NEW YORK — NBC and its related cable networks are promising virtually 24-hour-a-day coverage of the Olympic Games in Athens, beginning Friday and ending Aug. 29. The one certainty is NBC in prime-time every night. Check local listings for coverage on Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Telemundo and HDTV. Among the highlights:
FRIDAY: Opening ceremonies, with the always-colorful parade of 202 nations. They may be difficult to follow, since the Greek alphabet is being used. The U.S. team will march between the United Arab Emirates and Japan.
SATURDAY: Can American swimmer Michael Phelps live up to the hype? We'll find out early, as he competes in the 400 meter individual medley, where he's already the world record holder (NBC prime-time). The U.S. women's basketball faces New Zealand (CNBC).
SUNDAY: If Allen Iverson shows up on time, the U.S. men's basketball team opens against Puerto Rico (NBC daytime). NBC's prime-time is heavy on swimming, featuring the rivalry between Australia and the U.S. And, for the first time on TV, Olympic badminton.
MONDAY: You're not seeing double. Paul and Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., are twins and members of the U.S. men's gymnastic team, which has a chance to make some noise in the gymnastics finals against traditional powers China and Russia (NBC prime-time).
TUESDAY: After not medaling in Sydney, the U.S. women's gymnastics team is a favorite in Athens (NBC prime-time). The U.S. women's softball team faces a formidable foe in China (MSNBC). And the U.S. men's hoop team faces Greece (USA).
WEDNESDAY: The shot put finals will be held at the original Olympics venue in Olympia, the first athletic competition there in 1,611 years (MSNBC late-night). Paul Hamm and Michael Phelps continue their quests for gold in individual events (NBC prime-time).
AUG. 19:Mary Lou Retton is the only American gymnast to win an Olympic all-around gold medal, and a trio of American women will try to duplicate that feat. Phelps, assuming he isn't waterlogged by now, and other swimmers face an important day of competition (both NBC prime-time).
AUG. 20: Ethiopia's long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie seeks his third straight gold medal in the 10,000 meter final (NBC daytime). Mia Hamm and the U.S. women's soccer team head for the semifinals (MSNBC).
A complete, comprehensive television listing for the 17-day Olympic run can be found at www.nbcolympics.com