What to Watch

August 12, 2004|By Ron Reid, Inquirer Staff Writer

Saturday

AUG. 14

Swimming: Today's competition at the Olympic Aquatic Centre could deliver the opening chapters of two absorbing U.S. stories. One features Michael Phelps, the incredibly gifted 19-year-old from Towson, Md., who begins a bold quest for seven, or even eight, Olympic gold medals in swimming. Phelps' start toward that goal comes in the 400-meter individual medley, the event in which he holds the world record. The other ongoing saga is that of Jenny Thompson, 31, the eight-time gold medalist now competing in her fourth Games and still seeking her first individual gold. She will swim the 100-meter butterfly preliminary and semifinal races today. Australia's Ian Thorpe looms as the men's favorite in the 400-meter freestyle.

Story continues below.

NBC Noon-6 p.m.: Swimming. Diving. Men's gymnastics. Women's volleyball, U.S. vs. China. Women's beach volleyball.

8 p.m.-midnight: Men's gymnastics. Swimming, gold-medal finals in the men's 400 individual medley, men's 400m freestyle, women's 400m individual medley, and women's 4x100m freestyle relay. Men's diving. Men's cycling, road race.

12:30-2 a.m.: Men's beach volleyball.

2-6 a.m.: Prime-time replay.

MSNBC 5-8 p.m.: Boxing.

CNBC 2 a.m.-4 p.m.: Women's basketball, U.S. vs. New Zealand. Women's soccer, U.S. vs. Brazil. Rowing. Men's soccer. Softball, U.S. vs. Italy. Weightlifting. Volleyball. Shooting. Fencing.

BRAVO 5-8 p.m.: Badminton. Table tennis. Women's field hockey.

Midnight-1 a.m.: Sailing. Judo.

TELEMUNDO 1-8 p.m.: Men's and women's soccer. Boxing.

1:30-3:30 a.m.: Soccer.NBC, 8 p.m.-midnight tomorrow

Opening Ceremonies

During the ceremonies at Athens Olympic Stadium, which figure to be the most-watched event on the Games' schedule this weekend, it should be interesting to see where the 441-member Greek squad lines up in the parade of nations. Greece has been the leadoff team in opening ceremonies of the past, so honored as the nation that launched the Olympic Games. Yet another tradition holds that the last team to march into the stadium shall be the one representing the host nation.

Let the Games Begin . . . Again. In the days before the opening ceremonies, the first contests of the Games will have taken place in soccer, with the U.S. women playing Greece yesterday and men's games today.

Monday

AUG. 23

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