Olympic watching guide: Who is competing Thursday

Speed skaters train at the Gangneung Oval during a speed skating training session prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/John Locher)

NBC paid nearly $1 billion for broadcast rights, and events will be shown on the parent network as well as NBC Sports Network, CNBC, USA and the Olympic Channel. Live-streaming of all events is available at NBCOlympics.com or via the NBC app.

There is a 14-hour time difference. Events listed here are those shown on that particular day in Eastern Standard Time.

Thursday, Feb. 8

What to watch: Figure skating gets underway with the team competition, which provides an early look at the performers and routines that will be on display in the individual competitions. First up are men’s and pairs short programs. Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu dethroned Evgeni Plushenko of Russia four years ago and is back to defend his gold medal against challengers such as his good friend Javier Fernandez of Spain. Three Olympic rookies – Nathan Chen (18), Vincent Zhou (17) and Adam Rippon (28) – represent the United States.

NBC
- 8-11:30 p.m. Team figure skating, men’s and pairs short programs (LIVE); men’s and women’s freestyle skiing moguls, qualifying
NBCSN
- 2-6 a.m. Mixed doubles curling, Canada-Norway, China-Switzerland
- 6-10 a.m. Mixed doubles curling, U.S.- Canada (LIVE), China-South Korea; men’s ski jumping8-11:35 p.m. Mixed doubles curling, U.S.-Switzerland; men’s downhill training (LIVE), men’s luge training
- 11:35 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Mixed doubles curling, U.S.-South Korea (LIVE)

Friday, Feb. 9

What to watch: Easy choice. The quandary comes in choosing how to watch the Opening Ceremonies: via live streaming at 6 a.m. or as a prepackaged, prime-time event. Either way, expect cold performers, cold athletes and cold spectators;North and South Korea marching in together under the Unification Flag; and the U.S. team sporting some eye-catching gloves.