Tokyo Olympics 101

It took longer than anticipated to get here, but the Games of the XXXII Olympiad are finally approaching.

This summer's Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 – Aug. 8, 2021, though the first competitions (preliminary softball and soccer games) will get underway on the night of July 20 (U.S. time). NBCOlympics.com and the networks of NBC will have full coverage.

In the meantime, get prepared for the Tokyo Games by immersing yourself in everything you need to know about these Olympics. Just follow the links below.

Learn about the sports

With 339 medal events spread across 41 sports, there’s a lot to learn about the Tokyo Games if you truly want to consider yourself an Olympic expert. That's why NBCOlympics.com has created detailed guides for each and every sport, as well as an overview of the new sports being contested in Tokyo

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: Become an expert in every sport

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: What are the new sports?

Where the Olympics will be held

Get to know more about the Olympic host city and the venues that will be used there.

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: Venues

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: Get to know the host city

Athletes to watch

The United States Olympic team includes over 600 athletes for the Tokyo Games. Here we've highlighted some of the Americans who you'll want to have on your radar during this Olympic season, as well as some of the top athletes from host nation Japan and other countries around the world.

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: Who's qualified for Team USA?

SEE MORE: Tokyo Olympics 101: What you've missed since Rio

SEE MORE: U.S. athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

SEE MORE: Japanese athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

SEE MORE: International athletes to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

What and how to watch

An explanation of how to watch the Tokyo Olympics, plus suggestions on what to watch throughout the Games. With over 300 medal events being contested, your viewing options are practically endless, but these are the big events and top matchups you definitely won't want to miss.

SEE MORE: How to watch the Tokyo Olympic Games

SEE MORE: Day-by-day guide to the Tokyo Olympics

SEE MORE: 10 matchups to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

Streaks on the line

Several countries and athletes will be able to make some history at the Olympics. A look at the top national and individual streaks on the line in Tokyo is below.

SEE MORE: National gold medal streaks on the line at the Tokyo Olympics

SEE MORE: Athletes who can three-peat (or four-peat) at the Tokyo Olympics