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The Olympic games are taking place in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016, and sports fans across the world are excited to watch the best athletes compete for the gold medal. If you have an iPad, iPhone, or Mac, you can easily stream the games, and we’ll show you how.
How to Watch the Olympics and Paralympics on Your iPad, iPhone or Mac
The Olympics start on August 6, 2016, with the first event taking place on August 7, followed by Women’s soccer and Men’s soccer tournaments on August 3 and August 4, respectively, and Archery on the opening ceremony day. You can find the full schedule on the BBC website.
You can watch live coverage from the BBC, ITV, Sky, and BT Sport. To enjoy the main events, make sure you have a valid TV License, as they will be broadcasted on BBC 1 and BBC 4. If you need a digital TV (DTV), press and hold the Red Button to access different BBC channels.
Stream the Olympics and Paralympics on Your iPad, iPhone, or Mac with a VPN
If you’re outside the UK, you can use a virtual private network (VPN) to access free-to-watch services, such as BBC iPlayer. You can find a list of the best VPN services on our website. However, using a VPN may be illegal in some cases, so use it at your own risk.
Stream the Olympics and Paralympics on Your iPad, iPhone, or Mac
If you don’t have access to a TV set, you can still stream the games directly from your iOS device or Mac. Although there are several options, we recommend downloading the iOS app or using the iPlayer website on your Mac or computer. Keep in mind that you need a TV license to stream the games.
If you’re streaming on your iOS device, make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection or enough data to handle the bandwidth.
Download the Events to Watch Later
While streaming the Olympic games live requires an internet connection, you can download a highlights package from iPlayer and watch it at another time. Search for the app you want to download, tap and hold up to the full program page, and then click on Download at the bottom of the screen. High-quality downloads take up more space and are slower to download, but they offer the best experience.
BBC Sport App
If you prefer using a dedicated app for the Olympics, try the BBC Sport app for iPad and iPhone. Open the app and go to the Olympics section, where you will find a range of topics. Click on a story you’re interested in, and the app will show you an accompanying highlights video.
Radio Coverage
If you prefer a simpler way to enjoy Olympic coverage, use the radio. Radio 5 Live will cover all the big events, and you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live on the iPlayer app or the free iPlayer Radio app.
FAQs
Do I need a TV license to stream the Olympics and Paralympics?
Yes, if you want to stream the games on BBC 1 and BBC 4, you need a valid TV license.
Can I download Olympic events to watch later?
Yes, you can download highlights packages from iPlayer on your iOS device or Mac.