olympics following a World Cup victory. In Tokyo the Americans will play for their first world championship under coach Vlatko Andonovski. His immensely deep and talented squad includes the sport’s biggest names: Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press and Carli Lloyd. The U.S. team, winner of the 2019 World Cup in France, is ranked No. 1 in the World. They’re undefeated in 42 straight matches and show no sign of slowing down heading into the 2023 World Cup. The biggest hurdle along that path will be the Olympics, where a small roster, a condensed schedule and the hot and humid conditions will all be challenges — along with the competition. Andonovski emphasized versatil-
ity in choosing his squad for Tokyo. Experience counted, too, with the average age of the team at 30.8 years old — the oldest U.S. Olympic roster ever. Seventeen of the 18 players were on the World Cup squad. “There’s so many boxes that the players need to check in order to make the roster, starting from health and fitness, and very important, performance. They’ve got to perform. It doesn’t matter if they’re versatile if they don’t perform well. So there’s a certain level of performance that they need to to have, or a certain way they need to execute the task,” Andonovski said. “And then obviously the experience that they have, they’ve already been on this team in big tournaments.” The United States, in Group G, will open with nemesis Sweden in Tokyo on July 21. In Brazil, Sweden knocked the Americans out in the quarterfinals on penalties, after which goalkeeper Hope Solo famously called the Swedes “cowards” for bunkering in on defense. One of Sweden’s advantages in 2016 was coach Pia Sundhage, who
was the former U.S. coach and knew her former team — and it’s weaknesses — well. She’s now head coach at Brazil, while Sweden is led by Peter Gerhardsson. THE BASICS There are 12 teams competing, separated into three groups. The tournament starts on July 21 and will be played across six cities in Japan with the finals set for Aug. 6 at Japan National Stadium. In addition to the Americans and Sweden, the teams competing in the tournament include host Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand and Zambia. Germany, the winner in 2016, is not among the teams in the field. UEFA qualifying for the Games was the Women’s World Cup, meaning France, Great Britain and runner-up Netherlands won the berths. Women’s soccer joined the Olympics in 1996. The United States has four gold medals overall, and has advanced to the final match in all but the 2016 edition.
4 Convienent Locations
Round (LIVE) Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Nigeria Rugby - Men’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. — Softball - Final (LIVE) 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Women’s Handball - France vs. Spain Archery - Individual Eliminations Badminton - Qualifying Rounds Equestrian - Team Dressage Final Fencing - Women’s Team Epee Final Softball - Final Table Tennis - Elimination Rounds Surfing - Semifinals Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. China 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Nigeria Softball Final Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. Australia Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. China OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Singles, Second Round Women’s Singles, Third Round Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round USA 2 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Nigeria (LIVE) Cycling - Women’s Mountain Bike (LIVE) Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball - Quarterfinals (LIVE) 4 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. Australia (LIVE) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. Australia 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - Canada vs. Great Britain 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Rugby - Men’s Quarterfinal Weightlifting Women’s Finals Judo - Finals Taekwondo - Finals Boxing - Elimination Rounds Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Nigeria 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Women’s Soccer - U.S. vs. Australia 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Table Tennis - Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Tunisia (LIVE) Rugby - Men’s Semifinals Archery - Individual Eliminations Slalom Canoeing - Qualifying (LIVE) WEDNESDAY, JULY 28 CNBC 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Cycling - Men’s Individual Time Trial (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Rowing - Finals (LIVE) Cycling - BMX Racing Quarterfinals (LIVE) Fencing - Women’s Team Foil Quarterfinals Archery - Individual Eliminations Fencing - Women’s Team Foil Semifinals (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Rowing - Finals Cycling - Individual Time Trials Beach Volleyball Swimming - Qualifying Heats 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Iran 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Gymnastics - Men’s Individual All-Around Diving Men’s 800m Freestyle Men’s 200m Breaststroke Women’s 200m Butterfly Men’s 100m Freestyle Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay 12:35 am. - 2 a.m. — 3x3 Basketball - Finals Beach Volleyball Men’s Qualifying Round Cycling - BMX Racing Quarterfinals
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1930 S. BROADWAY 701-839-7580 ARROWHEAD 1600 2ND AVE SW 701-839-7948
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule
NBCSN 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. China Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round 4 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Germany vs. Ivory Coast (LIVE) Men’s Soccer - Romania vs. New Zealand (LIVE) 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. — Slalom Canoeing - Women’s Qualifying 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - France vs. Japan (LIVE) 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Spain vs. Argentina 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Men’s Basketball - Australia vs. Italy 1:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Men’s Handball - France vs. Germany Badminton - Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals Equestrian - Dressage Individual Final Women’s Water Polo - China vs. Japan Rugby - Men’s Bronze Medal and Final 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — 3x3 Basketball - Finals Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Tunisia Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Iran Rugby - Men’s Bronze Medal and Final OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Singles, Third Round Women’s Singles and Doubles, Quarterfinals Men’s Doubles, Semifinals Mixed, First Round 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles and Mixed, Quarterfinals Women’s Singles and Doubles, Semifinals USA 2 a.m. - 12 p.m. — Diving - Men’s Synchronized Springboard Final Slalom Canoeing - Qualifying (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball - Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Rugby - Men’s Bronze Medal and Final (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball - Men’s Semifinal Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 3x3 Basketball - Finals (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball - Brazil vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Surfing - Finals Slalom Canoeing - Men’s Qualifying 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Archery - Individual Eliminations Table Tennis Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals & Semifinal Rowing - Finals Fencing - Men’s Team Sabre Finals Judo - Finals Weightlifting - Men’s Final Boxing - Elimination Rounds 3x3 Basketball - Finals Men’s Volleyball U.S. vs. Tunisia Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Qualifying Round (LIVE) Rugby - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Table Tennis - Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Italy (LIVE) THURSDAY, JULY 29 CNBC 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Fencing 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Brazil (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Rowing - U.S. vs. Italy Cycling 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — — Gymnastics - Women’s All-Around Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Women’s 200m Breaststroke Men’s 200m Backstroke 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Track & Field - Qualifying Rounds Cycling - BMX Racing Finals NBCSN 2 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. — Rugby - Fencing
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Let’s Hoop! 3-on-3 Basketball Is the Olympics’ Pickup Game
Diana Taurasi celebrates after making a three-point basket during the gold medal basketball game against Spain at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
U.S. Women Favorite for Gold Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird will try and become the first players ever to win five Olympic gold medals in basketball when the United States women’s team begins play at the Tokyo Games. Taurasi and Bird both played with Dawn Staley on the 2004 Olympic team. Staley helped start this unprecedented run with the 1996 squad and now is the first Black head coach of the women’s national team after being an assistant for the last two Olympics. It’s been 25 years of dominance for the Americans in the Olympics. They’ve won 49 consecutive games on the biggest international stage. No team has come within single digits of the U.S. since Russia lost in the semifinals of the 2004 Athens Games. The Americans haven’t dropped an Olympic contest since 1992 when they were beaten in the semis by the Unified Team. While there are no guarantees, it would take a monumental upset for the team not to come home with gold. The competition for the other two medals is wide open with Australia, Belgium, France, Canada, Serbia and Spain all having a shot at reaching the podium. The Olympics switched to three pools of four teams for the Tokyo Games. South Korea, Serbia, Canada and Spain are in Group A. Joining the U.S. in Group B are France, Nigeria and Japan. Australia, Puerto Rico, China and Belgium are in Group C. Games begin on July 26 with the bronze medal game on Aug. 7 and the gold medal contest the next day to close out the Olympics.
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The latest stop on the perennial search for the younger, attention-span-challenged audience for the Olympics might look familiar — the blacktop, and 3-on-3 basketball. Not a pickup game, mind you. Once the Olympics gets hold of this version of street hoops, it will only share a faint resemblance to anything happening on an urban playground. For one, there will be no Americans — at least none playing in the men’s tournament. Another difference is that these games will have refs, a scoreboard and each team gets one sub. But some of it might look familiar. Games are first to 21 (Or whoever is winning after 10 minutes.) Teams have to clear the ball back to around the 3-point line after rebounds. Inside buckets are worth one, and “3s” are worth two. The teams have coaches but they are for behindthe-scenes stuff, not allowed on the court. “For me, the best thing is, it’s always been fun to play,” said Dusan Bulut, widely considered the best in the world, who will lead Serbia into the tournament as a favorite. WHO’S THERE In addition to trying to capture more young eyes, one of the IOC’s stated missions in bringing 3-on-3 basketball to the big stage was to expose more of the world to the sport. In at least one respect, this mission has been accomplished. Mongolia will bring one of the eight teams in the women’s field. Mongolia is not a newcomer to the Olympics, but it has always fielded competitors in individual sports, such as wrestling and boxing. This will be the first time the country has entered a team sport into the Summer Games. WHO’S NOT It seemed a foregone conclusion that the U.S. would field a team in the sport it invented. Not to be on the men’s side. Unlike the 5-on-5 version, a win at the World Cup for the U.S. in 2019 did not secure an Olympic spot.
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 — Tokyo, Japan
U.S. Men Head to Tokyo Off Tough Stretch Daily TV Schedule The Americans — coached by Gregg Popovich — will be led by Kevin Durant, seeking his third Olympic gold, and have past gold medalists Kevin Love and Draymond Green back on the roster as well. The rest are Olympic first-timers, including Phoenix’s Devin Booker, Miami’s Bam Adebayo and Portland’s Damian Lillard. But the team comes in after back-to-back exhibition losses — not a good way to enter the dance. There will be no shortage of legitimate medal hopefuls in the 12-team field: The U.S. tops the list, of course, but Spain, Australia, France and Argentina are among the other nations that can make strong cases. Spain is the reigning World Cup champion. France knocked the Americans out of medal contention at that World Cup. Argentina has tons of experience, and Australia has been on the cusp of what it believes is an international breakthrough for some time. “There’s a goal of trying to win a gold medal for Australia, which we’ve never done — or trying to win a medal, which we’ve never done,” Australia guard Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz said. “That’s something that’s been a goal of mine since I made the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and we haven’t been able to do it.” Some other things to know about the Olympic men’s tournament: GAME IS DIFFERENT It doesn’t sound like much, but a shorter game — 40 minutes under
United States’ Damon Lillard fights for a rebound in an exhibition game loss to Australia.
FIBA rules, as opposed to 48 minutes in the NBA — is sometimes an adjustment for NBA players. There are other rule differences such as goaltending (in FIBA play, once a ball hits the rim, anybody can tap it in or swat it away without deference to being “inside the cylinder”) and a five-foul limit as opposed to six fouls in the NBA. FORMAT CHANGE Instead of two groups of six teams, the Olympic format has been changed to three groups of four teams. That means fewer games. The U.S. played eight games at the 2016 Olympics — five in group play (one against each members of that group), then a quarterfinal, semifinal and the title game. But in the new format, teams will be capped at six games, with three in the group stage, then
the quarterfinals and followed by the medal round. It’ll be the fewest games played by a gold medal-winning team since the inaugural Olympic tournament in 1936, when the U.S. won the gold with a 5-0 record and played only four games. Its first opponent at those Berlin Games was supposed to be Spain, which didn’t arrive because of the Spanish Civil War — so the Americans were awarded a 2-0 forfeit win. NBA PRESENCE There were a record 46 NBA players on the rosters for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and it seems likely that there will be even more in Tokyo. After the U.S. — which fields a 12-man team entirely of NBA players — the team with the second-most NBA faces in Rio was Spain, with seven.
8:10 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Men’s Basketball - Spain vs. Argentina (LIVE) 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Table Tennis - Women’s Volleyball 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Italy OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Tennis 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles USA 2 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Italy (LIVE) 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Table Tennis - Judo - Finals 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Men’s Basketball - Spain vs. Argentina 8 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. — Track & Field - Qualifying Rounds (LIVE) Rugby - Women’s Qualifying Round Archery - Women’s Elimination Round 12:40 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) FRIDAY, JULY 30 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Gymnastics - Women’s Trampoline Final (LIVE) Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Archery - Women’s Individual Final (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Qualifying Round (LIVE) Cycling - Women’s BMX Freestyle Qualifying (LIVE) Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Taiwan (LIVE) Rugby - Women’s Semifinals Fencing - Women’s Team Sabre, Semifinals (LIVE) Gymnastics - Men’s Trampoline Final (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Rowing - Women’s and Men’s Finals Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Taiwan Cycling - BMX Racing Finals 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Track & Field - Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Men’s 100m Butterfly 12:05 - 2 a.m. — Triathlon - Mixed Relay Cycling - BMX Freestyle Qualifying NBCSN 2 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Baseball - U.S. vs. Israel Men’s Handball 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Women’s Volleyball - China vs. Taiwan (LIVE) 4 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - Quarterfinal TBD (LIVE) 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - Quarterfinal TBD (LIVE) 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Women’s Soccer - Quarterfinal TBD (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Beach Volleyball 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. — Men’s Volleyball - France vs. Taiwan (LIVE) 2 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Taiwan OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Tennis Men’s Doubles Final 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) USA 2 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE) 4:30 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Women’s Rugby - Quarterfinals (LIVE) 6 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. — Swimming - Qualifying Heats (LIVE) 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Triathlon - Mixed Relay (LIVE) 8 p.m. -11 p.m. — Track & Field - Qualifying Rounds (LIVE)
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule Skateboarding Brings Youth to Olympics
Women’s 400m Hurdles Men’s 800m Women’s 100m Hurdles 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary (LIVE) SATURDAY, JULY 31 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Gymnastics - Men’s Trampoline Final (LIVE) Shooting - Mixed Trap Final Archery - Men’s Individual Final (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Women’s Rugby - Final Archery - Men’s Individual Final Cycling - BMX Freestyle Finals Wrestling NBC 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. — Archery - Men’s Final Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary Rugby 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. — Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Taiwan 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Czech Republic 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Swimming - Finals (LIVE) Men’s and Women’s 50m Freestyle NBCSN 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Brazil 4 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Quarterfinal (LIVE) 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Baseball - U.S. vs. Korea (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Badminton - Fencing - Lucky Loser Equestrian 3 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. — Badminton - Beach Volleyball 9:45 p.m. - 11:45 p.m. — Women’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Taiwan 11:45 p.m. - 12:45 a.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Hungary 12:45 a.m. - 1:45 a.m. — Women’s Rugby - Bronze Medal & Final 1:45 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Men’s Basketball - U.S. Czech Republic OLYMPIC CHANNEL 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Tennis 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles Final USA 2 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. — Diving 4:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. — Women’s Rugby 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. — Men’s Soccer - Quarterfinal (LIVE) 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Men’s Soccer - Quarterfinal (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. — Women’s Volleyball - China vs. Italy (LIVE) 10:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Basketball 8:10 p.m. - 10:45 p.m. — Track & Field - Finals and Qualifying Round (LIVE) Women’s Shotput Final Men’s 400m Qualifying Round Women’s Steeplechase Qualifying Round SUNDAY, AUGUST 1 CNBC 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Badminton - Handball 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Fencing - Men’s Team Foil Final Beach Volleyball - Men’s Elimination Round (LIVE) 10:30 p.m. - 11:40 p.m. — Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Greece (LIVE) NBC 8:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. — Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Argentina (LIVE) 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m. — Fencing - Beach Volleyball 7 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Diving - Track & Field 9 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. — Gymnastics - Women’s Vault Final 9:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. — Track & Field - Semifinals and Finals Men’s 100m Final Women’s 100m Hurdle Final Men’s Long Jump Final
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For skateboarding, a sport where the No. 1 rule is that there are no rules, the straight jacket of the Olympic Games, with its dense thickets of tradition and regulation, may not be a natural or immediate fit. So at the Tokyo Games, freewheelin’ skaters and Olympic officials are going to learn a lot about each other. Could be quite a ride. Both have plenty to gain from making a splash with their brand-new partnership. Skating is one of four debut Olympic sports, along with karate, surfing and sport climbing. The spectacle of skaters turning their boards into flying machines, soaring over obstacles, will deliver a rejuvenating injection of youthful energy to the dowdy sporting extravaganza. The youngest, Japan’s Kokona Hiraki and Britain’s Sky Brown, are just 12. With its street fashions and “all-are-welcome” inclusive culture of all genders, ages and abilities having four-wheeled fun together, skating officials anticipate that the sport will help snag future generations of Olympic fans and viewers that the International Olympic Committee needs to keep making mega-bucks from the Games. FREEDOM OR FAME For skaters, the powerful Olympic spotlight means global visibility and, with that, possibly better prospects of earning a living from riding and sponsorships. Skaters also hope the
Olympic seal of approval will generate more funding for skate parks and bowls to train, land and invent their tricks. Some skaters fret that Olympic codification will come at a cost for the freedom, spontaneity and soul of their sport born on the streets. They argue that skating is a whole lifestyle, and worry it will be crimped and compromised
by being co-opted. There were similar misgivings within snowboarding — before it went on to become one of the most riotous and popular shows at the Winter Olympics, and three gold medals turned Shaun White into a household name. THE FAKEY FIVE-O? With high-adrenaline acrobatics akin to those seen on Olympic snow — so much so that White toyed with the idea of trying to also qualify in skating for Tokyo — skateboarding promises to wow and hook both existing and untapped Olympic audiences. “The people who watch us in Tokyo are going to say to themselves, ‘This is pretty,’” predicts Madeleine Larcheron, a 15-year-
old who’ll compete for France. “I’m often asked, ‘What’s the scariest trick?’ There isn’t one. In skating, everything is scary,” she said. THE COMPETITION For its Olympic debut, skateboarding has a custom-built park on the shores of Tokyo Bay to play with. The 40 men and 40 women will be chasing medals in two events — park, where they skate in a bowl, and street, where they navigate stairs, rails, curbs and other urban furniture. The street competitions are in the first week, on July 25 and 26. The park events round out week two, on Aug. 4 and 5. Because skateboarding is so fluid and inventive, with hundreds of tricks, variants and possibilities to choose from, judging is less codified and more subjective than other sports. Judges will scrutinize the difficulty and execution of tricks and runs, how skaters use and navigate obstacles, and will be looking to reward originality and variety. As happened to White with his gold medals in the half-pipe at the Turin (2006), Vancouver (2010) and Pyeongchang (2018) winter games, the Tokyo Olympics could be a first step toward global fame for a skateboarder. With no-fear stunts and polished messaging that age is irrelevant, Brown is already a very visible 12-year-old, with a rich portfolio of sponsors.
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 — Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule Daily TV Schedule
11 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Gymnastics - Women’s Uneven Bars Final NBCSN 2 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Men’s Basketball - U.S. vs. Czech Republic 3:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Men’s Soccer - Quarterfinal Field Hockey - Men’s Quarterfinal Weightlifting - Women’s Final (LIVE) Fencing - Men’s Team Foil Final (LIVE) Badminton 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Men’s Volleyball - U.S. vs. Argentina OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Tennis (LIVE) Men’s Singles Final Women’s Doubles Final Mixed Doubles Final 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. — Wrestling Qualifying Rounds & Semifinals Greco Roman 60kg and 130 kg Women’s Freestyle 76 kg 10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Wrestling Qualifying Rounds & Semifinals (LIVE) Greco Roman 60kg, 77 kg, 97 kg, and 130 kg Women’s Freestyle 68kg and 76 kg USA 2 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Diving - Women’s Springboard Final (LIVE) Men’s Volleyball - Brazil vs. France Beach Volleyball - Elimination Round Men’s Handball - Denmark vs. Sweden (LIVE) Women’s Water Polo - Hungary vs. China Women’s Water Polo - Netherlands vs. Canada 4:20 a.m. - 6:10 a.m. — Men’s Basketball - Spain vs. Slovenia (LIVE) 2 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Handball - Germany vs. Brazil Wrestling - Semifinals Boxing - Semifinals Weightlifting - Women’s Final Tennis - Men’s Singles Final Canoeing - Spring Qualifying (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 10:55 p.m. — Track & Field - Finals and Qualifying Rounds (LIVE) Women’s 100m Hurdles Final Men’s Long Jump Final Women’s 1500m Round One Women’s 200m Round One 12:40 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. — Women’s Basketball - U.S. vs. France (LIVE) MONDAY, AUGUST 2 CNBC 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. — Diving - Men’s Springboard Qualifying (LIVE) Field Hockey - Women’s Quarterfinal 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Track & Field - Finals and Qualifying Women’s 400m Round 1 (LIVE) Men’s 400 Hurdles Final (LIVE) Women’s Long Jump Final NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Equestrian - Eventing, Jumping Finals Artistic Swimming - Duet Qualifying Men’s Water Polo - U.S. vs. Greece Beach Volleyball - Men’s Elimination Round Diving 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) Gymnastics - Women’s Floor Final Track & Field - 200m Round 1 (LIVE) Soccer - Women’s Semifinal 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) NBCSN 2 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Equestrian - Eventing, Cross Country Beach Volleyball - Elimination Rounds (LIVE) Fencing - Men’s Team Foil Final Soccer - Women’s Semifinal OLYMPIC CHANNEL 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Wrestling Finals (LIVE) Greco-Roman 60kg Final Greco-Roman 130kg Final Women’s Freestyle 76kg Final Greco-
Roman 77kg Semifinal Greco-Roman 97kg Semifinal 9 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Wrestling USA 4 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Soccer - Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Cycling Track Finals Beach Volleyball - Elimination Round (LIVE) 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Men’s Diving - Springboard Semifinal Water Polo - Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) TUESDAY, AUGUST 3 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Diving - Men’s Springboard Final 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Beach Volleyball Canoeing Skateboarding NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Equestrian - Jumping Qualifying Cycling - Track Finals 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Diving - Men’s Springboard Final Track & Field - Finals, Semifinals & Qualifying Men’s 200m Semifinals Women’s 800m Final Women’s 200m Final Men’s 110 Hurdles Semifinals (LIVE) 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - Volleyball NBCSN 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Elimination Round Beach Volleyball - Women’s Quarterfinal 4 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Soccer - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) Cycling - Track Finals Soccer - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Water Polo - Women’s Quarterfinal Soccer - Men’s Semifinal Basketball - Men’s Quarterfinal Soccer - Men’s Semifinal OLYMPIC CHANNEL 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Wrestling 10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Wrestling Qualifying Rounds (LIVE) 12:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Wrestling USA 2 a.m. - 8 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinals Basketball Men’s Quarterfinals 8 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. — Basketball - Men’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) 9:50 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) Sport Climbing - Men’s Quarterfinal Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinal 8 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Track & Field - Finals and Semifinals Women’s 400 Hurdles Final (LIVE) Men’s 110 Hurdles Semifinals (LIVE) Decathlon (LIVE) 12:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. — Basketball Women’s Quarterfinal (LIVE) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4 CNBC 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinal Handball Women’s Quarterfinal 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Skateboarding - (LIVE) Canoeing - (LIVE) NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Equestrian - Individual Jumping Final Artistic Swimming - Duet Final Canoeing - Sport Climbing 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Track & Field - Women’s Steeplechase 12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) NBCSN
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USA Softball pitcher Cat Osterman pitches in an exhibition softball game against USSSA Pride.
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Viewing guide to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games July 23-August 8, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Daily TV Schedule Daily TV Schedule Daily TV Schedule
2 a.m. - 8 p.m. — Volleyball - Equestrian - Individual Jumping Final (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinals 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Water Polo - Men’s Quarterfinal Beach Volleyball - Men’s Quarterfinal Basketball OLYMPIC CHANNEL 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Wrestling Finals (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Wrestling 10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Wrestling Qualifying Rounds (LIVE) 12:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Wrestling USA 2 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Basketball - Diving THURSDAY, AUGUST 5 CNBC 2:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Field Hockey - Men’s Bronze Medal Water Polo - Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 12:15 a.m. — Table Tennis - Gymnastics - Rhythmic 12:15 am. - 2 a.m. — Canoeing - Field Hockey NBC 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Canoeing - Sprint Finals Sport Climbing - Men’s Final Cycling - Track Finals Track & Field - Women’s Heptathlon 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Skateboarding Beach Volleyball 12:05 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Canoeing - Sprint Qualifying Basketball Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) NBCSN 2 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Volleyball -l Track & Field - Men’s 20km Walk (LIVE) Skateboarding - Men’s Park Final Handball - Men’s Semifinal 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Basketball - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. — Table Tennis - Women’s Team Bronze Medal Handball - Men’s Semifinal 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. — Field Hockey - Men’s Final 4:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. — Track & Field - Men’s 50 km Walk (LIVE) 8:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Semifinal Soccer - Women’s Bronze Medal Water Polo - Women’s Semifinal 11:00 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Basketball - Water Polo OLYMPIC CHANNEL 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. — Wrestling - Competition 5:15 a.m. - 9 a.m. — Wrestling - Finals (LIVE) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Wrestling - Competition 10 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Wrestling - Finals (LIVE) Wrestling Competition USA 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Diving - Women’s Platform Final (LIVE) Beach Volleyball - Women’s Semifinal Soccer - Women’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Cycling - Track Finals Water Polo - Women’s Semifinal (LIVE) Volleyball - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Semifinals Table Tennis - Women’s Team Final Karate - Finals Boxing 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Wrestling - Finals Sport Climbing - Men’s Final Basketball - Men’s Semifinal Water Polo - Women’s Semifinal 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. — Cycling - Track Finals Canoeing - Sprint Qualifying (LIVE) 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Soccer - Women’s Final (LIVE) Volleyball
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6 CNBC 2:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Cycling - Track Finals Water Polo - Men’s Semifinal (LIVE) 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Cycling - Beach Volleyball - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Modern Pentathlon - Women’s Final Beach Volleyball Men’s Final 11:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Baseball - Bronze Medal (LIVE) NBC 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. — Canoeing - Sprint Qualifying Equestrian 1:45 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Gymnastics - Rhythmic Individual Qualifying Sport Climbing - Women’s Final Soccer 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. — Track & Field - Women’s Marathon (LIVE) Diving - Final Women’s 400m - Final Men’s 5000m - Final 10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Basketball - Men’s Final (LIVE) 1:05 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Final NBCSN 2:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Semifinal 3:30 a.m. - 7 a.m. — Track & Field - Women’s 20km Walk (LIVE) 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. — Soccer - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Soccer Women’s Final 11 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. — Water Polo - Men’s Semifinal Table Tennis - Men’s Team Bronze Medal & Final Equestrian - Jumping Qualifying 4:15 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Basketball - Women’s Soccer 8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Beach Volleyball - Women’s Final Basketball - Women’s Semifinal Water Polo - Men’s Semifinal 11:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Soccer - Women’s Final Handball - Women’s Semifinal OLYMPIC CHANNEL 5:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. — Wrestling - Finals (LIVE) USA 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. — Diving - Men’s Platform Qualifying (LIVE) H 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Field Hockey - Artistic Swimming 10 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. — Basketball - Women’s Semifinal Handball Women’s Semifinal Cycling - Track Finals 2:45 pm. - 6 p.m. — Wrestling - Boxing - Karate 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. — Track & Field - Women’s Marathon (LIVE) 9 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Diving - Canoeing 12:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 CNBC 2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. — Water Polo - Basketball - Women’s Bronze 8 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Soccer - Men’s Final Handball - Women’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Modern Pentathlon - Men’s Final 12:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Water Polo - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Boxing - Finals (LIVE) NBC 8:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Final (LIVE) 10:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Handball - Men’s Final Water Polo Women’s Final Golf - Women’s Final Round 1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. — Gymnastics - Rhythmic Team Final Equestrian - Jumping Final Canoeing - Sprint Finals Beach Volleyball - Men’s Final
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8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. — Track & Field - Men’s Marathon (LIVE) Water Polo - Women’s Final Track & Field Women’s High Jump - Final Women’s 10,000m - Final Men’s Javelin - Final Men’s 1500m - Final Women’s 4x400m - Final Men’s 4x400m - Final 10:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. — Basketball - Women’s Final (LIVE) 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. — Volleyball - Women’s Final (LIVE) NBCSN 2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. — Handball - Women’s Volleyball 5:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. — Handball - Men’s Bronze Medal Cycling 7:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Soccer - Men’s Final (LIVE) 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. — Canoeing - Sprint Finals Artistic Swimming - Team Final 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. — Equestrian - Jumping Final Modern Pentathlon - Men’s Final Golf - Women’s Final Round 3:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Track & Field - Women’s Marathon Basketball - Men’s Final 8:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. — Handball - Men’s Final Water Polo Women’s Final Volleyball - Men’s Final 12:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Beach Volleyball - Men’s Final Basketball - Men’s Final OLYMPIC CHANNEL 5:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. — Wrestling - Finals (LIVE) USA 2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. — Volleyball - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Diving - Men’s Platform Final (LIVE) Water Polo - Women’s Final (LIVE) 5:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. — Gymnastics - Rhythmic Individual Final Basketball - Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Basketball - Men’s Ceremony (LIVE) 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Baseball - Final 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Handball - Men’s Final Volleyball - Men’s Final Karate - Finals Wrestling - Finals Boxing - Finals 6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. — Track & Field - Men’s Marathon (LIVE) Volleyball - Women’s Bronze Medal (LIVE) Gymnastics - Rhythmic Group Final (LIVE) 11:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. — Cycling - Track Finals Volleyball Women’s Final (LIVE) SUNDAY, AUGUST 8 CNBC 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. — Boxing - Finals (LIVE) NBC 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. — Cycling - Track Finals Gymnastics - Rhythmic Group Final Handball - Women’s Final Water Polo - Men’s Final Volleyball - Women’s Final 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Tokyo Gold 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. — Closing Ceremony NBCSN 2 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. — Basketball - Men’s Final 3:30 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. — Baseball - Final 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. — Soccer - Men’s Final USA 2 a.m. - 7 p.m. — Volleyball - Women’s Final (LIVE) Cycling - Track Finals Water Polo - Men’s Final (LIVE) Handball - Women’s Final Track & Field - Men’s Marathon “End of Olympics” Programming 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. — Basketball - Women’s Final
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