Your complete guide to what’s on at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games today, including a full schedule of events and exclusive analysis from some of the biggest names in sport.

By Michael Potts

Published: Friday, 23 July 2021 at 12:00 am


The Olympic Games have started, the opening ceremony is over and we’ve got a whole lot of sporting drama headed our way over the coming weeks.

Tennis, cycling and swimming represent three incredibly popular events at the Games, and they will all kick off this Saturday with a host of big names in action.

You can check out details about Andy Murray at the Olympics as he begins his adventure in the Men’s Singles and Doubles contests, while Adam Peaty kicks off his bid to win 100m Breaststroke gold and Geraint Thomas is among the pack of Team GB cyclists going for gold in the Men’s Road Race.

RadioTimes.com brings you the full schedule of Olympic events coming up live on TV today as well as exclusive analysis from some of the biggest names in Team GB history including Sir Chris Hoy, Dame Jess Ennis-Hill, Matthew Pinsent, Rebecca Adlington and many more!

We will bring you extensive, up-to-date timings on events listed below, though the list is not exhaustive, with 339 medals to be won across the course of the Games.

Keep an eye out during TV coverage for timing changes, schedule reshuffles and for more events, disciplines and categories to enjoy. Every event will be shown live on Eurosport and discovery+ or across BBC TV and online platforms.

What channel is the Olympics on?

You can soak up 3500 hours of Olympics action across the entire tournament live on discovery+ – the ‘streaming home of the Olympic Games’.

They will offer the full range of Eurosport channels as well as 55 live feeds bringing you every moment of the Games live, from the most niche handball qualifiers to the most iconic athletics moments.

You will also be able to soak up the Olympics via BBC platforms including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Olympics on TV – Saturday 24th July

Tennis at the Olympics: First round

From 3am – BBC / discovery+

Andy Murray is going to his fourth Olympics, having won individual gold medals at the past two. The Olympics really matter to him and tennis being at the Games is something he believes in strongly. He’s arguably the greatest British athlete who has ever lived, for what he has achieved and for what he’s trying to still achieve. Going through surgery and playing with a metal hip, he teaches us about resilience.

He’ll be playing singles and doubles, alongside Joe Salisbury. Dan Evans will also play singles and doubles (partnering with Neal Skupski), as will Heather Watson. CLARE BALDING

Cycling: Men’s road race

From 3am – BBC One / discovery+

The course is 244km with some demanding climbs, and conditions will play a massive part. I was in Tokyo a few years ago and the temperature and humidity were off the scale — I was only outside for ten minutes, but the sweat was pouring off me. It could get dangerous for the riders, so I’m pleased the organisers haven’t ruled out reducing the length of the race if conditions are bad.

Former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas is in a strong British team with twins Adam and Simon Yates and Tao Geoghegan Hart. All four could be up there at the finish but Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel is capable of a stunning one-day performance. CHRIS HOY

Swimming: 100m Breaststroke heats

From 11am – BBC One / discovery+

The heats will take place in the evening, which will be a little different for the swimmers as they usually swim heats in the morning and finals in the evening. Knowing Adam Peaty, he’ll dive in with all guns blazing. Adam doesn’t ever fully hold back.

Even though he is one of the few people in these Games that could probably back off and cruise through the heats, he won’t be doing that. Adam likes to go through each round qualifying first. He’ll be wanting to lay down that marker very early by swimming a really fast heat and getting into the middle lane. REBECCA ADLINGTON

Football at the Olympics: Women’s group stage

From 11:30am – BBC One and iPlayer / discovery+

Team GB face hosts Japan in their second group game — the other teams in the group are Canada and Chile. I’m so glad we’ve got a squad in Tokyo. I was in the side that qualified for the 2008 Games, but politics meant we didn’t go and Sweden took our place and they went on to win it.

To then participate in London in 2012 was one of the highlights of my career, because you go from being in a football team to being in Team GB, which is mega. The players will be proud to be in Tokyo, and they can go far. ALEX SCOTT

Also coming up…

Artistic Gymnastics: competition starts

Badminton: group stage starts, singles and doubles

Basketball (3×3): group stage starts

Beach volleyball: preliminary round starts

Boxing: competitions start

Equestrian: dressage team and individual starts

Fencing: sabre (men) and epee (women) competitions

Handball: preliminaries start (men)

Hockey: group stage starts

Weightlifting: start of competitions

Judo: -48kg (women), -60kg (men)

Shooting: 10m air rifle (women), 10m air pistol (men)

Table tennis: preliminary round starts

Taekwondo: -49kg (women), -58kg (men)

Volleyball: preliminary round starts (men)

Water polo: preliminary round starts (women)

Weightlifting: 49kg (women)

If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news.