When the cauldron is lit at the famed Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil this summer, it will begin the first Olympic Games to be held in South America.
The Rio Olympics will feature the return of golf and rugby. It's the first time back in 112 years for golf and 92 years for rugby.
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Here's what you need to know for the 2016 Summer Games.
When are the Rio Olympics?
The Rio Olympics begin August 3 with a few competitions. The opening ceremony is August 5 at the Maracaña in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The final day of the Olympics is August 21 with the closing ceremony. There are 306 medal events that cover 42 sports in the 17-day span.
What is the day-by-day schedule?
Day 1 (Aug. 5) — The games begin with men's gymnastics qualifying, followed by the first day of swimming.
Day 2 (Aug. 6) — Gymnastics qualifying on the women's side airs throughout the day with swimming getting primetime play.
Day 3 (Aug. 7) — Men's team gymnastics final, fencing, women's rugby (medal matches), swimming
Day 4 (Aug. 8) — The U.S. women's gymnastics team will look to win its first back-to-back gold medals. The fourth day also features more swimming.
Day 5 (Aug. 9) — Men's all-around gymnastics final and swimming
Day 6 (Aug. 10) — Judo, women's all-round gymnastics final, rugby, swimming
Day 7 (Aug. 11) — Women's skeet shooting, swimming
Day 8 (Aug. 12) — The women's rowing team will look to make it a third consecutive Olympic gold as competition begins. Also featured: women's tennis singles, track and field, and swimming.
Day 9 (Aug. 13) — Men's singles tennis final, men's golf final, gymnastics apparatus finals, track and field
Day 10 (Aug. 14) — Gymnastics apparatus finals, track and field
Day 11 (Aug. 15) — Artistic gymnastics, track and field
Day 12 (Aug. 16) — Track and field, beach volleyball women's medal matches
Day 13 (Aug. 17) — Track and field, beach volleyball men's medal matches
Day 14 (Aug. 18) — The women's soccer final. The U.S. team won gold at four of the five Olympics since the sport was introduced in Atlanta in 1996. Water polo women's final will also take place, plus wrestling, track and field.
Day 15 (Aug. 19) — The U.S. women's basketball team is on a 41-game Olympic winning streak and seeking a sixth gold medal. Also: women's golf final, triathlon, men's platform diving final, men's soccer final, track and field, and the women's volleyball final.
Day 16 (Aug. 20) — The U.S. men's basketball team will go for a third consecutive gold. Also on the final day before the closing ceremony wraps the Rio Olympics: track and field, men's volleyball final and the women's boxing middleweight final.
How can I watch?
Rio de Janeiro is one hour ahead of the United States' Eastern time zone, allowing NBC to air much of the games live in primetime. Swimming and track and field events will air almost entirely live. Other sports, such as gymnastics, will air live online on the NBC platform during the day and will then be packaged for tape-delay primetime viewing.
Who are the big names participating in the Rio Olympics?
A plethora of stars will return to the Olympics to compete for more medals.
In the pool, Michael Phelps is looking to qualify for his fifth Olympic games and add to his medal count. He has 22 medals over three Olympic Games. The 20-year-old Missy Franklin won five medals, four of which were gold, in her Olympic debut in 2012. Eleven-time Olympian Ryan Lochte will also be in Rio for his fourth Games.
Two-time reigning world champion Simone Biles is a heavy favorite in the gymnastics all-around. Gabby Douglas, who won gold in London n the team and all-around events , is making a comeback for Rio.
Serena Williams won gold at Wimbledon in the 2012 Olympics and looks to be the first singles player in history to repeat as champion. Rafael Nadal , Andy Murray , Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will battle for the men's tennis singles final. Djokovic and Federer are without Olympic golds in the event.
Usain Bolt will compete in his final Olympics, stating last winter his intent to retire after the 2017 World Championships. The Jamaican sprinter nicknamed "Lightning Bolt" holds world records in the 100m and 200m, as well as the 4x100m with teammates. He won the three events in each of the previous two Olympics.
Jamaican teammate Sanya Richards-Ross will look to repeat as gold medalist in the 400m individually and 4x400m with her teammates.
Kerri Walsh Jennings is a three-time gold medalist in beach volleyball with partner Misty May Treanor, who retired after their 2012 Olympic victory. It'll be Jennings' first Olympics with new partner April Ross . Ross won silver behind the duo in 2012 with then-partner Jennifer Kessy.
Cassandra Negley is a contributor at Sporting News. She is sports editor at the Thomasville Times-Enterprise in Georgia and writes for the Mets blog, Rising Apple . You can follow her on Twitter, @casnegley .