2016 Rio Olympics

Tonga's flagbearer in the 2016 Olympic Games, Pita Taufatofua, took over the world during the opening ceremonies. (Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images)

After Gaining Fame For Going Shirtless In Rio, Tongan Tries For Winter Games

Pita Taufatofua captured the hearts of those watching and participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Now he's vying for a spot in the 2018 Winter Olympics — as a cross-country...

Only A Game

09:36Jan 12, 2018

In Vila Autódromo, Resistance Continues 1 Year After Rio Olympics

A year after the Olympics in Rio, we re-visit Vila Autódromo, a neighborhood that was demolished in the name of the games.

Only A Game

12:01Jul 21, 2017

Richson Simeon, center, has only competed in three track meets. One of them was the Olympics. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images)

The 'Rookie' Who Represented The Marshall Islands At The Rio Olympics

Eighteen-year-old Richson Simeon's road to Rio was unusual. A former high school football player, Simeon got to run the 100-meter dash thanks to the Olympic “universality” rule.

Only A Game

07:42Sep 30, 2016

No matter the countless controversies, the NFL is still as popular as ever. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

3 Stories: The Indestructible NFL, Art Briles' Apology, Paralympics Scheduling

Will Americans ever stop loving football? Is former Baylor football coach Art Briles' apology any indication that the culture of college football is changing? And should the Paralympics take place...

Only A Game

08:01Sep 9, 2016

Tom, the mascot of the Rio Paralympics Games, jumps in front of the sculpture of Agitos, symbol of the Paralympic Games, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)

4 Paralympians Who Grew Up In Massachusetts

Of the 289 U.S. Paralympians heading to Rio, four of them grew up in Massachusetts. Here's who to watch.

Local Coverage

Sep 7, 2016

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) stands with teammates during the playing of the national anthem before a 2014 NFL football game. (Julio Cortez/AP)

The National Anthem: Does It Really Have A Place At Sporting Events?

Would any of us feel less patriotic or less supportive of the troops, asks Peter May, if teams agreed to stop playing the song altogether?

Cognoscenti

Aug 31, 2016

Goalkeeper Hope Solo was banned from the USWNT for six months for calling the Swedish national team "a bunch of cowards." (Celso Junior/Getty Images)

Charlie Pierce: The Week In Sports

Hope Solo received a six month ban for calling Sweden "cowards," while another soccer player will sit out just two games for repeatedly calling his openly gay opponent "queer." Bill...

Only A Game

05:35Aug 26, 2016

Russia (blue) topped France in the women's handball final. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Littlefield: What It's Like To Watch The Olympics Abroad

Ever heard of handball? Maybe not, if you watched the Olympics on NBC... While on vacation in Europe, Bill Littlefield enjoyed a delightfully different Olympic viewing experience.

Only A Game

02:37Aug 24, 2016

Jazz Carlin of Great Britain was pleased with her silver medal win in the women's 800m freestyle final. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Mike Pesca: Making A Case For The Silver Medal

History shows that bronze medalists are usually happier about their performance than are silver medalists. Commentator Mike Pesca conducted his own study on medal winners at Rio 2016, and he's...

Only A Game

03:46Aug 19, 2016

The Olympic rings tattoo. (Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Five Rings, The Yakuza, And A Nipple-Sized Maple Leaf: The Olympic Tattoo Tradition

The Olympic rings tattoo has become a coveted mark for athletes around the world. How did the tradition begin? And what will happen when the 2020 Olympics go to Japan?

Only A Game

09:38Aug 19, 2016

Katie Ledecky shows off her five medals -- four gold and one silver -- from the 2016 Rio Games. (Harry How/Getty Images)

3 Stories: Permanent Olympic Sites, Gold Medal Greed, Roger Goodell's Power

Will the IOC finally consider permanent sites for the Olympics? How many gold medals is enough gold medals for U.S. fans? And how can NFL players curb Commissioner Goodell's power?...

Only A Game

07:34Aug 19, 2016

Is a bronze medal at Rio 2016 good enough for Kerri Walsh Jennings? (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Charlie Pierce: The Week In Sports

Kerri Walsh Jennings didn't lose gold. She won bronze. But is it enough to secure her legacy as the greatest U.S. women's volleyballer of all time? Karen Given and Only...

Only A Game

06:40Aug 19, 2016

Only 11 companies are allowed to advertise with Olympic athletes or trademarks during the 2016 Games. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Rule 40: Why Companies Can't Say 'Summer' During The Olympics

Olympic rules make it tough for companies who want to join the conversation during the games. Among the list of words businesses can't use? "Olympic," "gold" and "summer." Some companies...

Only A Game

08:34Aug 19, 2016

The NBC Olympic Social Opening Ceremony at Jonathan Beach Club on July 26, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Rachel Murray/Getty Images for NBC Olympic Social Opening Ceremony)

NBC's Olympic Ratings Dip Compared With London 4 Years Ago

It’s the first time Olympics ratings have dropped since 2000, and it indicates that live sports aren’t the big draw they used to be.

Here & Now

03:46Aug 19, 2016

Ashton Eaton of the United States celebrates winning gold overall after the Men's Decathlon 1500m on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on Aug. 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

U.S. Medal Count Gets A Big Boost From Track And Field Dominance

The Olympics wrap up this weekend with the U.S. leading the medal count, trailed by Great Britain and China.

Here & Now

03:32Aug 19, 2016

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (L) reacts asfter he crossed the finish line to win the Men's 200m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 18, 2016. (Oliver Morin/AFP/Getty Images)

Usain Bolt Makes History Again, And Other Olympic Highlights

Team USA's Ashton Eaton also sealed his second-straight win in the decathlon, and the American women's 4x100 relay team earned a spot in that final tonight.

Here & Now

05:16Aug 19, 2016

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a roundtable discussion on national security in his offices in Trump Tower in New York. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Week In The News: Trump Shakeup, Natural Disasters, Lochte Controversy

Trump campaign shake-up. Historic flooding in Louisiana. Wildfires in California. Ryan Lochte hits trouble in Rio. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.