Olympics 2012 Schedule: Breaking Down Biggest Medal Events on Day 14

The 2012 Olympics are poised to go out with a big bang. There are only three days of competition left before the closing ceremonies, but the action ramps up with a rash of medal events over the weekend. 

As we anxiously await what Saturday and Sunday have in store, it is impossible not to look at Friday's slate of action and get excited about what will happen. 

While we are all enticed by everything that happens in London, the medal events obviously carry far more weight because they will tell us who the best in the world is in a particular sport. 

Here is a look at the biggest medal events you can find on Day 14. 

(Note: For a full look at Friday's Olympic schedule, check out NBC Olympics by clicking here.)

Women's Field Hockey Gold-Medal Match: Netherlands vs. Argentina (3:00 p.m. ET)

When you have a worldwide sporting event that pits the best teams from all over the world in a singular competition to determine who is the best, you want to see No. 1 vs. No. 2. 

Sadly, by the very nature of sports, the top two teams rarely meet in the championship match. That is not the case with the women's field hockey final, as the top-seeded Netherlands takes on No. 2 Argentina. 

The Netherlands will be looking to win its second straight Olympic gold, while Argentina will look to improve upon second- and third-place finishes in 2004 and 2008. 

Women's Track and Field 4x100-meter Relay Race (3:40 p.m. ET)

A loaded weekend of track and field starts on Friday with six medal races and eight total events beginning this afternoon. 

The biggest event of the day is the women's 4x100-meter relay race. Team USA, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica are all expected to battle for the top spot, and with not a lot of separation between the three teams, it is going to be very interesting to see how this plays out. 

You could make a strong case for either one of those teams without getting a substantial argument back, which speaks to the talent all three teams have. Of course, surprises often happen, so don't be surprised if Ukraine or Netherlands sneaks onto the medal podium. 

Men's Track and Field 4x400-medal Relay Race (4:20 p.m. ET)

Like the women's 4x100-meter race, there are a number of different ways the men's 4x400-meter relay race can go. 

Just based on the first round of competition, which is not an exact measure of talent because teams are just focused on qualifying for the finals, things are muddled at the top between the United States, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Great Britain. 

The U.S. and Bahamas look like the top two teams right now, but Trinidad and Tobago will have a lot to say about who walks away from the race with a gold medal. 

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