Opening ceremony
When? 5 August
What time? From 3.45am IST
Where? Olympic Stadium
Why? With supermodel Gisele Bündchen in tow, Rio is all set to dish out the “sexiest ever” opening ceremony which is expected to attract a global TV audience of a billion. Details of the show have been kept secret, but reports suggest it will feature Brazil’s famous carnival and the country’s love of sensual dance.
Athletics men’s 100m final
When? 14 August
What time? 6:55am IST
Where? Olympic Stadium
Why? The greatest spectacle of the Games will see Usain Bolt, the winner of the gold medals in Beijing and London, gunning for a hat-trick. Bolt is expected to lock horns with his arch rival Justin Gatlin if everything goes as per the script.
Tennis men’s final
When? 14 August
What time? 8:30pm IST
Where? Olympic Tennis Centre
Why? Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal will be amongst the medal favourites. While Murray and Nadal know what it feels like to be on the top step of the Games podium, the quest for an Olympic gold continues for the Serbian superstar, who won the bronze in 2008.
Football final
When? 20 August
What time? From 2am IST
Where? Maracana Stadium
Why? For football-crazy Brazilians, winning the Olympics gold medal at the hollowed turf of Maracana could perhaps erase the bitter memories of the past. Can Brazil, led by Neymar, make it a blockbuster by setting up a title clash with Argentina?
Beach volleyball gold medal match
When? Women’s: 17 August
Men’s: 18 August
What time? From 6:30am IST
Where? BV Arena, Copacabana
Why? With the vast and scenic beaches, the city of Rio is synonymous with the glamorous sport. And there can’t be a more appropriate venue than the iconic Copacabana beach for the sport.
Geet Sethi
I still get goosebumps whenever I see the image of Leander Paes, brimming with pride, standing on the podium of the 1996 Atlanta Games in the elite company of Andre Agassi and Sergi Bruguera.
Dipika Pallikal
Britain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill, who won the heptathlon gold in 2012, has always been my favourite. Despite every hurdle Jessica has faced, she has always come back stronger. Her journey has taught me a lot of lessons.
Viswanathan Anand
For me, Jesse Owens is the greatest Olympian simply because of the racism he had to face not only at home but also in Berlin, Germany, in 1936. It couldn’t have been easy for him to perform so well in the prejudiced environment.
R. Ashwin
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual champion in the 10m air rifle, is a pioneer. He showed fellow Indians how one needs to run the extra mile in preparing to be a champion.
