A Gay Viewer's Guide to the Beijing Olympics

Baseball and softball strike out
This will be the last time baseball and softball are played in the Olympics, as the International Olympic Committee voted to remove it for the 2012 Games. It was the first time they took this step since removing polo in 1936. Lesbians around the world are in mourning.

Event not to miss: The baseball gold-medal game will be Aug. 23 on USA, though on Aug. 13, a preliminary game between Cuba and Japan could be great. The softball finals are Aug. 21 on USA.

Family affair
Gymnastics’ Hamm twin brothers, Morgan and Paul, were the toast of the media in 2004, winning the team silver while Paul took the all-around gold. This time around, the Lopez taekwondo trio of Mark, Diana and Steven will get lots of attention.

(L to R) Steven, Diana & Mark Lopez

While they’re not triplets, they are brothers and sisters, and darn good-looking ones at that. Also, watch for the French Guenot brothers in wrestling. Very hot! Incidentally, while Morgan Hamm will be in Beijing, Paul has been sidelined by injuries and will be watching from home.

The Guenot brothers: Steeve (left) and Christophe

Event not to miss: There is no taekwondo slated for TV, but NBCOlympics.com will show it Aug. 19-23. MSNBC will air Greco-roman wrestling, and the Guenot’s weight classes (66kg and 74kg) are on Aug. 12-13.

Sport with the least eye candy
Fencing takes the honor here. The suits fencers wear are somewhat bulky, and to protect the face, masks are worn. Watching it, you don’t know if you’ll see Quasimodo or Prince Charming when the mask comes off.

Event not to miss: Men’s fencing culminates on MSNBC Aug. 17 and will be shown online every day of the first week; the women conclude their competition Aug. 16.