How to watch Rhythmic Gymnastics at Olympics 2020: key dates, live stream and more

A part of the Olympic program since the 1984 Los Angeles Games, rhythmic gymnastics requires athletes to perform expressive acrobatic moves with a hoop, a ribbon, a pair of clubs, and a ball. Gymnasts are rated on the virtuosity of their performances along with the skill with which they perform their apparatus maneuvers. Read on for how to watch a rhythmic gymnastics live stream for all the Olympics 2020 action.

Individual gymnasts perform four times, using each piece of equipment once for a total of 75 to 90 seconds, with group events requiring a team of five gymnasts to perform twice, using multiple apparatus simultaneously.

As the discipline draws on European influences from dance and ballet, it’s no surprise that countries from that continent excel in rhythmic gymnastics. Russia has long dominated the sport, taking the gold in both the individual all-around and group events from 2000 to 2016. In Tokyo, twin siblings Dina and Arina Averina aim to defend Russia’s golden streak.

But will anyone knock Russia from the top spot? Watch rhythmic gymnastics at Olympics 2020 to find out. Below, we’ll show you how to live stream Olympics events, plus some key dates you don’t want to miss.

• More from Tokyo 2020: how to get an Olympic gymnastics live stream

Olympics 2020 rhythmic gymnastics: key dates and times

• Individual all-around final: Saturday, August 7 from 3.20pm JST / 7.20am BST / 2.20am ET
• Group all-around final: Saturday, August 7 from 10pm ET / Sunday, August 8 from 3am BST / 11am JST 

Free Olympics rhythmic gymnastics live stream

Catch a rhythmic gymnastics Olympic live stream where you are with many native broadcasters offering free coverage across the Olympics schedule. In the UK, BBC and BBC iPlayer will be broadcasting live coverage of key events, while Channel 7 in Australia, and its online counterpart, 7Plus, lead the charge with the most comprehensive live stream across all events.

Other countries with free Olympic live streams include RTE in Ireland, TF1 in France, and ARD and ZDF in Germany.

How to watch your Olympics live stream when abroad

No matter where you are around the world, there should be an Olympic Games stream to ensure you can watch Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, whether paid-for or free. However, you may find your preferred domestic coverage is geo-restricted when abroad, or that your place of work, college, or school has prevented the ability to access your chosen service and watch online.

Thankfully, there's any easy work-around. Simply download a VPN and you can spoof your device into appearing as if it's located somewhere else. Essentially, then, you can appear as if you're where your coverage is geo-locked to and watch as if you're right at home.

Use a VPN to watch Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from anywhere

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Three simple steps to using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions:

1. Download and install a VPN - our recommendation is ExpressVPN

2. Connect to the relevant server location - launch the VPN app, click on 'choose location' and select the right location, i.e. UK for iPlayer, US for Sling TV

3. Head to the chosen broadcaster's live stream - so, whichever service you want to use, all you need to do is head to their website and start streaming.

FREE Olympics rhythmic gymnastics live stream in the UK

In previous years, all the Olympic action you could handle would have been on the BBC, but coverage has been scaled back in 2021. It's proven tricky to fathom from the schedules whether the BBC will show this, but the online BBC iPlayer (laptops, mobiles, smart TVs, consoles, and pretty much any other streaming device) should be your first port of call.

Discovery+ and Eurosport are, therefore, your best options for watching every minute of the Olympics action live.

Each one costs £6.99 per month or a bargain £29.99 for a whole year. And if you want to see just how comprehensive the coverage is (spoiler alert: very!) then there's also a three-day free trial you can take advantage of.

If you’re abroad for the Olympics, access your favorite home streaming services by downloading and installing a VPN. That way, you won’t miss any events.

How to watch Olympics rhythmic gymnastics in the US with and without cable

Those in the US with a cable subscription can access full Olympic coverage via NBC, either online or on TV. But don’t worry if this isn’t included in your cable setup; you can also head to streaming services like Peacock, Sling TV and Fubo TV. 

While Peacock offers a free service with plenty of on-demand TV shows and movies, you’ll need to upgrade to a Premium account ($4.99/month) or an ad-free Premium Plus account ($9.99/month) to live stream the 2020 Olympics - and even this coverage is limited.

Alternatively, Sling TV’s streaming service will also be broadcasting the 2020 Olympics with all NBC and NBCSN's coverage available via the platform. Subscribe to the Sling Blue package (usually $35 a month) which includes NBCSN, and you can currently get your first month for just $10. 

You can use Google Chrome Browser, Samsung TV, iOS, Android, and other devices to access these platforms.

How to watch Olympics rhythmic gymnastics in Canada

Those living in Canada benefit from a choice of channels airing the Olympics, as coverage is split across CBC, TSN, Sportsnet, and TLN.

If you don’t have cable, you still have options. CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet also provide standalone streaming services. CBC is great value, offering a free first month and then a low monthly subscription cost of just CA$4.99. That said, you can get a ton of free Olympic coverage on CBC, too, via its website and app.

Alternatively, TSN is more expensive at CA$4.99 per day or CA$19.99 per month, and Sportsnet Now will also set you back CAD 19.99 a month.

How to live stream rhythmic gymnastics at the Olympics for FREE in Australia

Rhythmic gymnastics fans in Australia can benefit from Channel 7’s free coverage of the 2020 Olympics or use its online streaming service, 7plus, which offers extensive, 24/7 coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

This is available on the majority of web-enabled devices, but you can check out the website for further information. 

Not in Australia? Use a VPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your local Olympics coverage.

How to watch Olympic rhythmic gymnastics in New Zealand

New Zealand also has free Olympics coverage in 2021 thanks to broadcaster TVNZand its TVNZ OnDemand streaming service, with Olympic coverage airing 24/7 on TVNZ 1 and online.

If that isn't quite enough, then Sky Sport is also carrying the action, with a weekly pass costing from $19.99.

Other 2020 Olympics broadcasters around the world

With many countries around the world taking part in the Olympic Games, you can find a broadcaster to watch Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in most countries, whether free or platforms that charge.

For those countries we haven't mentioned above, Wikipedia's dedicated page allows you to see a breakdown of Olympic Games TV channels to tune into.