Summer Olympics 2016 Schedule: Rio TV, Live-Stream Coverage for Friday Events
The Rio 2016 Olympics are nearing the home stretch, and Friday's schedule at the Summer Games promises to see a flutter of high-octane action unfold both on and off the track.
Chief among the track events will be the 4x100-metre relay finals for both men and women, where a star-studded Jamaica team are hoping to win a third successive Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro.
The United States are the reigning champions in the women's relay and will defend their gold despite initially failing to qualify, appealing the decision after a baton was knocked out of a racer's hand and then running the fastest qualifying time in a re-run.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Outside the Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange, cycling will make a change of pace as attention turns to BMX in time for the men's and women's finals.
Latvia's Maris Strombergs brought a 100 percent record to Rio de Janeiro, having won back-to-back gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, but the field is wide-open after he failed to qualify for the semi-finals.
Read on for a preview of the major action set to unfold on Friday, complete with all the essential information on where you can catch Friday's Olympic entertainment.
| 7:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. BST | Badminton | NBC Sports |
| 8 a.m. ET/1 p.m. BST | Canoe, Taekwondo | NBC Sports |
| 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. BST | Equestrian, Water Polo, Wrestling | NBC |
| 9:20 a.m. ET/2:20 p.m. BST | Rhythmic Gymnastics | USA |
| 11 a.m. ET/4 p.m. BST | Synchronised Swimming, Modern Pentathlon, Hockey | NBC Sports |
| 12 p.m. ET/5 p.m. BST | Women's Football Bronze Medal (BRA vs. CAN) | USA |
| 12:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. BST | BMX Cycling | NBC |
| 1 p.m. ET/6 p.m. BST | Boxing | NBC Sports |
| 1:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. BST | Women's 20km Race Walk | NBC Sports |
| 2:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. BST | Men's Basketball Semi-Final (ESP vs. USA), Handball | NBC Sports |
| 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. BST | Diving, Wrestling | USA |
| 4 p.m. ET/9 p.m. BST | Women's Hockey Final (NED vs. GBR) | NBC |
| 4:30 p.m. ET/9:30 p.m. BST | Women's Football Final (SWE vs. GER) | NBC Sports |
| 7:30 p.m. ET/12:30 a.m. BST | Women's Pole Vault Final | CNBC |
| 8 p.m. ET/1 a.m. BST | Men's Hammer Throw Final | NBC |
| 8:40 p.m. ET/1:40 a.m. BST | Women's 5,000m Final | NBC Sports |
| 9:15 p.m. ET/2:15 BST | Men's 4x100m Final | NBC Sports |
Live stream available for all events courtesy of NBCOlympics.com (US) and the BBC Sport website (UK).
Back-to-Back Relay Action
There was relay controversy of the highest order on Thursday after the United States women's team were ejected from the running after dropping the baton in their heat.
NBC Olympics provided a glimpse at the drop in question, which saw the London 2012 winners granted a reprieve following their appeal:
The qualifying time of 41.77 seconds may have been just two-hundredths of a second faster than Jamaica, but the Americans will count every advantage as they now seek some redemption following an early upset.
Matt Majendie of the London Evening Standard described the setting after the United States ran alone on the track in a later scheduled re-run:
"US women win their heat of the 4x100m relay admittedly against no one - a re-run after being impeded before. Book final spot; surreal sight.
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) August 18, 2016"
With that drama unfolding, the men's 4x100-metre relay final has almost taken a backseat in anticipation, although Jamaica remain tall favourites to win a third successive relay race in Rio.
The United States have twice achieved such a feat, winning eight consecutive men's relays between 1920 and 1956 before clinching four golds between the 1964 and 1976 Games.
Cycling Changes Gear to BMX
Following all the action on the road and the indoor track, Olympic cycling has made a transition to the BMX course this week, culminating with the men's and women's finals on Friday.
ABC Grandstand broadcaster Corbin Middlemas confirmed the absence of Strombergs in the final, meaning BMX, an event that only made its Olympic debut in 2008, will crown a new gold medallist:
"We'll have a first time men's #cyclingbmx gold medalist, 2x defending champ Maris Strombergs finishes fifth in heat & misses semi final.
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) August 18, 2016"
Road racing cyclist Toms Skujins took to Twitter to express his disappointment at seeing compatriot and firm BMX favourite Strombergs fall out before the semi-final stage:
Elsewhere, Colombia's Mariana Pajon is on course to defend her gold medal from London 2012 after finishing the seeding run in just 34.508 seconds, the fastest of any qualifier.
Not far behind the defending champion in seeding, however, was Netherlands' Laura Smulders, who took bronze at London 2012 and rounded the course in a similarly impressive time of 35.113 seconds.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
