How to watch the Rio Olympics opening ceremony

How to watch the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Rio Olympics are here, with the opening ceremony taking place Friday night at the Maracaña Stadium. 

NBC will air the festivities on a one-hour tape delay. The ceremony is being directed by esteemed film director Fernando Meirelles, known for the Academy Award-nominated 2002 drama City of God, set in Rio.

Michael Phelps is set to carry the flag for the United States contingent. Reports have indicated the budget for the ceremony is significantly less than that of the London Games in 2012, due in part to Brazil’s recession and state of political unrest.

"Athens was about the classics, Beijing was grandiose and muscular, London was smart, and ours — ours will be cool," Meirelles told Reuters of the ceremony plans.

The games run through August 21.

How to watch

TV channel: NBC

Time: Coverage at 7:30, ceremony at 8 p.m. ET

Live stream: You can watch the ceremony here.