Schedule of events WINTER OLYMPICS

Friday -- 6

A 2,000-person choir and several sumo wrestlers -- which weighs more? -- will help the Games get under way with the opening ceremonies and lighting of the Olympic flame. No Muhammad Ali this time around, though.

TV highlights

CBS

8-11 p.m.

Opening ceremonies.

Saturday -- 7

American Tommy Moe will try to stun the world again in the men's downhill competition as he did at Lillehammer in 1994. But this year's event could result in the first gold by a name you may see often at these Games: Hermann Maier of Austria. The former bricklayer is a favorite to medal in the downhill, super-giant slalom, giant slalom and combined events. The women will get their air time, too, with the finals in the women's cross country skiing, and a look at the U.S. women's hockey team.

TV highlights

CBS

4-6 p.m.

Alpine skiing: men's downhill preview; hockey: women's preview.

8-11 p.m.;

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.

Alpine skiing: men's downhill; freestyle skiing: moguls preliminary; and cross country skiing: women's 15K classical finals.

TNT

6-7 p.m.

Preview: Alpine skiing, figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, hockey, luge, speed skating, Nordic skiing.

Sunday -- 8

Your wait is over - figure skating is here! Gotcha. It isn't Michelle and Tara lacing them up but instead the short program of the pairs competition. The rest of the focus will be on snow, not ice, as the men will compete in the combined downhill, snowboarding and cross country skiing.

TV highlights

CBS

3-6 p.m.

Luge: men's singles; speed skating: men's 5,000-meter finals; hockey: U.S. women vs. China.

8-11 p.m.;

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.

Alpine skiing: men's combined downhill; figure skating: pairs short program; snowboarding: men's giant slalom finals; cross country skiing: men's 15K classical finals.

TNT

7-8 p.m.

Event coverage: snowboarding; preview: figure skating, speed skating, curling; review: hockey, Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, luge.

Monday -- 9

So you're a big luge fan, huh? Well, today is your day with the finals of the men's singles. Robert Pipkins, 24, a four-time national champion, will try to become the first American luger ever to win an Olympic medal. If sliding at breakneck speed down a course on your back isn't your thing, there's men's speed skating and cross-country skiing and women's Super G skiing.

TV highlights

CBS

8-11 p.m.;

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m.

Alpine skiing: women's Super G; speed skating: men's 500 meters; luge: men's singles; snowboarding: women's giant slalom finals; cross country skiing: men's 30K classical finals.

TNT

1-6 p.m.

Event coverage: snowboarding, biathlon, hockey, luge; preview: Alpine skiing; review: snowboarding, hockey, freestyle skiing.

Tuesday -- 10

Jokes aside, the pairs figure skating competition returns with the long program, with not one but two American teams with a realistic medal shot. Three-time U.S. champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand will compete as will defending 1997 champions Kyoko Ina and Jason Dungjen. But the Russian pair of Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikhardulidze, victors in the Champions Series final, will be tough to beat. Dual double salchows and lifted women not your thing? Take a leap - and check out the ski jumping, men's speed skating and women's luge.

TV highlights

CBS

8-11:30 p.m.; 1:05-2:05 a.m.

Ski jumping: K90 individual; figure skating: pairs free skate finals; speed skating: men's 500-meter finals; luge: women's singles; cross country skiing: women's 5K classical finals.

TNT

1-6 p.m.

Event coverage: luge, Nordic skiing, curling, figure skating; preview: ski jumping, speed skating; review: hockey, Alpine skiing.

Wednesday -- 11

ESPN2 in Nagano? Well, the X Games made it anyway with today's freestyle skiing competition. It consists of skiers, male and female, flying off moguls of snow 2 to 6 feet high and performing wild tricks while airborne - kind of like the wacko at your swimming pool going off the diving board. American Donna Weinbrecht won the first Olympic gold medal in women's moguls in 1992 and is a favorite in today's finals. Other featured events include men's combined slalom, women's luge and women's speed skating.

TV highlights

CBS

8-11 p.m.; 12:35-1:35 a.m.

Freestyle skiing: men's and women's moguls finals; Alpine skiing: men's combined slalom finals; luge: women's singles finals; speed skating: women's 3,000-meter finals; figure skating: men's preview.

TNT

1-6 p.m.

Event coverage: Alpine skiing, speed skating, hockey, luge, biathlon; preview: skiing, snowboarding; review: hockey, figure skating, ski jumping, speed skating.

Thursday -- 12

Men on skates will be featured today. In what sport? Well, does the name Rintje Ritsma ring a bell? It may after today as the Netherlands speed skater is favored in the 1,500 meters. More familiar men on skates such as Todd Eldredge and Eric Lindros also will appear as the men's figure skating short program is held and the U.S. hockey team meets Sweden in the first game of the Dream Team tournament. The women's downhill and cross country skiing also will be held.

TV highlights

CBS

8-11 p.m.; 12:35-3 a.m.