Olympic Water Polo 2016: Dates, Start Times, TV Schedule, Live Stream

Water polo isn’t a sport that gets Americans on their feet, but they definitely should consider giving it a watch during the 2016 Olympics.

Believe it or not, water polo is the oldest team sport in the Olympics, having been a part of the Games since 1900. Women’s water polo has only been in the Summer Olympics program since the 2000 Games in Sydney, but the U.S. has the most medals since then — one gold, two silver and one bronze — and is favored to defend its gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.

Team USA’s chances on the men’s side aren’t as good, but the competition is particularly fierce this year and should be fun to watch.

So, if you want to watch some water polo and cheer on Team USA, here’s when and how you can do it.

LIVE STREAM
All Olympic events will be live streamed and can be seen online at NBCOlympics.com.

SCHEDULE (All times ET)
Men’s tournament: Aug. 6 to Aug. 20
Women’s tournament: Aug. 9 to Aug. 19

Saturday, Aug. 6 (Men’s tournament)
Serbia 13, Hungary 13
Croatia 7, U.S. 5
Italy 9, Spain 8
Greece 8, Japan 7
Montenegro 7, France 4
Brazil 8, Australia 7

Monday, Aug. 8 (Men’s tournament)
Serbia vs. Greece, 8 a.m.
Italy vs. France, 9:20 a.m.
U.S. vs. Spain, 10:40 a.m. (NBC)
Hungary vs. Australia, Noon
Japan vs. Brazil, 6:30 p.m. (CNBC)
Croatia vs. Montenegro, 7:50 p.m. (NBCSN)

Tuesday, Aug. 9 (Women’s tournament)
China vs. Hungary, 8 a.m.
Italy vs. Brazil, 9:20 a.m.
Spain vs. U.S., 10:40 a.m. (NBC)
Russia vs. Australia, Noon (MSNBC)

Wednesday, Aug. 10 (Men’s tournament)
Australia vs. Japan, 8 a.m.
Greece vs. Hungary, 9:20 a.m.
France vs. U.S., 10:40 a.m. (NBC)
Montenegro vs. Italy, Noon (MSNBC)
Brazil vs. Serbia, 6:30 p.m.
Spain vs. Croatia, 7:50 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 11 (Women’s tournament)
Russia vs. Brazil, 8 a.m.
Italy vs. Australia, 9:20 a.m. (USA)
China vs. U.S., 10:40 a.m. (NBC)
Spain vs. Hungary, Noon

Friday, Aug. 12 (Men’s tournament)
Hungary vs. Japan, 8 a.m.
Croatia vs. Italy, 9:20 a.m.
U.S. vs. Montenegro, 10:40 a.m. (USA)
Greece vs. Brazil, Noon
Spain vs. France, 6:30 p.m.
Serbia vs. Australia, 7:50 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 13 (Women’s tournament)
China vs. Spain, 8 a.m.
Russia vs. Italy, 9:20 a.m. (MSNBC)
Australia vs. Brazil, 10:40 a.m. (NBC)
Hungary vs. U.S., Noon

Sunday, Aug. 14 (Men’s tournament)
Montenegro vs. Spain, 11:50 a.m.
Australia vs. Greece, 1:10 p.m. (MSNBC)
U.S. vs. Italy, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)
France vs. Croatia, 3:50 p.m.
Serbia vs. Japan, 6:30 p.m.
Brazil vs. Hungary, 7:50 p.m. (NBCSN)

Monday, Aug. 15
Women’s quarterfinal 1, 1:10 p.m. (NBC)
Women’s quarterfinal 2, 2:30 p.m. (MSNBC)
Women’s quarterfinal 3, 5:20 p.m. (CNBC)
Women’s quarterfinal 4, 6:40 p.m. (CNBC)

Tuesday, Aug. 16
Men’s quarterfinal 1, 10 a.m.
Men’s quarterfinal 2, 11:20 a.m. (NBC)
Men’s quarterfinal 3, 2:10 p.m. (MSNBC)
Men’s quarterfinal 4, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 17
Women’s classification, 10 a.m.
Women’s semifinal 1, 11:20 a.m. (USA)
Women’s classification, 2:10 p.m.
Women’s semifinal 2, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Thursday, Aug. 18
Men’s classification, 10 a.m.
Men’s semifinal 1, 11:20 a.m. (NBCSN)
Men’s classification, 2:10 p.m.
Men’s semifinal 2, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Friday, Aug. 19
Women’s classification, 9 a.m. (USA)
Women’s bronze medal match, 10:20 a.m.
Women’s classification, 1:10 p.m.
Women’s gold medal match, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)

Saturday, Aug. 20
Men’s classification, 10:40 a.m.
Men’s bronze medal match, Noon (USA)
Men’s classification, 3:30 p.m.
Men’s gold medal match, 4:50 p.m. (NBC)

Thumbnail photo via Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports Images