Olympic-Size Lineup--and More--on Tap

After all the hype and media buildup, the athletes finally get to take center stage when the Summer Olympics get underway on NBC this weekend.

NBC’s coverage of the Games begins at noon today on KNBC-TV Channel 4 with gymnastics (men’s team competition), qualifying heats in swimming, boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. From 4:30 to 9 p.m., there’s more gymnastics and swimming, plus men’s basketball (U.S. vs. Argentina). Women’s volleyball (U.S. vs. Ukraine), water polo (U.S. vs. Italy), boxing and the flyweight final in weightlifting round out the evening from 9:30-11 p.m.

On tap for Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m., is women’s gymnastics and women’s basketball (U.S. vs. Cuba), swimming qualifying, boxing, rowing, Greco-Roman wrestling finals and weightlifting; gymnastics, swimming and cycling from 4-9 p.m.; and volleyball, boxing and water polo (U.S. vs. Greece) from 9:30 to 11 p.m.

For non-sports fans, there’s “Three Tenors Live at Giants Stadium” tonight at 6 on pay-per-view. Opera greats Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti reunite for this live concert, which will feature selections by Puccini, Verdi and Lehar, plus tributes to Enrico Caruso and Mario Lanza.

Cliff Robertson narrates A&E;’s “The Story of a Gun,” Sunday at 9 p.m. and Monday at 10 p.m., a four-hour documentary tracing the history of the firearm.

Public Affairs: TODAY: “Capital Gang Saturday” plays host to Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in discussions of welfare reform and the Bob Dole campaign; 4 and 10:30 p.m. CNN. . . .

“Inside Politics Weekend” reports on the Dole campaign and how the GOP is dealing with the abortion issue, 4:30 p.m., CNN.

SUNDAY: “The McLaughlin Group” topics are the explosion of TWA flight 800 and the revelation of the author of “Primary Colors,” 5:30 a.m. (4). . . .

Former President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) and Andrew Young discuss the Olympics on “Meet the Press,” 7 a.m. (4)(36). . . .

“CBS News Sunday Morning” features golfer Renee Powell, looks at an annual literary festival and pays tribute to Billy Taylor, 7:30 a.m. (2). . . .

The guests on “Fox News Sunday” will be Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed and Jack Kemp, 8 a.m. (11). . . .

“Late Edition” looks at the TWA crash with Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-N.Y.), 9 a.m. CNN. . . .

Vice President Al Gore is a guest on “Face the Nation,” 9 a.m. (2). . . .

“60 Minutes” has stories on 13-year-old Craig Keilburger, child-labor activist; a National Institute of Health researcher who alleges that she was poisoned; and Olympic gymnasts, 7 p.m. (2).

Specials and Movies: “The Blues Brothers on Parole and in Concert” airs at 7 tonight on VH1. . . . Kathy Ireland stars in the Showtime thriller “Miami Hustle,” Sunday at 8 p.m.

Sports: Baseball: Dodgers at Giants, Sunday at 1 p.m. (5).