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How to Watch the Olympic Climbing Competition

Sport Climbing will have its Olympic debut on Aug. 3. The competition will run through Aug. 6. Watch it here

Photo by: Lena Drapella

After months of uncertainty, Sport Climbing will finally have its Olympic debut.

Janja Garnbret – Photo by Jan Virt

Although the 2021 Olympic Games has become highly controversial due to COVID-19, this year’s event offers the world an opportunity to reclaim a semblance of normalcy. Despite the almost incredible odds, Tokyo 2021 has begun.

For qualified Sport Climbers, this Games has become the most significant competition in climbing’s history. While competition climbing began in 1986, it existed as a niche sport in much of the world. This event has brought climbing to public view and offers the sport an opportunity to grow to an unprecedented level.

Historically, international climbing competitions took place through the World Cup circuit. Each World Cup event would focus on one of Sport Climbing’s three disciplines: Speed, Boulder, or Lead. This specialized format directed athletes toward a single discipline and provided focused training that might not translate between events.

Although all three disciplines do show the different sides of climbing, Speed training greatly differs from Lead and Boulder. Where Lead and Boulder represent two sides of the same sport, Speed stands in a class of its own. Speed will become the fastest sport at the Olympics.

Adam Ondra – Photo by Jan Virt

All three disciplines will take place in the same day with the same athletes. The combined scores from these events will select eight athletes for the Final rounds later that week. The men will begin their Qualification round on August 3 while the women will begin theirs on August 4. In both categories, competitors will climb Speed then Boulder and conclude with Lead.

After the Qualification rounds on August 3 and 4, a Final round will decide the competition. The Final round will take place on August 5 and 6 for the men and women respectively. In this round, as in Qualification, climbers will compete in Speed then Boulder and finish in Lead.

Unlike the Olympic Games of the past, you can stream the Games in real time for free.

Laura Rogora – Photo by Lena Drapella

Broadcast Schedule: Sport Climbing Qualification Rounds

August 3: Men’s Qualification

  • Speed Qualifier: 4:00 am EST
  • Boulder Qualifier: 5:00 am EST
  • Lead Qualifier: 8:10 am EST

August 4: Women’s Qualification

  • Speed Qualifier: 4:00 am EST
  • Boulder Qualifier: 5:00 am EST
  • Lead Qualifier: 8:10 am EST

Broadcast Schedule: Sport Climbing Final Rounds

August 5: Men’s Final

  • Speed Final: 4:30 am EST
  • Boulder Final: 5:30 am EST
  • Lead Final: 8:10 am EST

August 6: Women’s Final

  • Speed Final: 4:30 am EST
  • Boulder Final: 5:30 am EST
  • Lead Final: 8:10 am EST

How to watch the Olympics in Canada

CBC will offer perpetual coverage of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The network will air four, six-hour programs covering both the Games and events featuring Team Canada.

For those hoping to stream the Games, CBC Gem and the CBC Olympics app will both provide options tailored toward Canadians. CBC.ca will provide live events, highlights and replays of various CBC-aired sports throughout the Games.

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Lead photo: Lena Drapella