Summer Olympics 2016 Schedule: Rio TV, Live-Stream Coverage for Thursday Events
The 2016 Summer Olympics are nearing their end as we head into Day 13 of 16 from Rio de Janeiro.
Individuals and teams are either trying to add to their resume with more medals or end their time in Brazil on a high note.
Almost every sport gets some time in the spotlight, so here is a schedule to help you keep up with Thursday's action.
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| 6:30 a.m. | Women's Golf Round 2 | Golf Channel |
| 8 a.m. | Canoe, Track and Field | NBC Sports |
| 10 a.m. | Track and Field, Canoe | NBC |
| 10 a.m. | Triathlon, Badminton | USA |
| 11:30 a.m. | Water Polo Men's Semifinal (MON vs. CRO), Wrestling, Field Hockey Men's Bronze Medal Match (NED vs. BRA) | NBC Sports |
| 12 p.m. | Volleyball Women's Semifinal (USA vs. SRB) | NBC |
| 2 p.m. | Diving, BMX Cycling | NBC |
| 2 p.m. | Basketball Women's Semifinal (ESP vs. SRB) | NBC Sports |
| 2 p.m. | Sailing, Handball Women's Semifinal (NED vs. FRA) | MSNBC |
| 3:30 p.m. | Water Polo Men's Semifinal (ITA vs. SRB), Synchronized Swimming | NBC |
| 4 p.m. | Wrestling | NBC Sports |
| 5 p.m. | Taekwondo, Modern Pentathlon | CNBC |
| 6 p.m. | Basketball Women's Semifinal (USA vs. FRA) | NBC Sports |
| 6 p.m. | Field Hockey Men's Gold Medal Match (BEL vs. ARG) | CNBC |
| 8 p.m. | Track and Field, Diving, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball (Gold Medal) | NBC |
| 8 p.m. | Boxing, Beach Volleyball (Bronze Medal) | NBC Sports |
| 9:15 p.m. | Volleyball Women's Semifinal (CHN vs. NED), Taekwondo | NBC Sports |
Live stream available for all events courtesy of NBCOlympics.com.
Top Events to Watch
Women's Basketball Semifinals: United States vs. France
While the U.S. men's basketball team hasn't dominated as expected, the women's squad is certainly living up to expectations.
The team, which has won each of the last five Olympic titles, features the best America has to offer with veteran stars like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi pairing with younger talents like Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart.
In five preliminary games, Team USA won by an average of 40.8 points. In the quarterfinals against Japan, the squad won by 46, including a 29-5 fourth quarter.
As Dieter Kurtenbach of Fox Sports argued, the style of play and chemistry has been better than that of their male counterparts:
"They’re not just dominating with talent, either. The U.S. women are playing beautiful, smart basketball — a style that is impossible to dislike. The offensive movement is crisp and the ball movement is steady — the team is making 57 percent of its shots and 75 percent of those field goals are assisted. The defense...is stifling, holding opponents to 35 percent shooting.
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France has played well to reach this point, but it will be a challenge to keep up with the size and athleticism of the United States. This means the game will either be a show of dominance from the Americans or a massive upset; both would be entertaining.
Women's Volleyball Semifinals: United States vs. Serbia
The United States women's volleyball team has never won gold in the Olympics, finishing with a silver medal three times. The last two Games in 2012 and 2008 both ended with losses to Brazil.
Shockingly, the host nation was eliminated in the quarterfinals by China, making USA the favorite to win the tournament after winning each of its first six matches. However, nothing is guaranteed as we get into the semifinals.
In a rare twist in an event of this style, all four quarterfinal matches were won by the four teams in Pool B. This is good news for a U.S. team that went 5-0 in qualifying, but the rematches won't be easy. Both Serbia and the Netherlands provided tough challenges.
The United States and Serbia are playing well after winning 3-0 in their quarterfinals.
However, the Americans might be too hot to defeat. Kim Hill and Jordan Larson-Burbach have been great finishers all week, recently combining for 29 points in a three-set win over Japan. If these hitters perform to their abilities and the defense remains as strong as it has been, they should be celebrating a move into the finals by the end of the day.
Track and Field: Decathlon, Men's 200-Meter Final, Men's/Women's 400-Meter Hurdles, Women's Javelin, Men's Shot Put
Usain Bolt is the biggest star on the track, and he will be in action once again for the finals of the 200-meter dash.
The Jamaican sprinter is going for the first-ever triple-triple, which would include winning gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100-meter relay. He is already the first person to win the 100-meter dash in three straight Games, but he knows adding to this list puts him in an even more unique class, per Bleacher Report:
Immortality is not easy in the Olympics, where records go back over 100 years, but Bolt can take one step closer to making him by far the best of all time in athletics.
While the fans wait to watch Bolt in the last event Thursday night, they can see the new crowning of the "World's Greatest Athlete" in the decathlon. American Ashton Eaton is the defending champion and got off to a strong start Wednesday, but this event requires endurance as much as skill.
With the 110-meter hurdles, discuss throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500-meter run all set for one day, anything can happen in this exciting event.
The men's and women's 400-meter hurdles will also be decided during a busy day.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.
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