For myself the build up to the Olympics and it's Winter and Para counterparts start properly once the schedule gets released. I get excited when I see the first headlines that a timetable has been released and soon feel despondent when it turns out to be just a day-by-day guide. However there is a lot which can still be drawn from this. So what logic goes into scheduling an Olympic games?
(This is from my own observations and conclusions)
Swimming / Athletics
These are two major staples of the games. They have big drawing power with mainly individual races and field events but also a number of team relays. Over the years swimming tends to dominate the first week, with athletics in the second. Inevitably during the middle weekend there is an overlap in which the two are scheduled as best they can to avoid each other whilst being restricted in needing two sessions a day and broadcasting interests.
Rowing / Canoeing / Cycling
The two sub-staples: Rowing and Cycling (track) similarly get split over the two weeks; Rowing week one and Cycling (track) week two. The use of facilities push the Canoeing (sprint) to the second week once the rowing has finished. Not so much because of the facilities but the disciplines of cycling which do not take place in the Velodrome will see their scheduling moved at either end of the week to the track sessions.
Team Sports
Alongside any sport requiring a full two week programme the team sports are scheduled in regular patterns over the two weeks. Football even begins two days early for the number of scheduled matches (but for why they don't just remove two teams from the entry list?)
And that is just the start. (Sorry for being extra-boring there).
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