Olympic Preview: A Viewer's Guide

SAT., FEB. 13*

2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Opening Ceremony

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Austria; U.S.S.R. vs. Norway

Tip-top pageantry for all but the most committed parade hater. -- To skate into the medal round, the U.S. team must (and probably will) win its opening game.

SUN., FEB. 14

Noon-6 p.m. Skiing: Men's Downhill

Ski Jumping: 70 m

7 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 500 m

Figure Skating: Pairs Short Program

For couch potatoes, a monster mash.

-- Alpine skiing blasts off with the sheer fun and sheer craziness of the downhill. The mighty Swiss, led by Pirmin Zurbriggen, are the ones to watch for. -- Ski Jumper Matti Nykanen, Finland's bad boy, takes off for the first of two hoped-for golds. -- U.S. speed skaters came up empty-handed at Sarajevo, but at this distance Americans Nick Thometz and Dan Jansen are both good bets.

MON., FEB. 15

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Czech.; U.S.S.R. vs. Austria

A tough night for ultrapatriots. Very likely, the Americans will offer little resistance to the Czechs, while the Soviets dominate their opponents. -- On tape: the downhill run of the men's Alpine combined, a new event this year.

TUES., FEB. 16

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Figure Skating: Pairs Free Program

Lanky Sergei Grinkov should throw tiny Ekaterina Gordeeva around with so much zip that the gold is a snap. The U.S.'s Peter Oppegard and Jill Watson have to be at their best to take the bronze.

WED., FEB. 17

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. U.S.S.R.

Another "miracle" for the Americans? It certainly would be, say the experts. -- On tape: Women's luge final. Bonny Warner could slide in among the powerhouse East Germans to become the first U.S. luge medalist.

THURS., FEB. 18

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 1,000 m

Figure Skating: Men's Short Program

Hockey: Canada vs. Finland

In the TV Games, it's Calgary vs. Cosby & Co., with ABC tossing a formidable array against NBC's stronghold lineup. -- A speed-skating battle royal as the U.S.'s Thometz and Jansen sprint against a passel of contenders, including Canada's Gaetan Boucher, winner of the gold in 1984. -- The U.S.'s Brian Boitano and Canada's Brian Orser each skate electrifying, near perfect two- minute programs. Even Cliff Huxtable wouldn't miss tonight's head-to-head: 6.0s could be in the air. -- On tape: Swiss Downhillers Michela Figini and Maria Walliser (one-two at Sarajevo) renew their pell-mell, icy-cool rivalry.

FRI., FEB. 19

8 p.m.-11 p.m. Hockey: U.S. vs. Norway

If it has lost to the Soviets and Czechs, the U.S. must win this to stay alive.

SAT., FEB. 20

Noon-6 p.m. Biathlon: 20 km

Hockey: Finland vs. Sweden

Ski Jumping: 90 m

7 p.m.-11 p.m. Speed Skating: Men's 1,500 m

Figure Skating: Men's Free Program

Another blockbuster day. -- Josh Thompson could be the first U.S. medal winner in the ski-and-shoot sport of biathlon. -- Nykanen jumps for gold again, possibly achieving the unprecedented double. -- Weekend high: triple jumps galore from Boitano and Orser in the men's final.

SUN., FEB. 21