Olympics daily glance

Off the beaten path

For many sports fans, ESPN long has been the default option for news and highlights, a role the network takes pride – and expends vast resources – in filling. But because of restrictions from non-ESPN rightsholders, that job sometimes gets complicated, perhaps most notably and awkwardly at the Olympics.

ESPN covers them, sort of. But NBC pays the IOC a great deal of money for the right to exclusive live content, and severe limits on the use of after-the-fact video.

In advance of this year’s Games, which open Friday night, ESPN decided to lay out many of those limitations in a story posted on its media relations blog.

According to ESPN, the restrictions that it and other non-NBC news outlets in the United States must abide by began Wednesday and run until 24 hours after the Closing Ceremonies on Aug. 21. “SportsCenter” and other ESPN shows may not air any Olympic highlights until NBC’s prime time coverage ends – on the West Coast. That means approximately 3 a.m. Eastern Time.

Also, no one can show video from a news conference until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the conference.

Once that 3 a.m. restriction passes, ESPN can show Olympic video on its news programs, but only to a maximum of six minutes per show, and only for 72 hours after the first use of such video is permitted.

That is why you can expect to see lots of still pictures of Olympians over the next two weeks on ESPN, as is the case for other major events for which it does not have rights, such as the soccer World Cup and NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Neil Best, Newsday

Person to watch

Although she will not compete until Monday, swimmer Yusra Mardini’s presence will surely be felt at Friday’s Opening Ceremonies.

Mardini is one of 10 athletes competing under the Olympic flag as part of the “Team of Refugee Olympic Athletes” in Rio. Mardini and her sister fled their native Syria in August 2015 during the country’s civil war, eventually settling in Berlin.

Mardini, who was one of the first two athletes recognized for consideration for the ROA team, will compete in the women’s 200-meter freestyle preliminaries on Monday afternoon, with hopes of qualifying for the semifinals that night. The 2016 Olympics marks Mardini’s second international competition. She represented Syria in the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships, participating in the 200- and 400-meter freestyle races as well as the 200-meter individual medley.

Miami Herald

On this date

Aug. 5, 1984

Joan Benoit stepped to the starting line of the first-ever women’s marathon in Olympics history. When she crossed the finish line in 2:24:52, the Boston native and world record holder became the event’s first gold medal winner. Benoit finished more than a minute ahead of second-place Grete Weitz from Norway (2:26:18). Portugal’s Mora Rosa took bronze. Two other Americans were in the field of 50 women competing in the milestone event. Julie Brown of Montana finished 36th, while Julie Isphording of Ohio was one of six athletes who did not finish the event. In the seven Olympic games since the addition of the women’s marathon, the United States has recorded just one other podium finish in the event. At the 2004 games in Athens, Deena Castor earned the bronze medal when she crossed the finish line in 2:27:20, just a minute behind Japan’s Mizuki Noguchi.

Miami Herald

Television schedule

FRIDAY

NBC — Opening Ceremony, 7:30 p.m.-Midnight

TELEMUNDO — Olympic Preview Special, 5-6 p.m.

NBC UNIVERSO — Olympic Preview Special, 5-6 p.m.

Event schedule

FRIDAY

Archery

Men’s Individual Ranking Round, 8 a.m.

Women’s Individual Ranking Round, Noon

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Olympics daily glance."