Australian athletes have been training for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for years. This week the dream becomes reality, the countdown ends and the competition begins.

Australia will be one of the largest teams at the Games with 418 athletes. With competitors in 26 of the 28 sports there will be plenty of Aussies in action and reasons to get excited about the competition.

To help with your planning olympics.com.au staff have highlighted SOME of the key events we don’t think any Australian sports fan should miss. And the action starts before the Opening Ceremony!

There will be a detailed Australian specific schedule and results available on the website and app as competition begins and there will be daily previews and reviews on all competition.

Until then get up to speed with some of the most highly anticipated events, bank up some sleep and get prepared for the greatest show on earth.

Day -2 (Wednesday, August 3)
FOOTBALL – Women: Australia vs Canada
Rio time: 15:00, AEST: Thursday 04:00
Australia kick off their Rio 2016 Olympic campaign against London 2012 bronze medallists Canada in Sao Paolo. The Australian team are ranked fifth in the world and are confident they can win the nation’s first Olympic football medal in Rio.

Day 0 (Friday, August 5)
OPENING CEREMONY
Rio time: 20:00, AEST: Saturday 09:00
Anna Meares will lead out the Australian Team for what is bound to be one of the most colourful and energy filled Opening Ceremonies ever.

Day 1 (Saturday, August 6)
CYCLING – Men’s road race
Rio time: 09:30, AEST: 22:30
Fresh off a fifth place finish at the Tour de France, Richie Porte will be feeling confident he can put in a great show at his debut Games. He lines up alongside Rohan Dennis, mountain bike specialist Scott Bowden and late addition Simon Clarke, who played a vital role to Cadel Evans in his 2009 World Championships win.

SWIMMING – Men’s 400m freestyle
Rio time: 22:30, AEST: Sunday 11:30
Mack Horton has swum the fastest time in the event by almost two seconds in 2016 but will find plenty of challengers in Rio including the likes of China’s Sun Yang and Connor Jaeger of the USA. Aussie David McKeon will be pushing for a finals berth also.

SWIMMING – Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay
Rio time: 23:24, AEST: Sunday 12:24
With the reigning gold and silver World Championship medallists in Campbell sisters Bronte and Cate, Australia will be favourites to defend the London 2012 Olympic title in Rio.
Day 2 (Sunday, August 7)

SWIMMING – Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay
Rio time: 23:54, AEST: Monday 12:54
After missing a medal in London, the Aussie men will be out for redemption in Rio. Cameron McEvoy will lead a team with plenty of speed as they look to climb onto the top of the podium.

Day 3 (Monday, August 8)
Rugby Sevens – Women: Medal rounds
Rio time: 17:30, AEST: Tuesday 06:30
The Australian women’s team will be looking to back up their historic 2015/16 World Series win with a gold medal in Rio. The team proved throughout the year they are the side to beat and head to the Games full of confidence.

SWIMMING – Women’s 100m backstroke
Rio time: 22:30, AEST: Tuesday 11:30
Emily Seebohm heads into Rio as one of the favourites in both backstroke events having won double gold at the 2015 World Championships. She will be pushing for gold in an event she was pipped in at the London 2012 Games. Madison Wilson also lines up in the event.

SWIMMING – Men’s 100m backstroke
Rio time: 22:38, AEST: Tuesday 11:38
Mitch Larkin won the 100m/200m backstroke double at the 2015 World Championships and will be aiming to do the same in Rio. The world leader has a pair of American’s hot on his heels. He is joined in the race by fellow Aussie Josh Palmer.

Day 4 (Tuesday, August 9)
EQUESTRIAN – Eventing: Team Jumping Final
Rio time: 10:00, AEST: 23:00
Gold medallists in 1992, 1996 and 2000, Australia’s eventing team will be looking to return to the podium in Rio. The four day competition wraps up with the jumping final to determine the team and individual medals. The team comprises Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths, Shane Rose and Stuart Tinney, who was part of the gold medal team in 2000.
 
Day 5 (Wednesday, August 10)
EQUESTRIAN - Dressage: Team Grand Prix
Rio time: 10:00, AEST: 23:00
Mary Hanna, 61, will become Australia’s oldest competing Olympian when she rides Boogie Woogie 6 in Rio and competes in the Dressage event.

SHOOTING – Men’s Double Trap
Rio time: 15:00, AEST: Sunday 04:00
Young rising star of Australian shooting, James Willett, has been in terrific recent form with a win and a third at ISSF World Cup events. Australia last won a medal in the Double Trap at the Sydney Olympics.

BASKETBALL – Men: Australia vs USA
Rio time: 19:00, AEST: Thursday 08:00
The Australians line up against Team USA and will be looking to cause a massive upset. The Aussies are aiming for a historic first men’s Olympic basketball medal in Rio and with a number of NBA players in the side they are well in contention.

SWIMMING – Men’s 4x200m freestyle
Rio time: 22:38, AEST: Wednesday 11:38
In what was an extremely tight race at the 2015 World Championships the Australians finished third behind Great Britain and USA. The top three were split by only a second and all three teams will likely be fighting it out for the medals in Rio.

SWIMMING – Men’s 100m freestyle
Rio time: 23:03, AEST: Thursday 12:03
Cameron McEvoy is the reigning World Champion and turned heads when he posted the fastest time in the event in the non-textile suit era. He is the favourite for gold but fellow Aussie 18-year-old Kyle Chalmers will likely be pushing him all the way.

Day 6 (Thursday, August 11)
CANOE/KAYAK SLALOM – Women’s K1
Rio time: 13:15 (semi) & 15:00 (final), AEST: Friday 02:15 (semi) & 04:00 Friday (final)
Jessica Fox was one of the surprises of the 2012 London Games when she won silver in the event and is now pushing for gold in Rio. She recently won the U23 World Championships and is in fine form heading into her second Olympic Games. 

SWIMMING – Men’s 200m backstroke
Rio time: 22:26, AEST: Friday 11:26
Mitch Larkin won the event, as well as the 100m, at the 2015 World Championships and will be pushing for gold in Rio. His time at the selection trials remains the quickest for 2016 but the competition is not far behind.

SWIMMING – Women’s 100m freestyle
Rio time: 23:18, AEST: Friday 12:18
Australia will be looking for a gold, silver double in the event with sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell. Bronte is the World Champion and Cate is the world record holder.

Day 7 (Friday, August 12)
SHOOTING – Women’s Skeet
Rio time: 09:00 (qualification) & 15:00 (finals), AEST: 22:00 (qualification) & Saturday 04:00
Aislin Jones will become the nation’s youngest ever Olympic shooter when she takes to the Rio range. Jones looks to be a star of the future but has proven she can match it with the world’s best after finishing eighth at the final World Cup event prior to Rio.

ROWING – Men’s Four
Rio time: 11:00, AEST: 24:00
The men’s coxless fours will look to step up one place from their London 2012 silver. Joshua Dunkley-Smith and William Lockwood will make their second Games appearance in the boat, while Joshua Booth will also compete in his second Olympics, moving from the men’s eight to the four. The trio will be joined by rookie Alexander Hill. They won silver at the 2015 World Championships and also secured two 2016 World Cup wins.

CYCLING – Track: Men’s Team Pursuit
Rio time: 16:52, AEST: Saturday 05:52
The men’s team pursuit team won gold at the 2016 World Championships and will be one of the favourites for the Rio competition. Four years ago the quartet won silver and will be looking to turn the tables on the British team that beat them in London in Rio.

SHOOTING – Men’s 50m rifle prone
Rio time: 09:00 (qualification) & 11:00 (finals), AEST: 22:00 (qualification) & 24:00 (finals)
Warren Potent heads into Rio as the world number one and the current world champion in the 50m prone event. Potent won bronze in Beijing and is a strong shot for another Olympic medal in Rio.

SWIMMING – Women’s 200m backstroke
Rio time: 22:03, AEST: 11:03
Emily Seebohm is the reigning world champion in the event but was pipped on the line by teammate Belinda Hocking at the 2016 selection trials. Hocking’s time still holds up as the quickest in 2016 with Seebohm 0.1 seconds behind in second.

Day 8 (Saturday, 13 August)
ROWING – Women’s Single Sculls
Rio time: 10:20, AEST: 23:20
Dual London 2012 medallist and reigning world champion Kim Brennan will line up against long-time rival Emma Twigg in what is set to be an epic Trans-Tasman clash. Brennan will take confidence from beating Twigg recently at a World Cup event in Lausanne.

CYCLING – Track: Women’s Keirin
Rio time: 16:22 (second round) & 17:33 (final), AEST: Sunday 05:22 (second round) & 06:33 (final)
Anna Meares is a three-time world champion in the event and will be well in contention again in Rio while Steph Morton will also be looking to impress at her debut Games.

CYCLING – Track: Women’s Team Pursuit
Rio time: 16:52 (finals), AEST: 05:52
The Aussies broke the world record and won the 2015 World Championships before missing out on a medal in the 2016 event. They will be looking to recapture their form in Rio and are well in contention for a podium finish.

ATHLETICS – Men’s Long Jump final
Rio time: 20:50, AEST: 09:50
Fabrice Lapierre will be looking to leap to Olympic glory after a series of consecutive eight metre jumps in major international events leading into Rio. He won silver at both the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 World Indoor Championships. In Olympic history Australia has won four consecutive silver medals. He is joined in the competition by London Olympian Henry Frayne.

SWIMMING – Men’s 50m freestyle
Rio time: 22:03, AEST: Sunday 11:03
The splash and dash always has the crowd abuzz on the final night of Olympic swimming competition. Cameron McEvoy has the second fastest time in the world in 2016, just 0.02 seconds off Florent Manaudou of France.

SWIMMING – Men’s 1500m freestyle
Rio time: 22:11, AEST: Sunday 11:11
Mack Horton will be looking to add to Australia’s rich history in the 1500m freestyle event. The likes of Murry Rose, Kieran Perkins and Grant Hackett have all been crowned Olympic champion and Horton is well in contention to add his name to that list. Jack McLoughlin will be aiming to push for a final berth with Horton in Rio.

Day 9 (Sunday, 14 August)
CYCLING – Men’s Sprint
Rio time: 17:04, AEST: Monday 06:04
The 2016 World Championships silver medallist, Matt Glaetzer, will be looking to go one better in Rio. In his final competition before Rio, Glaetzer set the fastest time ever on Australian soil in the flying 200m when qualifying for the sprint at the International Track Series in Melbourne.

Day 10 (Monday, 15 August)
SAILING – Men’s Laser
Rio time: 14:05, AEST: Sunday 03:05
Tom Burton just missed London Olympic selection, but now gets his chance in Rio. He placed sixth at the World Championships this year and is in line for a podium here in Rio.

Day 11 (Tuesday, 16 August)
ATHLETICS – Women’s Discus Throw
Rio time: 11:20, AEST: Sunday 00:20
Dani Samuels, the 2009 world champion competing at her third Olympics Games, is a strong medal chance. The athletes need to successfully negotiate a late previous evening qualifying round, before this challenging early morning final.

CYCLING – Women’s Omnium
Rio time: 17:05, AEST: Wednesday 06:05
London Olympic bronze medallist Annette Edmondson will compete at her second Olympic Games having proven herself as one of the world’s best riders since her Olympic debut in 2012.

CYCLING – Women’s Sprint
Rio time: 17:44, AEST: Wednesday 06:44
Anna Meares will be attempting to defend her London Olympic crown and win a fourth consecutive medal in this event, but one of her main competitiors will be teammate Steph Morton, who was a cycling guide at the 2012 Paralympics.

SAILING – Nacra17
Rio time: 14:05, AEST: Wednesday 03:05
Australian cousins, Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse are paired in the Nacra 17 boat making its Olympic debut in Rio. They are a strong medal chance as winners of the Olympic test event and 2015 World Championships silver medallists.

Day 12 (Wednesday, 17 August)
SAILING – Men’s 470 class
Rio time: 14:05, AEST: Thursday 03:05
London gold medallists in the 470 class Mat Belcher is joined by new partner Will Ryan, as they attempt to win gold in Rio. The new combination has won three world titles since London.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – Women’s medal matches
Rio time: 22:00, AEST: Wednesday 11:00
Australia’s pairings Louise Bawden/Taliqua Clancy and Nicole Laird/Mariafe Artacho del Solar will be hoping to be in action in these medal matches. Bawden has Olympic experience, amazingly from 16-years-ago in Sydney when she competed with the indoor team. She has teamed with Clancy, 11-years her junior.

Day 13 (Thursday, 18 August)
CANOE SPRINT – K2 1000m
Rio time: 09:00, AEST: 22:00
After winning two medals in Beijing, Ken Wallace was just outside the medals, placing fourth in the K2 1000m in London. He gets another chance to step onto the podium in Rio, teaming with Lachlan Tame in the K2 1000m. They have won silver at the past two World Championships.

HOCKEY – Men medal matches
Rio time: 12:00 (bronze) & 17:00 (gold), AEST: Friday 01:00 (bronze) & 06.00 (gold)
The Australian men, the World number one ranked team after their recent Champions Trophy win, will be looking for their seventh consecutive Olympic hockey medal.

SAILING – Men 49er medal round
Rio time: 12:00 (bronze) & 17:00 (gold), AEST: Friday 1:00 (bronze) & 06.00 (gold)
Three-time world champions and London Olympic gold medallists, Iain Jensen and Nathan Outteridge will be in the medal hunt in Rio.

ATHLETICS – Women’s Diving 10m Platform final
Rio time: 16:00, AEST: Friday 05:00
Melissa Wu was a silver medallist at her first Olympic Games in 2008. She has been in great form and is ready for another podium performance. She will be joined by 18-year-old Brittany O’Brien who was a late call-up for the Games.

Day 14 (Friday, 19 August)
ATHLETICS – Men’s 50km walk
Rio time: 08:00, AEST: 21:00
Jared Tallent will start favourite to defend his London Olympic title, only recently awarded to him after Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin was stripped of his medal for doping.

WATER POLO – Women’s medal matches
Rio time: 11:20 (bronze) & 15:30 (gold), AEST: Saturday 00:20 (bronze) & Saturday 04:30 (gold)
With three podium finishes from four Olympic appearances the national water polo team are on target for at least another medal and gold certainly is possible.

FOOTBALL – Women’s medal matches
Rio time: 13:00 (bronze) & 17:30 (gold), AEST: Saturday 02:00 (bronze) & Saturday 06:30 (gold)
In just their third Olympic appearance, first since Athens, one of Australia’s favourite teams will be looking for Australia’s first Olympic football medal.

BMX – Men and Women’s medals
Rio time: 15:00, AEST: Saturday 04:00
Within 10 minutes of action, Caroline Buchanan (women) and Sam Willoughby (men) will race for gold in the BMX final. Medal hope in London, Buchanan will be looking for the elusive medal in Rio. Willoughby won Australia’s first Olympic BMX medal with his silver in London. He will be looking to go one better in Rio.

BOXING – Women’s 60kg medal rounds
Rio time: 16:00, AEST: Saturday 05:00
Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Shelley Watts will be aiming for Australia’s first women’s Olympic boxing medal.

Day 15 (Saturday, 20 August)
GOLF – Women’s
Rio time: 07:00 (final round), AEST: 20:00 (final round)
After more than 100 years golf returns to the Olympics. The young Australians Minjee Lee and Su Oh after had some big results leading in and should be in contention on the fourth and final day of their competition.

TRIATHLON – Women’s
Rio time: 11:00, AEST: Sunday 24:00
Five medals in four Games makes Australia the most dominant country in women’s Olympic triathlon history. Beijing bronze medallist Emma Moffatt and London bronze medallist Erin Densham will race alongside world cup medallist Ashleigh Gentle. The beach start will hopefully help the Aussies in the swim.

BASKETBALL – Women’s medal matches
Rio time: 11:30 (bronze) & 15:00 (gold) AEST: Sunday 00:30 (bronze) & Sunday 04:00 (gold)
Australia have an impressive record with five consecutive podium finishes but can they claim that elusive gold?

Day 16 (Sunday, 21 August)
BASKETBALL – Men’s medal matches
Rio time: 11:30 (bronze) & 15:45 (gold), AEST: Sunday 00:30 (bronze) & Sunday 04:45 (gold)
Australia will be looking for their first Olympic medal following four fourth places since the debuted in 1956. A medal here would hopefully be the perfect finale for the 2016 Australian Olympic Team.

Matt Bartolo, David Tarbotton & Andrew Reid
olympics.com.au