What To Watch In Rio?

Image From Pixabay

The Rio Olympics are here, and we are ready to cheer on Team USA for the next two weeks. There are plenty of amazing athletes and events to watch starting tonight. We also have the opportunity to watch great Pittsburgh athletes compete for our nation. Whether you are watching from your couch at The Encore on 7th or from a local bar, here are a few recommendations for events to look out for this Olympics.



Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies are tonight at 8:00. The show will be on a tape delay so they can curate footage and insert commentary into the broadcast. NBC will air the opening ceremonies and all other Olympic events throughout the next two weeks. The Brazilian film director Fernando Meirelles created this year's ceremonies and only spent 10% of the budget compared to the 2012 London Olympic games. However, that does not mean it will not be the event to watch of the weekend.

Women's Gymnastics

Two former Olympians lead this group of five girls that have become the definition of "squad goals". They are looking to grab another team gold medal along with five other gold medals up for grabs. Simone Biles the 19 year old gymnastics phenom will be who to watch. Her start value and difficulty is so above the other girls that it is almost impossible for her not to win. The US Team has won every world championship since London, so they are favored in this year's competition. The qualifications for women's gymnastics start on Sunday. Then, the team final will be on Wednesday with individual events to follow.

Swimming

The US has always been a powerhouse in the swimming competition. This year one of the most decorated Olympians in history, Michael Phelps, will be back again to compete for his titles. He is just one of the many swimmers to watch. Katie Ledecky was one of the youngest members of the delegation in 2012 and came home with a gold medal. She is back with even more experience and she is hoping to add some more hardware to her collection. The swimming competitions are held throughout the two-week Olympic run, so make sure to check your schedules to see when each race is held.

These are just a few of the great events we are looking forward to watching this year. You can find out when every sport is broadcast and on what network by checking out the NBC Olympics webpage.