With the opening ceremonies Friday, what are the can’t-miss events at the London Olympics?
5. Women’s soccer final (Aug. ?9, 2:45 p.m.) » The U.S. squad captured the attention of the country during its World Cup run last summer. But after a thrilling victory over Brazil, the U.S. went on to lose in the final to Japan. The U.S. will try and defend its gold medal from 2008 in Beijing.
4. Women’s team gymnastics final (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.) » The U.S. easily won the 2011 world championships and will be the gold-medal favorite, but Romania and Russia pose a threat. The U.S. has not won gold in the team competition since the 1996 Atlanta Games.
3. Men’s basketball final (Aug. ?12, 10 a.m.) » This is expected to be a rematch of the 2008 gold-medal game between the U.S. and Spain. The Americans won 118-107, but Spain was within four points with under 21Ú2 minutes remaining. In an Olympic warmup Tuesday, the U.S. cruised to a 100-78 win over Spain.
2. Men’s 100-meter final (Aug. 5, 4:50 p.m.) » Who will be the fastest man in the world? Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and is the world and Olympic record holder in the 100 and 200 meters. Will he do it again?
1. Men’s 200-/400-meter individual medley final (400 meters: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; 200 meters: Wednesday, 3:16 p.m.) ?» Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte will face off twice in London. At the U.S. Olympic trials, Lochte edged Phelps by 0.83 seconds in the 400 IM, but Phelps got the best of Lochte in the 200 IM.
– Jeffrey Tomik
