The greatest sporting extravaganza in the world - Olympics - is just two days away at Rio, and the anticipation level is high. The quadrennial event, which starts on Aug. 5 and ends on 21st of the same month, is the first Olympics to be hosted by a South American nation.
More than 11,000 athletes are set to participate across 39 sporting disciplines, and the competition is going to be top-notch with most of the big names set to enhance their reputation as world-class athletes.
The who's who of various sports, including Usain Bolt (Athletics – Jamaica), Michael Phelps (Swimming – the US), Rafael Nadal (Tennis – Spain) have reached the Games Village. Now, it is time for the stars to deliver.
There might have been a number of negative stories in the buildup to Rio, including Russia doping scandal, and concerns regarding the situation in the Games Village. Add to it, the Zika virus problems, which led to some of the athletes withdrawing from Rio 2016 as well.
Such reports might have built a negative atmosphere, but the competition, which takes shape in the coming days with high quality action, is capable of erasing all such memories. As in all Olympics in the past, heroes have been born, who have taken their game to the next level to create an Olympic and world record as well. This Olympics in Rio could be no different.
Records suggest that USA and China have been two of the most dominant nations in the gold medals tally, and they are once again the favourites to lead the table after the conclusion of the games. However, with teams like Great Britain, Australia always improving, it remains to be seen how far the other nations can challenge US and China, who collected 46 and 38 golds respectively in London 2012.
Here is a look at the complete schedule of Rio Olympics, discipline wise
Opening ceremony: Aug.5 at Rio's Maracana Stadium
Archery: Aug. 5 – 12 (Medal days – Aug 6, 7, 11, 12)
Venue: Sambódromo
Artistic Gymnastics: Aug. 6 – 16 (Medal days – Aug 8-16)
Venue: Rio Olympic Arena
Athletics: Aug. 12 – 21 (Medal days – All)
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Pontal and Sambódromo
Badminton: Aug. 11 – 20 (Medal days – Aug 16-20)
Venue: Riocentro - Pavilion 4
Basketball: Aug.6 – 21 (Medal days – Aug. 20, 21)
Venue: Carioca Arena, Youth Arena
Beach Volleyball: Aug.6 – 19 (Medal days – Aug. 17- 19)
Venue: Beach Volleyball Arena
Boxing: Aug.6 – 21 (Medal days – Aug. 12- 21)
Venue: Riocentro - Pavilion 6
Canoe Slalom: Aug.7 – 11 (Medal days – Aug.9-11)
Venue: Whitewater Stadium
Canoe Sprint: Aug.15 – 20 (Medal days – Aug. 16, 18, 20)
Venue: Lagoa Stadium
Cycling BMX: Aug.17 – 19 (Medal day – Aug. 19)
Venue: Olympic BMX Centre
Cycling Mountain Bike: Aug. 20-21 (Medal days– both)
Venue: Mountain Bike Centre
Cycling Road: Aug.6,7 and 10 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Pontal
Cycling Track: Aug.11 – 16 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Rio Olympic Velordrome
Diving: Aug.7 – 20(Medal days – Aug.7-10, 14, 16, 18, 20)
Venue: Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre
Equestrian: Aug.6 – 20 (Medal days – Aug. 9, 12, 15, 17, 19)
Venue: Olympic Equestrian Centre
Fencing: Aug.6 – 14 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Carioca Arena 3
Football: Aug 3 – 20 (Medal days – Aug. 19, 20)
Venue: Marcana Stadium, Olympic Stadium, Amazonia Arena, Amazonia Arena, Fonte Nova Arena
Golf: Aug.11 – 20 (Medal days – Aug. 14, 20)
Venue: Olympic Golf Course
Handball: Aug 6– 21(Medal days – Aug. 20, 21)
Venue: Future Arena
Hockey: Aug.6 – 19 (Medal days – Aug. 18, 19)
Venue: Olympic Hockey Centre
Judo: Aug 6 – 12 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Carioca Arena 2
Marathon Swimming: Aug.15, 16 (Medal days – both)
Venue: Fort Copacabana
Modern Pentathlon: Aug.18 – 20 (Medal days – Aug. 19, 20)
Venue: Deodoro Aquatics Centre, Youth Arena
Rhythmic Gymnastics: Aug.19 – 21 (Medal days – Aug. 20, 21)
Venue: Rio Olympic Arena
Rowing: Aug.6 – 13 (Medal days – Aug. 10 - 13)
Venue: Lagoa Stadium
Rugby Sevens: Aug.6 – 11 (Medal days – Aug. 8, 11)
Venue: Deodoro Stadium
Sailing: Aug.8 – 18 (Medal days – Aug. 14 - 18)
Venue: Merina de Gloria
Shooting: Aug. 6 – 14 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Olympic Shooting Centre
Swimming: Aug. 6 – 13 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Olympic Aquatic Stadium
Synchronised Swimming: Aug. 14- 19 (Medal days – 16, 19)
Venue: Maria Lank Aquatics Centre
Table Tennis: Aug. 6 – 17 (Medal days – Aug. 10, 11, 16, 17)
Venue: Riocentro - Pavilion 3
Taekwondo: Aug. 17– 20 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Carioca Arena 3
Tennis: Aug. 6 – 14 (Medal days – Aug. 12-14)
Venue: Olympic Tennis Centre
Trampoline Gymnastics: Aug. 12 – 13 (Medal days – both)
Venue: Rio Olympic Arena
Triathlon: Aug. 18, 20 (Medal days – both)
Venue: Fort Copacabana
Volleyball: Aug. 6 – 21 (Medal days – Aug. 20, 21)
Venue: Maracanazinho
Water Polo: Aug. 6 – 20 (Medal days – 19, 20)
Venue: Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre
Weightlifting: Aug. 6 – 16 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Riocentro - Pavilion 2
Wrestling: Aug. 14 - 21 (Medal days – all)
Venue: Carioca Arena 2
