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All The Key Olympic Times And Dates You Need To Know

All The Key Olympic Times And Dates You Need To Know

It's nearly time.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Like a kid on Christmas if Christmas only came every four years I couldn't be more excited for the festival of sport that is the Olympics. A smorgasboard of different sports and some of the biggest sporting names on the globe, what a great two and a half weeks it'll be. But when do you need to be up?

The Olympics will have you shouting at your tv "oh that's not a good routine" several hours into the first time you've ever watched dressage and leave you wondering just how you ever lived without weightlifting and if it's too late to become a world class fencer.

But before you get into the slightly less mainstream and find yourself with a judo infatuation at 10 to four in the morning here's some dates and times that we think are probably rather important:

August 4th 5 pm (UK time)- Men's Football:

The football actually kicks off 24 hours earlier with the women opening the tournament two days before the opening ceremony is ready to start. We aren't devaluing the women's tournament but the men do kick off with a Brazil that includes Neymar as well as Germany vs Mexico and Portugal vs Argentina on the first day. Dream!

August 5th/6th Midnight- Opening Ceremony:

No idea if this will get close to the Danny Boyle fest of the London 2012 Olympics and some of you will hate opening ceremonies but it kicks it all off and make it feel like the games is really upon us. Technically starts Saturday morning but just to avoid confusion it's basically still Friday night, will be on when you get in from your night out.

August 6th- 1.30 pm- Men's Cycling Road Race:

Chris Froome attempts to replicate Sir Bradley Wiggins by going from Tour de France winner to Olympic champion. Froome's best chance might come later in the week in the Time Trial, as with Wiggins, but the hilly course could still play in his favour after attacking on two hills in the Tour.

August 7th- 3 am- Men's 100m Breaststroke:

The blue ribband event of the first week of the Olympics is the swimming before the athletics takes over. The reason this event is so special is Michael Phelps. Already the person with most medals in Olympic history the American is out of retirement in order to win more medals. This will be his first outing.

August 8th- 3.54 am- Men's 4x100m Freestyle:

Poor Phelps, four years ago him and his countrymen could only manage the silver medal in this event. It was a genuine surprise and they'll be after revenge on the French. Relays are always exciting in swimming at athletics.

August 10th- 2 pm- Men's Cycling Time Trial:

It's Froome again and after two brilliant time trials during the Tour and Tom Dumoulin's chances of gold being reduced after crashing out of the Tour with injury this could be the Brits best chance of gold out of his two disciplines. Bronze four years ago when Wiggins was on the road this could be special.

August 11th- 11 pm- Men's Rugby Sevens Final:

You don't have to be a rugby fan to enjoy sevens. A quicker game than the traditional 15 man game and more skilfull to boot. The final is expected to include the like of Fiji and New Zealand. Should the latter appear then you'll be seeing Sonny Bill Williams excelling at yet another sport, showoff!

August 12th- 1.30 pm- Athletics starts:

Bolt, Farah, Ennis-Hill, Schippers. Yes it's time for the best thing in the Olympics the athletics programme. Day one sees the start of the women's heptathlon where Ennis-Hill and Katrina Johnson-Thompson are likely to battle it out whilst the women's 10,000m will see the first gold.

August 13th- 2.40 am- Women's 100m Heats:

The blue ribband event of the blue ribband sport. Ahh the 100m, it might only be 10 seconds long but that's never stopped me having loads of fun before, okay! Dafne Schippers is a true world star who could light up The Games, scarily good.

August 13th- 4 pm- Men's 100m Heats:

Several hours later it's the men's turn to have a go on the track. The first glimpse of Usain Bolt in Rio as he attempts to win the triple triple and once against steal all the limelight from everyone.

August 13th- 9.20 pm- Women's Tennis Final:

Fresh from winning Wimbledon we'll be expecting Serena Williams to make the final but it's not just her star power that makes this interesting. Tennis has really taken to the Olympics in a way golf hasn't quite grasped on the men's side. It really is a fifth major.

August 14th- 1.25 am- Men's 10,000m Final:

Four years after being part of the infamous Super Saturday Mo Farah attempts the long distance double double of winning 10km and 5km gold medals in back-to-back Olympics.

August 14th- 2.35 am- Women's 100m Final:

Schippers, Thompson, Fraser-Pryce. A really intriguing final is likely to ensue. The Dutch former heptathlete is favourite and rightly so, pressure doesn't seem to phase her. This should be an exciting final.

August 14th- 2.53 am- Women's Heptathlon 800m:

The final event of the multi-sport competition. Two Brits could well be lining up to take gold but will it be poster girl Ennis-Hill or Johnson-Thompson who comes away with gold? It could well be an incredible climax to a hard fought competition.

August 14th- 4 pm- Men's Tennis Final:

One day after the women's final it's the men's turn. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal might be out of the competition but reigning Olympic champion Andy Murray and world number one Novak Djokovic could renew their rivalry.

August 15th- 2.25 am- Men's 100m Final:

Usain Bolt should stand on the precipice of history with a chance for a third Olympic gold medal in the 100m. Former drug cheat Justin Gatlin will be his closest rival whilst fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake and young American Trayvon Bromell will be on the hunt for medals.

August 18th- 2.30 am- Women's 200m Final:

As with the 100m final Schippers is favourite and by now everyone will know her name even if they didn't before hand. The bend in the 200m makes it as exciting as the 100 event.

Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt

August 19th 2.30 am- Men's 200m Final:

24 hours after the women's longer sprint it's the men's turn. Once again it should be Bolt's time to shine and he might even be hoping to break his incredible 200m world record. What a moment that would be.

August 20th- 2.15 am- Women's 4x100m Final:

Relays are great if nothing else because the baton swap makes them unpredictable. The Jamaicans will be favourites for the gold but don't count out the Americans and, believe it or not, GB have a great chance at a medal

August 20th- 2.35 am- Men's 4x100m Final:

I may have said this a couple of times already but should Bolt have secured his two golds at this point then this could be a truly historic race. The team of Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Jevaughn Minzie and Asafa Powell is dangerous.

August 20th- 9.30 pm- Men's Football Final:

From before the Olympics actually starts until two days before it officially closes, the football tournament takes ages. Brazil will be hoping to be in the final and finally win the one major international tournament they've never got their hands on.

August 21st- 2 am/ 2.35 am- Women's and Men's 4x400m Finals:

The traditional close for that athletics programme at the Olympics. Always an exciting finish as already mentioned with relays. Great entertainment with a tinge of sadness for the end of the games.

August 21st- 7.45 pm- Men's Basketball Final:

Lord we hope USA get to the final, they bloody well should. No Steph Curry or Lebron James in the squad but plenty of star power in the form of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant. Not a bad way to close The Games.

What event are you most looking forward to?

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