2016 Olympics: TV Schedule, Expectations for Rio's Opening Ceremony

The greatest show on earth returns on Friday when the 2016 Olympic Games commence in Rio de Janeiro.

The iconic Maracana Stadium will host the opening ceremony as the nations congregate for the start of proceedings.

NBC and the BBC will host the Games on TV on either side of the Atlantic, with every event being given coverage until the end of the competition on Sunday, August 21.

Here is how you can watch the event.

Date: Friday, August 5

Start Time: Opening ceremony begins at 12 a.m (Saturday) BST/7 p.m. ET.

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer (UK), NBC Sports App (U.S.)

TV Info: BBC One, BBC Four (UK), NBC (U.S.)

Opening ceremony will be shown in the U.S. on a one-hour time delay.

For the full Olympics schedule, visit Rio2016.com.

Exciting Ceremony Planned for Rio

Buda Mendes/Getty Images

A host of star names are expected at the opening ceremony on Friday as Brazil hosts its second major sporting event in recent times after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The South Americans were home to the 2014 World Cup, but the nation will be hoping for increased success after their football team crashed and burned against Germany.

The Olympic flame will be lit with hope and sporting vigour on Friday in one of the most stunning cities in the world.

Katy Perry will be one of the star attractions on the night. Joining the American superstar will be a host of national performers, as highlighted by Billboard Latin:

Ticket Sales Poor in Brazil

The local enthusiasm for the competition has been poor in the lead-up to the Games, with reports saying large amounts of tickets have not been sold.

Owen Gibson of the Guardian reported that 30 per cent of tickets were still available in July after a difficult buildup to the event in Brazil.

However, Gibson wrote the Brazilian government are “fully confident the Olympic Games will be a success.”

The country has suffered through economic and health turmoil in recent months with a number of high-profile sportsmen missing, including golf sensation Rory McIlroy, per Christine Brennan of USA Today.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

But the competition will have the stars of track and field involved, including Great Britain's iconic Olympic winners from London 2012.

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, long-distance runner Mo Farah and long jumper Greg Rutherford will be attempting to repeat their "Super Saturday" success from four years ago in London, where they simultaneously landed gold medals for the hosts.

Despite the controversy, the sport promises to deliver world-class entertainment as the gold rush begins.

Brazil have the experience of hosting a major event only two years ago and will want to replicate the success of the World Cup on an expanded global stage.