Olympics 2012: Opening Ceremony Photos, Weekend Schedule

Saturday, July 28

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5 a.m. -
11 a.m 

CYCLING: Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins are strong contenders to bring home the host country’s first gold medal, but watch for for Americans Taylor Phinney and Tyler Farrar to challenge.

11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. SWIMMING: Seventeen races over six events in the first day of qualifying, including Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in their latest showdown during the men’s 400m individual medley, and teen phenom Missy Franklin in the women’s 4x100 free relay. Other races include the women’s 400m individual medley and men’s 400m freestyle. 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL — USA vs. CRO: Coached by UConn’s Geno Auriemma, Team USA heads into London looking to become the third team ever to win five consecutive gold medals. Croatia finished second in the Olympic qualifying tournament to reach the Games for the first time. 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. SWIMMING: More qualifying heats from Day 1 of Swimming. 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.

ROWING: The first day of rowing features 29 races over nine events, including the women’s pair, single and quadruple sculls, and the men’s pair, eight, lightweight four, single, double and quadruple sculls.

3 p.m. -
5 p.m. WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL — USA vs. KOR: Team USA, the world’s top-ranked team led by five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda and guided by former men’s team coach Hugh McCutcheon, seeks gold in this event after falling to Brazil in the 2008 championship game. 5 p.m. -
6 p.m. MEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Team USA's Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, the No, 4 seed, meet South Africa's Freedom Chiya and Grant Goldschmit in a qualifying-round Beach Volleyball match.
8 p.m. -
12 a.m. NBC PRIMETIME: The first night of Swimming finals includes the men's and women's 400m IM events. Primetime coverage also includes Men's team Gymnastics qualification and early-round Beach Volleyball match featuring two-time gold medal winners Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings of Team USA.

Sunday, July 29

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12:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. 

NBC LATE NIGHT: Men's team Gymnastics competition, plus Weighlifting's first gold medalist is crowned in the women's 48kg class. 1:30 a.m. - 5 a.m.  NBC PRIMETIME REPEAT: The first night of Swimming finals includes the men's and women's 400m IM events. Primetime coverage also includes Men's Gymnastics qualification and early-round Beach Volleyball action. 7 a.m. -
11 a.m.

CYCLING: No country has dominated this event as cyclists from four countries have won gold since 1996. No U.S. rider has been among them, but Evie Stevens – a 39-year-old former NYC investment banker who didn’t start competitive cycling until 2008 – may reach the podium.

11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

SWIMMING: Seventeen more qualifying races in six events include Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak leading Team USA in the men’s 4x100 freestyle relay – won by the American in 2008 in dramatic fashion behind Lezak’s heroic anchor leg to keep Phelps’ quest for eight golds going. Other races include the 100m men’s breaststroke, featuring Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima.

11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. MEN'S VOLLEYBALL — USA vs. SRB: The United States went undefeated in Beijing, securing their first men’s Volleyball gold in 20 years by upsetting Brazil. The Americans, who have won three golds all-time in this event to tie the Soviet Union for the most, have five players returning from the 2008 squad. Serbia hasn’t medaled since taking gold in 2000. 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. SWIMMING: More qualifying heats in Swimming. 2 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. GYMNASTICS: Women's Gymnastics teams from Brazil, Australia and Italy are scheduled to compete. 2:40 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. MEN'S WATER POLO — USA vs. MNE2: After a surprising run to the silver medal four years ago, Team USA, led by captain Tony Azevedo, returns to the pool again in search of its first Olympic men’s Water Polo championship since 1904. Montenegro lost to Serbia in the bronze-medal game in Beijing. 3:40 p.m. - 4 p.m. ROWING: Qualifying heats and repechages in Rowing. There will be seven events and 16 races, including women's eights. 4 p.m. -
6 p.m. BEACH VOLLEYBALL: A pair of Beach Volleyball qualifying matches. First, Team USA's Jennifer Kessy and April Ross make their 2012 Olympic debuts before the No. 2 seeded men's team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser take to the sand. 7 p.m. -
12 a.m. NBC PRIMETIME: Jordyn Wieber and the U.S. women's gymnasts make their London debuts in qualification-round competition. Swimming finals include the men's 4x100m free relay, won dramatically in 2008 by the United States behind Jason Lezak's heroic surge. Plus, Diving's first gold medal is awarded in the women's synchronized springboard event.

Which Olympic events are you most looking forward to watching? Let us know in the comments.