With the inaugural Olympic Surfing competition waiting period beginning on July 25 -- Japan is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles -- now's a good time to plot your course for how to watch this historic event.
The Surfing competition at Tokyo 2020 will take place during an 8-day window from July 25 to August 1 local time, and the competition can be run in as little as four days. According the Olympic Surfing Schedule, on run days competition will be called on at 7:00am local time.
Also according to NBC, the US broadcaster for the Games, "the surfing schedule is dependent on expected wave conditions. While the norm for some Olympic sports is to postpone competition in case of bad weather, surfing is known to postpone competition if better conditions are expected later on. If conditions allow, competition can be completed in just four days, but it is possible that more time will be required."
The International Surfing Association(ISA) -- the organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing -- is encouraging fans to use this tool to see where you can watch the Olympics action live in your country.
You can also follow the links below to find out where you will be able to tune in.
The United States' Kolohe Andino in the water ahead of the inaugural Olympic Surfing competition waiting period which begins on July 25. - Ben Reed / ISA
Competition Format
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The path to Gold: The Tokyo 2020 format includes 6 rounds of surfing that will narrow the field of 20 men and 20 women down to the Gold Medalists.
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Round 1: The first round is non-elimination. Surfers will be seeded into five heats of four surfers each, with the top two surfers advancing straight to Round 3. The bottom two surfers will be seeded into Round 2, the first elimination round.
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Round 2: The second round will include two heats of five surfers each. The top three surfers of each heat will advance, while the bottom two surfers will be eliminated from the competition.
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Round 3: Surfers will be seeded into eight heats of two surfers each. The surfer who places first moves through the bracket, while the surfer who places second is eliminated.
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Round 4 (Quarterfinals): Features four heats of two surfers. The top surfer of each heat advances. The surfer in second is eliminated.
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Round 5 (Semifinals): Two heats of two surfers. The top surfers go to the final. The bottom two surfers go to the Bronze Medal match.
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Bronze Match: A two-person heat where the top surfer earns the Bronze Medal.
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Gold Match: A two-person heat where the top surfer earns the Gold Medal and the second placing surfer earns the Silver Medal.
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Heat Draw: To see who's surfing against who, you can click to see the Olympic heat draw here.
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Surfer Bios: And for a full breakdown of all surfers competing in the Games, you can click to see all 40 surfers competiting in Tokyo 2020.
- Qualification: Please visit the International Surfing Association for more information regarding competition format and to see how all 40 surfers qualified for Tokyo 2020.
United States
For viewers in the USA, the surfing competition will be available on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports App, both requiring cable provider authentication.
Australia
For viewers in Australia, tune into the Seven Network.
Brazil
And for those watching in Brazil, the Olympics will be broadcast on TV Globo.
Europe
Eurosport will be broadcasting the surfing competition in the following European countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
Check here to find out when and where to watch.
Japan
Click here to watch the Olympic on NHK in Japan.
Latin America
Claro will broadcast the Games in these 17 countries in Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Click here to view the schedule and tune in.
Everywhere Else
Click here to see a full list of global Olympic broadcasters.
Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb in the water during an Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 practice session - Ben Reed / ISA
How To Watch Surfing At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
WSL
With the inaugural Olympic Surfing competition waiting period beginning on July 25 -- Japan is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles -- now's a good time to plot your course for how to watch this historic event.
The Surfing competition at Tokyo 2020 will take place during an 8-day window from July 25 to August 1 local time, and the competition can be run in as little as four days. According the Olympic Surfing Schedule, on run days competition will be called on at 7:00am local time.
Also according to NBC, the US broadcaster for the Games, "the surfing schedule is dependent on expected wave conditions. While the norm for some Olympic sports is to postpone competition in case of bad weather, surfing is known to postpone competition if better conditions are expected later on. If conditions allow, competition can be completed in just four days, but it is possible that more time will be required."
The International Surfing Association(ISA) -- the organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing -- is encouraging fans to use this tool to see where you can watch the Olympics action live in your country.
You can also follow the links below to find out where you will be able to tune in.
Competition Format
The path to Gold: The Tokyo 2020 format includes 6 rounds of surfing that will narrow the field of 20 men and 20 women down to the Gold Medalists.
Round 1: The first round is non-elimination. Surfers will be seeded into five heats of four surfers each, with the top two surfers advancing straight to Round 3. The bottom two surfers will be seeded into Round 2, the first elimination round.
Round 2: The second round will include two heats of five surfers each. The top three surfers of each heat will advance, while the bottom two surfers will be eliminated from the competition.
Round 3: Surfers will be seeded into eight heats of two surfers each. The surfer who places first moves through the bracket, while the surfer who places second is eliminated.
Round 4 (Quarterfinals): Features four heats of two surfers. The top surfer of each heat advances. The surfer in second is eliminated.
Round 5 (Semifinals): Two heats of two surfers. The top surfers go to the final. The bottom two surfers go to the Bronze Medal match.
Bronze Match: A two-person heat where the top surfer earns the Bronze Medal.
Gold Match: A two-person heat where the top surfer earns the Gold Medal and the second placing surfer earns the Silver Medal.
Heat Draw: To see who's surfing against who, you can click to see the Olympic heat draw here.
Surfer Bios: And for a full breakdown of all surfers competing in the Games, you can click to see all 40 surfers competiting in Tokyo 2020.
United States
For viewers in the USA, the surfing competition will be available on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports App, both requiring cable provider authentication.
Australia
For viewers in Australia, tune into the Seven Network.
Brazil
And for those watching in Brazil, the Olympics will be broadcast on TV Globo.
Europe
Eurosport will be broadcasting the surfing competition in the following European countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
Check here to find out when and where to watch.
Japan
Click here to watch the Olympic on NHK in Japan.
Latin America
Claro will broadcast the Games in these 17 countries in Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Click here to view the schedule and tune in.
Everywhere Else
Click here to see a full list of global Olympic broadcasters.
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