The piece de resistance of the Olympics kicks off on Friday, as athletics makes its bow in Rio. Usain Bolt will be on show from Saturday, but there is plenty to look forward to on day one of track and field action.
There are two big track events scheduled for Friday – the men's 400m heats and the women's 100m heats. While the preliminary qualifying action will take up most of the time on the track and field on day one, there will be three medals up for grabs – in the women's 10000m, the men's 20km race walk and the women's shot put final.
While no Indian has qualified in the women's 10000m, there will be plenty of interest in the men's 20km race walk. Three Indians will compete in the event, and it would be a race to cherish for a country desperate for something to cheer for in Rio 2016, if any of them were to finish on the podium.
The three athletes who will look to give India its first medal of the 2016 Olympics are Gurmeet Singh, Manish Singh and Ganapathi Krishnan.
India's Manpreet Kaur will take part in Group B of the qualifying event of the women's shot put, and if she qualifies for the final, the Indian will end up competing for a medal later in the evening. Vikas Gowda takes aim in the discus throw, and the Indian will be expected to at least reach the final.
Jinson Johnson is one to watch for India in the men's 800m Heat 3, and it would be a great achievement if the man from Kerala, the first Indian to compete in this event in the Olympics in over 30 years, manages to make it to the next round.
Another Keralite will be in action in the 400m round one, with Muhammed Anas looking to make an impression when he takes his place in Heat 7.
All eyes in the 400m, though, will be on Lashawn Merritt of the USA, Kirani James of Grenada and Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, with the three, once they qualify for the final, looking to recreate that stunning show in the Beijing World Championships a year ago, when all of them dipped under 44s.
The women's 100m will be headlined by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the female Jamaican version of Usain Bolt. Fraser-Pryce, who is nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" is aiming to become the first woman in history to win three Olympic gold medals in the 100m. Fraser-Pryce will have to fight off competition from the likes of Dafne Schippers, Elaine Thompson and English Gardner, but none of them are expected to have too much trouble in the heats.
Where to Watch Live
The athletics action begins at 9.30 a.m. local time (6 p.m. IST, 1.30 p.m. BST).
India: TV: Star Sports and DD National. Live Streaming: Starports.com and Hotstar.
Netherlands: TV: NOS.
UK and Ireland: TV: BBC. Live Streaming: BBCiPlayer.
Brazil: TV: SporTV, Globo, Fox Sports and ESPN.
Argentina: TV: ESPN and DirecTV. Live Streaming: ESPN Play Latin America.
Australia: TV: Channel 7, 7Two and 7Mate. Live Streaming: Channel 7 online.
USA: TV: NBC. Live Streaming: NBC Sports live extra, NBC Olympics and NBC Olympics app.
Germany: TV: ARD and ZDF.
