How To Watch Tokyo Olympics 2021 from Anywhere In The World

Sally Polly July 14, 2021 | 19:47

For the second time ever, and for the first time in nearly 60 years, Tokyo is the host city for the Olympic Games, the biggest event of this year. Here is a guide on how to watch and live stream the games anywhere in the world.

How To Watch Tokyo Olympics 2021 - Photo: Getty Images

Just under a fortnight until the Olympic flame is lit and we can bask in the presence of the world's most skilled athletes as they compete across 35 different sports, 53 disciplines, and over 400 events. Delayed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is about to start, and we've got all the details on how to watch a Tokyo 2020Olympics live stream where you are, with plenty of free broadcasting options in select countries.

Cramming an astonishing amount into the 14-day Olympic schedule, it all kicks off with football and softball on Wednesday, July 21 - two days before what is sure to be a spectacular Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Softball is one of six new sports on the program, along with baseball, karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding, though there are 15 new events in total, including mixed-gender competitions and the hotly anticipated 3x3 basketball.

If there's one event you absolutely should not miss it's the men’s 100m sprint, and the competition has been blown wide open after Usain Bolt's retirement. It's set for Sunday, August 1, aka Golden Sunday, which will see 25 gold medals handed out.

The climax will come on the penultimate day, with 34 medal events taking place on Saturday, August 7, including the women's marathon, and the gold medal basketball and football matches.

Whoever you're cheering on, the good news is that it's easy to get a FREE Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games live stream - just follow our guide to watch the Olympics in 2021 online from anywhere.

FREE Olympics live stream: How to watch Tokyo 2020 online in the UK

The BBCalways goes all out with its coverage of the Olympics - and best of all that means you can tune in for FREE.

If you're not in front of a TV, BBC iPlayer is the best way to live stream Tokyo 2020. As a national broadcaster, it doesn't cost a penny to stream if you're located in the UK (though you should possess a valid TV license).

If you're already a subscriber, you can also watch the Olympics via Eurosport and its Eurosport Player streaming service, which costs £6.99 a month or £39.99 for the year.

Not in the UK for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games? No worries - residents of the country can just download and install a VPN to port themselves back home to a UK location, then watch live as usual.

How to sign up to the BBC

On your TV, you don't need to sign up or input any information. However, if you've never used BBC iPlayerbefore, you'll need to make a free account to watch on your PC or mobile.

All you need to submit is a date of birth, an email address, and a UK postcode (a random postcode can easily be found if, for any reason, you don't want to submit your own).

You'll be asked to verify your email address, although it appears that's not a necessary step for actually watching content on-site.

From there, all you need to do is either click 'channels' and select which live broadcast you want to watch, or pick something to stream on-demand.

Without a VPN you won't be able to sign up or watch anything from the BBC if you're outside the UK.

If you want to get access, all you need to do is sign up to a service like ExpressVPN, change your location to the UK, and head over to the BBC website as usual. Then sign up as outlined above with a date of birth, email and postcode, and get watching.

Seeing as there's no payment necessary to watch BBC iPlayer live, anyone from anywhere can sign up and sign in if they've used a VPN to spoof their location.

How to watch the Olympics: live stream Tokyo 2020 in the US without cable

NBC is the official US broadcaster for the 2020 Olympics, with the action from Tokyo likely to be shown between linear TV coverage - usually NBCSN or NBC - and dedicated streaming service Peacock TV.

Peacock Premium costs from just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 for a whole year) and offers a FREE 7-day trial. Best of all, signing up is easy - it only takes a few seconds and some basic details to get up and running, even accepting internationally recognized payment platform PayPal for added convenience.

Peacock TV prices and plans

Peacock TV costs have three tiers: Peacock Free, Peacock Premium ($4.99/month), and Peacock Premium Plus ($9.99/month). The latter two plans include a 7-day free trial. You can see all of these options at PeacockTV.com.

All Peacock TV plans feature at least 7,500 hours of content spanning movies, TV shows, current NBC programs, and 24/7 virtual channels. You'll also have access to daily news, kids' shows and movies, and Spanish-language entertainment from Telemundo.

Peacock Free is ad-supported and has the first two seasons of The Office to stream on-demand.

Peacock Premium also has ads but expands the service's base library to include every season of The Office on-demand plus access to live sports matches, original shows, and next-day availability of current NBC programs.

Peacock Premium Plus removes ads for most content - (a very small number of shows, movies, and events will still be subject to brief ads.) Select titles can be downloaded to watch offline with Premium Plus too.

All of the Olympics action that's aired on linear TV can also be watched affordably without cable - courtesy of great value over-the-top streaming service Sling. NBCSN comes as part of its $35 a month Sling Blue package. But be sure to check the Sling website for special offers - there's usually something eye-catching on. For example, at the time of writing your first month for only $10.

If you subscribe to this or any other streaming service and find yourself unable to access it because you're out of the country, remember that you can use a VPN to tune into your usual coverage just like you would at home.

Of the many options, we rate ExpressVPN as the best of the best - our latest 2021 testing showing that it works brilliantly in helping US residents access services like Sling and Peacock from abroad.

How to watch the Olympics: live stream Tokyo 2020 in Canada

Tokyo 2020 coverage is split between a range of different broadcasters in Canada. If you've got a cable subscription, you can watch the Olympics onSportsnet,TSN, CBCand TLN.

Sportsnet, TSN and CBC will let you watch the action from Tokyo online, too - either by registering with details of your pay TV provider, or by signing up for a standalone streaming package.

For instance, Sportsnet Now is perfect for cord-cutting fans, costing just $19.99 a month. Meanwhile, you can subscribe to TSN on a streaming-only basis from just CA$4.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month.

And don't forget that using a VPN is the way to get your regular Olympics live stream if you're away from Canada during the event.

Sportsnet is a Canadian English-language sports specialty channel owned by Rogers Sports & Media. It was established in 1998 as CTV Sportsnet, a joint venture between CTV, Liberty Media, and Rogers Media. CTV parent Bell Globemedia then was required to divest its stake in the network following its 2001 acquisition of competing network TSN. Rogers then became the sole owner of Sportsnet in 2004 after it bought the remaining minority stake that was held by Fox.

You’ve got one of two ways to go here. Sportsnet Now has a basic service called SN Now that will set you back $19.99 per month. Your other option gives you more content if you go with SN Now+, a $27.99 per month investment that gives you access to a considerable amount of extra programming (we’ll list all that in a minute or so).

If you’re a prospective subscriber with commitment issues, you have nothing to worry about. You’ll only be paying one month at a time for this service and can cancel anytime you like.

CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French-language counterpart is Ici Radio-Canada Télé.

With main studios at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, CBC Television is available throughout Canada on over-the-air television stations in urban centres, and as a must-carry station on cable and satellite television providers. CBC Television can also be live streamed on its CBC Gem video platform. Almost all of the CBC's programming is produced in Canada. Although CBC Television is supported by public funding, commercial advertising revenue supplements the network, in contrast to CBC Radio and public broadcasters from several other countries, which are commercial-free.

How to watch the Olympics: live stream Tokyo 2020 FREE in Australia

It's great news for Aussie sports fans, as you can watch the 2020 Olympics for FREE Down Under, thanks to Channel 7.

And if you’d like to stream the action from Tokyo online instead, Channel 7's coverage is also available to watch via the network’s 7Plus streaming service.

Not in Australia? Use a VPN if you're away from home, in order to tap into your local Olympics coverage.

As the highest-rated television network in Australia, Channel 7is doing quite well for itself. Since 2007, the network has consistently outperformed every other major channel across the country, becoming the first network to win all 40 weeks in a single ratings season. Seven also beat its competitors to the punch when it launched 7HD, the first new commercial free-to-air channel in Australia since 1988. This sparked dramatic changes throughout the TV industry, leading to a wave of new channels across all the networks and giving Aussies far more entertainment options when sitting down for a night in.

With so many channels on offer, scheduling your evening's viewing can be a nightmare. This is where 7plus comes in. The combination streaming and catch-up TV service lets you watch the latest episodes and even full seasons of shows from across the entire Seven network, all online and on your own time. And with support for a wide range of modern devices, including phones and tablets, you can take your favourite Seven shows with you wherever you go.

What devices are compatible with 7plus? 

From smartphones to Smart TVs, 7plus supports a wide range of modern devices.

The 7plus website offers the simplest way to watch 7plus content. To stream through the website, you'll need a PC running Windows XP SP2 or later, a Mac running OS X or a Linux computer. You'll also need the latest version of Adobe Flash player and one of the following compatible web browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer 11 or Safari.

Watching 7plus content on the go is just as easy. If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch device running iOS 10.1 or later, you simply need to download the iOS 7plus app from the App Store. If you've got yourself an Android device, the Android 7plus app is compatible with all smartphones and tablets running Android 5.0 or later.

If you're looking to stream 7plus to your TV, you have plenty of options available. Fetch TV, Telstra TV, select Samsung Smart TVs and fourth-generation or later Apple TV devices all support 7plus through dedicated apps, downloadable through their respective app stores. Similarly, the PlayStation 4 gaming console has its own version of the 7plus app for streaming 7plus content. You can also stream 7plus to your Chromecast device using the mobile app on iOS.

How to live stream Olympics if you're not in your country

Without wishing to state the obvious, the Olympic Games is a huge global event, and there should be a way to watch no matter where you find yourself during the gold-frenzy fortnight. But if you are abroad and struggling to see it - or if you just want the comfort and language of your home nation's coverage - then geo-restrictons may stand in your way of getting an Olympics live stream in 2021.

But there's a really easy way around that problem. By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home. That way you can enjoy your home coverage without having to find an illegal stream - assuming you comply with the broadcaster's fine print, of course.

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How to watch the Olympics: live stream Tokyo 2020 in New Zealand

The official broadcasters for the 2020 Olympics in New Zealand are Sky Sport, which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages, and TVNZ, which is FREE to watch.

You can also stream the action online via the free TVNZ OnDemand streaming service, and through Sky Go.

Which devices can I watch TVNZ OnDemand on?

Smart TV, Consoles and TV Apps

To watch on the big screen, download the TVNZ OnDemand app on the following Smart TVs and devices. We support:

Samsung Smart TV - Tizen 2015+ models. Please note: We don't support AirPlay to Samsung TV.

Apple TV - 4th Gen & 4K, iOS 10.2+ OS supported

Android TV - Android OS 5.1+ supported on:

Sony, TCL, Philips, and Toshiba Smart TV's

Freeview-approved Android TV devices (SmartVU, SmartVU+, A2 recorder)

Panasonic Smart TV - 2017+ models.

2017 Series – ES, EX, EZ Series

2018 Series – FS, FX, FZ Series

2019 Series – GX, GZ Series

2020 Series – HX, HZ Series

2021 Series – JS, JX, JZ Series

LG Smart TV - Web OS models 3.3 and above

Vodafone TV - pre-installed on connected Vodafone TV boxes

Sony PS4, PS5

Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.

Smartphones and Tablets

Download the TVNZ OnDemand app to stream content or cast to your TV to stream on the big screen. Visit the App Store (for iPad or iPhone) or the Play Store (for Android smartphones or tablets).

iOS Mobile & Tablet - iOS 11+ OS supported

Android Mobile & Tablet - Android OS 4.4+ supported

Google Chromecast - iOS 11+ & Android OS 4.4+ supported

Laptop and Desktop

Watch TVNZ OnDemand on your laptop or desktop computer. We support the following browsers:

Windows PC / Mac OS:

Google Chrome - latest version

Firefox - latest version

Windows PC:

Microsoft Edge - latest version

Internet Explorer - latest version

Mac OS:

Safari - 9.1.3+

The Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform is another option, with a weekly pass costing $19.99.

If you're away from New Zealand right now, use a VPN and you'll be streaming the Olympics in no time at all.

Where are the 2020 Olympics being held?

For the second time ever, and for the first time in nearly 60 years, Tokyo is the host city for the Olympic Games.

Harumi Futo is the site of the Olympic Village, but the eternal symbol of the games will be the nearby Japan National Stadium, which is hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics events.

When are the 2020 Paralympics?

The 2020 Paralympics begin shortly after the end of the Olympics. The event is scheduled to start on Tuesday, August 24, and will run for just under two weeks, coming to an end on September 5.

Will the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics go ahead?

When the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was postponed last summer, an International Olympic Committee member said that a further postponement would have a knock on effect to the 2022 Winter Olympics set to take place in Beijing in February 2022.

With the summer Olympics more than likely to go ahead this month, we should see the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics going ahead as planned, set to begin February 4, 2022.