Rio Olympics: What to Watch on Day 1 — Swimming, Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball Kick Off

With 306 events unfolding over the next 16 days at the Rio Olympics, it's kind of overwhelming to figure out what to watch (though NBC certainly has you covered with 6,755 hours of live programming). Since it's impossible to watch everything, we've got your back. Here's the big stuff you should keep an eye out for on Day 1 on Saturday, Aug. 6 (all times ET).

All events are live-streamed at NBCOlympics.com. Find out all the ways to watch the Olympics here.

Rio Olympics: Stars to watch

Swimming, women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final
When:
10:24 p.m.
The first night in the pool will close out with a likely duel between defending champion Australia, whose team includes sprinting sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, and the United States, which hasn't won this race since 2000. The U.S. quartet will include Abbey Weitzel, Simone Manuel and Amanda Weir. Distance queen Katie Ledecky will reportedly swim in the preliminary heats (prelim swimmers also win a medal if the final team wins), which would give her a shot at five medals in Rio. Prime-time swimming coverage starts at 9 p.m. ET.

Gymnastics, men's qualifying
When:
1:30 p.m.
The top eight teams qualify for the team final, while the top 24 gymnasts (two per country) advance to the all-around final, and the top eight individuals (two per country) on each apparatus move on to the respective event finals. The U.S. men -- Sam Mikulak, Jake Dalton, Alex Naddour, Chris Brooks and Danell Leyva -- will start on vault.

Beach volleyball, women's preliminary match -- Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross (USA) vs. Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Nicole Laird (AUS)
When:
11:00 p.m.
Walsh Jennings begins her quest for her fourth straight Olympic gold, but her first without longtime partner Misty May-Treanor. Look for her and Ross to take care of business against the first-time Olympians from Down Under.

Summer Olympic hotties

Other medal rounds:
- Cycling, men's road race (8:30 a.m.)
- Shooting, women's 10-meter air rifle (9:30 a.m.)
- Shooting, men's 10-meter air pistol (2:30 p.m.)
- Judo, women's 48 kilogram (bronze medal bouts at 3:26 p.m.; gold medal bout at 3:40 p.m.)
- Archery, men's team (bronze medal match at 3:39 p.m.; gold medal match at 4:07 p.m.)
- Judo, men's 60 kilogram (bronze medal bouts at 3:47 p.m.; gold medal bout at 4:01 p.m.)
- Fencing, women's individual epee (bronze medal bout at 4:15 p.m.; gold medal bout at 4:45 p.m.)
- Weightlifting, women's 48 kilogram (6:00 p.m.)
- Swimming, men's 400-meter individual medley (9:03 p.m.)
- Swimming, men's 400-meter freestyle (9:30 p.m.)
- Swimming, women's 400-meter individual medley (9:49 p.m.)