Olympics: How to watch all the events — and which local athletes are competing

The Tokyo Olympics are upon us. Here’s everything you need to know about the pandemic-delayed 2020 Games.

When are the Olympics? And what’s the time change in Tokyo?

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics officially start July 23 and run through Aug. 8, though some events take place before the opening ceremony. Yes, it’s 2021 but you know how we got here. No fans will be allowed into any stadiums or arenas — indoor and outdoor — for these Games.

About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, along with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters and media. The International Olympic Committee says more than 80% of Olympic Village residents will be vaccinated.

Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of Chicago, so adjust your clocks and viewing schedules accordingly.

Are there any local Olympians competing?

Yes! There are 59 athletes with with connections to Illinois who will compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

Some are current and former Chicago pro athletes, such as the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, the Red Stars’ Julie Ertz and former Cubs and White Sox pitcher Edwin Jackson.

Some are former Chicago-area high school stars, such as Niles West basketball player Jewell Loyd, Glenbrook South swimmer Olivia Smoliga and St. Francis volleyball player Kelsey Robinson.

And others starred at Illinois universities, including former Illinois tennis player Rajeev Ram, Southern Illinois hammer thrower DeAnna Price and Loyola volleyball player Thomas Jaeschke.

And one will be the United States flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

How can I read about these local Olympians?

Chicago Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair and photojournalist Brian Cassella are in Tokyo to bringing the Tribune audience stories about local athletes and the paths they took to get here. It’s St. Clair’s fourth Olympic assignment — you might remember her as the “dangerous face water woman” from the Sochi Games in 2014 — and Cassella’s third — you might remember him from his gorgeous photos.

You can follow their adventures on Twitter at @stacystclair and @briancassella, as well as on our sports Instagram (chitribsports). We’ll have morning dispatches each day in our Chicago Tribune Sports newsletter and in Daywatch, so subscribe now.

We’ll be sending out their stories to your phones, desktops and inboxes — and try our best to be spoiler-free for the results.

And of course, we’ll have full coverage at chicagotribune.com/olympics. Not yet a subscriber? Here’s our best offer, just in time for the first medal count.

Will any local voices be on the call?

Yes!

Jason Benetti, the TV voice of the White Sox, will be NBC’s baseball play-by-play announcer. He’ll be working remotely off monitors at NBC Sports headquarters in Stamford, Conn., and is expected to announce at least the semifinals, bronze- and gold-medal games set for Aug. 4-7.

Another announcer with Chicago ties on NBC’s Olympics team is ESPN’s Beth Mowins, who earlier this season filled in on Cubs play-by-play for Marquee Sports Network, on softball.

Sky star Candace Parker will be a studio analyst for basketball coverage. Joining Parker will be play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald with Vince Carter handling analysis on men’s games and Kara Lawson (a 2008 Team USA teammate of Parker’s in Beijing) on women’s games.

Soccer coverage will feature Lisa Byington of the Chicago-based Big Ten Network as well as CBS and Turner, and part-time Chicago Fire announcer Arlo White, who’s the voice of the English Premier League for NBC.

How, when and where can I watch ALL the events?

Over the next two weeks, there likely will be some event on your television — or computer — at any given time of the day.

Olympics coverage will be all over NBC, CNBC, Golf Channel, NBC Olympics, NBC Sports Network, Telemundo and USA, and streaming options on NBCOlympics.com, NBCSports.com and Peacock.

Here’s a look at the full viewing schedule, with event schedules below.

Opening ceremony

July 23 on NBC, NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Peacock

Archery

July 23-31 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Artistic swimming

Aug. 2-7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Badminton

July 23-Aug. 2 on CNBC, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Baseball

July 27-Aug. 7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Basketball

July 24-Aug. 8 on CNBC, NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, Peacock

3x3 basketball

July 23-28 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Beach volleyball

July 23-Aug. 6 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Boxing

July 23-Aug. 8 on CNBC, NBC Sports and Olympic Channel

Canoe/kayak

July 25-Aug. 6 on CNBC, NBC Sports andNBC Olympics

Cycling

July 23-Aug. 7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympic

Diving

July 25-Aug. 7 on CNBC, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Equestrian

July 24-Aug. 7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Fencing

July 23-Aug. 1 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Field hockey

July 23-Aug. 6 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Golf

July 28-Aug. 6 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Gymnastics

July 23-Aug. 3 on NBC Sports, NBC Olympics and Peacock

Handball

July 23-Aug. 8 on CNBC, NBC Sports and Olympic Channel

Judo

July 23-31 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Karate

Aug. 4-7 on CNBC, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Modern pentathlon

Aug. 5-7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Rhythmic gymnastics

Aug. 5-7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Rowing

Aug. 5-7 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Rugby

July 25-31 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Sailing

July 24-Aug. 4 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Shooting

July 23-Aug. 3 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Skateboarding

July 24-Aug. 4 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Soccer

July 21-Aug. 7 on NBC Sports, NBC Olympics and Peacock

Softball

July 21-27 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Sport climbing

Aug. 3-6 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Surfing

July 24-31 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Swimming

July 24-Aug. 4 on NBC Sports, NBC Olympics and Peacock

Table tennis

July 23-Aug. 6 on CNBC, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Taekwondo

July 23-27 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Tennis

July 23-27 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Track and field

July 30-31 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Trampoline gymnastics

July 30-31 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Triathlon

July 25-27 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Volleyball

July 23-Aug. 8 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Water polo

July 24-Aug. 8 on CNBC and NBC Olympics

Weightlifting

July 23-Aug. 4 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Weightlifting

July 23-Aug. 4 on NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Wrestling

July 31-Aug. 7 on CNBC, NBC Sports and NBC Olympics

Closing ceremony

Aug. 8 on NBC, NBC Sports, NBC Olympics and Peacock

Anything else I should know?

There’s no such thing as a “former Olympian.” Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.

Let the Games begin!

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