Watching the Olympics in Boston

The Paris Olympics begin Friday with Celtics player Jason Tatum and Stoughton gymnast Frederick Richard representing the U.S.

The intrigue: The games are some 3,400 miles away from Boston, despite efforts nearly a decade ago from then-Mayor Marty Walsh and other supporters to bring it here.

• Instead of reminiscing about what could have been — more T delays , a possible fire, who knows? — Bostonians can gather to cheer on our favorites, like Tatum, Richard or Simone Biles.

State of play: The opening ceremony starts at 1:30pm ET Friday, but NBC will also broadcast the ceremony at 7:30pm.

• NBC and Peacock, the streaming platform, will show all of the games.

⏰ A few highlights in EDT:

🤸🏾 Men's gymnastics starts at 5am Saturday (but NBC coverage starts at 5:50am until at least 4:30pm.

• Team USA, including Richard, will compete against Germany, Great Britain and Canada in Subdivision 1 (the earliest).

🤸🏾‍♀️ Women's gymnastics starts at 3:30am and run until 4:50pm Sunday.

• Expect to see Biles compete alongside athletes from China and Italy.

Both men's and women's competitions continue into next week.

🏊🏻‍♀️ Men's and women's swimming competitions start Saturday. Catch Katie Ledecky in the 400m freestyle Saturday and other competitions next week.

📍 Where to watch: Banners Kitchen & Tap in the West End, Puttshack in the Seaport and Natick, Tip Tap Room and Bistro Du Midi in Boston are broadcasting the games.

• So is ParlorSports in Somerville, starting with soccer and basketball this weekend.
• Drawdown Brewing in Jamaica Plain extended its hours to play the games and is hosting Olympic trivia.

🎉 Join a watch party:

📺 The Kendall/MIT Open Space is hosting a watch party for the opening ceremony from 7:30pm-11pm.

• Tickets are free.

🎨 Artisan Asylum and the Boston Fencing Club will host a drawing class in Allston (focused on figures in motion), followed by a watch party for the women's saber team finals Aug. 3.

• Price: $20 for the figure drawing class.
• The watch party is free, but donations are encouraged.

🏀 Banners Kitchen is hosting a watch party Aug. 10 for the U.S. men's basketball gold medal game.

• Price: $30.