With more than 300 events taking place this month in Rio de Janeiro, it’s not always easy to sort the wheat from the chaff.
But there are some events at the Games that you absolutely can’t miss if you consider yourself a sports fan.
Here is the pick of the bunch, with all times in AEST.
Men’s 100-metre sprint final
Date and time: Monday August 15, 11.25am
It’s the marquee event of every Olympics and on this occasion, sprinting’s greatest of all time, Usain Bolt, aims to be the first man to win the event three times in a row.
Despite being hampered by a hamstring injury in his build-up, Bolt is strongly favoured to win. His main rival is 2004 gold medallist and US supervillain Justin Gatlin, a two-time banned drug cheat.
Bolt has plenty of experience at beating Gatlin. Photo: Getty
Women’s 100-metre sprint final
Date and time: Sunday August 14, 11.35am
It won’t attract the fanfare of the men’s sprinting events, but there’s still plenty of intrigue and hype surrounding American Tori Bowie.
She is aiming to become the first woman to win both the 100m and 200m sprints since Florence Griffith-Joyner – who still holds the world records over both distances – achieved the feat at Seoul in 1988.
Rugby Sevens finals
Date and time: Tuesday August 9, 8am (women), Friday August 12, 8am (men)
Rugby returns to the Games in the abbreviated seven-a-side format, which has proved popular in the Commonwealth Games since 1998.
The breathtaking speed of Sevens is sure to excite the Rio crowds and a Jarryd Hayne-less Fiji are favourites in the men’s competition. Australia, world champions in the women’s competition, are fancied for gold.
Sonny Bill Williams will play Rugby Sevens for New Zealand. Photo: Getty
Men’s 100-metre butterly final
Date and time: Saturday August 13, 11.12am
History is on the line as the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, aims to become the first swimmer to win the same event four times in a row. Only two athletes in Olympic history (Carl Lewis, long jump and Al Oerter, discus throw) have achieved the feat.
Phelps, who has won 18 Olympic golds, has battled several personal problems since the London Games but has emerged through the malaise.
Men’s cycling team pursuit final
Date and time: Saturday August 13, 7.42am
In one of the great chapters of an exciting rivalry, Great Britain produced a world record time in the 2012 final to edge Australia and claim gold in London.
And they will go toe-to-toe again in this exhilarating, high-octane event, with Australia holding the edge after scoring an upset win at March’s world championships.
Blink and you’ll miss it: The cycling is a breathtaking event. Photo: Getty
Women’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay
Date and time: Sunday August 7, 12.24pm
Australia’s first genuine gold medal hope comes just after midday on day two as record-breaking sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell team up with Emma McKeon and Britt Emslie.
Cate Campbell, Emslie, Alicia Coutts and Melanie Schlanger won gold in the 2012 event – our only success of the London Games in the pool.
Men’s tennis final
Date and time: Monday August 15, 1am
Unlike golf, which has been gutted with countless high-profile withdrawals, most of tennis’ biggest names are in action in Rio de Janeiro.
While Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have tasted Olympic success, world No.1 Novak Djokovic is still searching for singles gold. And who would bet against him given the last couple of years of his stellar career?
Can Novak Djokovic achieve Olympic glory? Photo: Getty
Men’s football final
Date and time: Sunday August 21, 6.30am
If there’s one thing Brazil loves, it is football. The locals may never get over their 7-1 drubbing – on home turf – to Germany in the semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
But a gold medal at the Games might go some way to easing the pain, and with Barcelona star Neymar set to lead the way for the hosts, there’s every chance they will be involved in the final. Expect a sell-out crowd at the iconic Maracana stadium.
Men’s basketball final
Date and time: Monday August 22, 4.45am
As usual, the US ‘Dream Team’ is the unbackable favourite to take home gold but the bad memories of their 2004 bronze medal will ensure this team of multi-millionaires don’t take things for granted.
Spain, France, Brazil and Serbia shape as their main challengers, but Australia’s ‘Boomers’ – featuring NBA championship winners Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova – aren’t likely to feature in the decider.
No LeBron James? Kevin Durant will take care of that. Photo: Getty
Golf finals
Date and time: Sunday August 14, 8pm-4.30am (men), Saturday August 20, 8pm-4.30am (women)
A controversial inclusion for the Rio Games, particularly given the fact so many players have pulled the pin on competing.
There’s still plenty of big names on display, though, headlined by Bubba Watson (USA), Justin Rose (Great Britain), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Sergio Garcia (Spain), while New Zealander Lydia Ko will look to add a gold medal to her world No.1 status in the women’s draw.