Do you want to be able to watch the Olympics from abroad? Dutch streams are often not available abroad. Simply follow the steps below to access:
- Choose a reliable VPN provider. NordVPN receives the gold medal for streaming Olympic competitions. We are very pleased with the extensive server offerings and the high speeds.
- Install the software from the VPN website.
- Connect to a server in the country that hosts your Olympics stream and turn on the VPN. If you don’t know which stream you want to watch yet, we recommend watching the free platform Peacock with a server in the United States.
- Go to your stream, log in, and enjoy the Olympic Games and don’t miss a medal.
Want to know more about watching the Olympics abroad? Then read the full article below.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have come to an end. Sports fans around the world are now looking forward to Paris 2024.
If you’re looking to watch Olympics online from anywhere in the world, you’ll need to know which streams to use and how to connect to them.
Some Olympics streams will only be accessible by people residing in the same country where they are hosted. However, with a VPN, you can quickly and easily get access to Tokyo 2020 streams. Even if you’re abroad, you won’t have to miss any of your favorite team’s games. In this article, we explain in-depth how to watch the Olympics with a VPN.
Why Can’t I Watch Olympics Abroad?
The broadcasting rights for the Olympic Games are divided by country. For example, the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) holds the broadcasting rights for the Olympic Games in the UK, while NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) has the broadcasting rights in the Netherlands.
Due to these broadcasting rights across the world, streaming services block viewers from abroad. This means that, if you want to watch live tv or internet streams of the Olympics from abroad, you may well see an error message that indicates that you aren’t allowed to access the website hosting the tv channel or live stream.
Fortunately, this issue is easy to solve with a VPN (Virtual Private Networks). Thanks to the online freedom a VPN gives you, you’ll be watching your favorite Olympic sports in a matter of minutes. Below, you can find more information on watching the Olympics with a VPN.
Watch Olympics with a VPN in Six Easy Steps
Streaming services – and other websites – can recognize your location based on your IP address, a number that’s automatically assigned by your network. When a website in another country detects that you’re visiting from abroad, you’ll see an error message if that website has implemented geographical restrictions (geoblocks). But by connecting to a VPN server from another country, you can say goodbye to being blocked by websites based on your IP address.
When you connect to a VPN, your IP address changes to one belonging to the country in which the server is located. This means it’ll look like you’re visiting the website from that country instead of your own.
Below, we’ve laid out step-by-step instructions to show you how to watch the Olympic Games online wherever you are in the world.
- Choose a reliable VPN provider and create an account on the VPN’s website. For watching live Olympics, we recommend NordVPN. This provider is perfect for streaming and offers a money-back guarantee, meaning that you can try the VPN for free for a month during the Olympics.
-
NordVPNOur choiceDeal Save big with 69% off a two-year subscription + three months free!From$ 2.999.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
- Download the software from the VPN’s website onto a device of your choice. This should be the device you want to use to watch Olympics online.
- Install the VPN. With most VPNs, this is a very intuitive process, with helpful instructions that walk you through each step.
- Open the VPN app and sign in with the account you created earlier.
- Choose a VPN server in a country of your choice. This should be a country that offers live Olympics streams. If you’re unsure which stream and country to choose, scroll down for a list!
- Connect to the VPN. Then, open the streaming app or website and catch up with the live coverage of your favorite sports.
If you want to watch the Olympics online from a stream in another country, simply disconnect your VPN and choose another server. It’s that simple.
Why Should I Use a VPN?
A VPN helps you bypass geoblocks, but that’s not the only reason to use one. There are also many more advantages to using a VPN:
- A VPN protects your internet traffic by encrypting your data securely.
- You can bypass government censorship.
- You can download anonymously and securely.
- Changing your IP address makes your online activity harder to detect and track.
- With a VPN, you can access American Netflix, which has a much wider range of tv shows and movies than many other regions across the world.
The Best VPNs for the Olympics
Want to watch Olympics online with a VPN, but don’t know which VPN to choose? That’s what we’re here for. Below, we’ve prepared a brief overview of the things to consider when choosing a VPN:
- The number of servers available. Make sure your VPN has enough servers in the country that’s hosting your Olympics stream. This is a huge sporting event, and since the rest of the world can’t attend, there are likely to be countless people trying to connect. If too many users connect to a limited range of servers, the result can be poor connection speeds or connection dropouts.
- The speed and stability of the connection. You don’t want to hang around waiting while your Olympics stream buffers. A slow stream might cause you to miss half the live coverage.
- The price of a VPN subscription. Free VPNs carry a range of potential drawbacks, which can include limitations on speed and data. You don’t want to be cut off in the middle of an event. Premium VPN are often your best pick, and they don’t have to be expensive, either. If you don’t want to pay too much for a VPN, there are many good cheap providers out there.
Taking these points into account, we’ve chosen three great VPN providers that are perfect if you want to watch an Olympic Games broadcast online. What’s more, you can use them to unblock other sporting events, whether that’s the European Championship, World Cup, or the Tour de France.
Watch Olympics with NordVPN: stable connections and many servers
NordVPN is a fast VPN with stable connections. With thousands of servers available in around 60 countries worldwide, this popular VPN is excellent for streaming major sporting events such as the Olympics or accessing Netflix from abroad. It also has a user-friendly interface and is good value for money. Due to its great reputation with streaming, we recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for watching the Olympics.
Watch Olympics with ExpressVPN: excellent server network and high quality
ExpressVPN has been our top choice for years for a number of reasons. It’s one of the best VPNs for unblocking sports events like the Olympics. This well-known VPN provider has an excellent server network, with 160 server locations across 94 countries. Compared to other providers, ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive, though you’re guaranteed fast connections.
Watch Olympics with Surfshark: user-friendly and cheap
Surfshark is a fast VPN with a lower price than competitors such as ExpressVPN. Don’t want to pay too much money for a subscription? This VPN is a cheap alternative to other premium VPNs that offer more advanced configuration options (such as, for example, Private Internet Access).
Surfshark is also very user-friendly and has excellent security options. It works with many streaming services and is one of the best VPNs for unblocking Netflix overseas. Besides Netflix, it will also allow you to quickly watch the Olympics without lag or delay.
Can I Watch the Olympics Live With a Free VPN?
We understand the appeal of free VPNs. After all, getting something for nothing is tempting. However, for watching the Olympics online, we don’t recommend using free VPNs. Many free VPNs have data or speed limitations. If your stream freezes to buffer or won’t load at all because you’ve used up your free data, it could seriously impact your fun.
What’s more, if you value your privacy, then choosing a free VPN might not be the best idea. Many free VPNs are not as secure as you might think. Lacking a subscription model for income, some free VPN providers even make money by reselling your data to third parties. Others maintain logs of your browsing activity, which could risk your anonymity online.
Luckily, you can still watch the Olympics without spending too much money. Many premium VPNs offer lengthy money-back guarantees that will allow you to get a free trial. You can read more about the free trials offered by all the VPN mentioned above on this page. If you get your VPN right before the start of the opening ceremony, you’ll be able to watch the full Olympics for free!
Where Can I Watch the Olympics?
Below, you’ll find a list of channels and online streams where you can watch the Summer Games:
| Region | Stream | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Eurosport | In Europe, the broadcasting rights to the Olympic Games belong to Discovery Communications. Discovery broadcasts the sporting event live on their TV channel, Eurosport. The Summer Games can also be viewed online via the Eurosport website. |
| Netherlands | NPO Start | The NOS in The Netherlands has purchased a sublicense from Discovery, and this makes it possible to follow many Dutch athletes closely if you connect to a Dutch VPN server. |
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer | You can watch Olympics online for free with the BBC iPlayer in the UK. Alternatively, connect to a UK VPN server to access the stream from overseas. |
| Australia | 7Plus | In Australia, the Olympics will be live-streamed on 7Plus. Connect to an Australian VPN server. |
| United States | Peacock | In the US, you’ll be able to watch Olympics online with a free trial of Peacock. This website uses geoblocks, so make sure you find a US VPN server. |
| United States | NBC Sports | Besides Peacock, you can also catch the 2020 Olympics on NBC Sports. Make sure to use a US VPN server in this case as well. |
Where do the Olympics Take Place?
Tokyo, Japan, is the host country for the Olympic Games. Japan is a well-known backdrop for the Summer Olympics, with Tokyo having previously hosted the Summer Games in 1964. The country also hosted the Summer Games in 1998 (Nagano) and 1972 (Sapporo). The Winter Olympics were also held in Japan twice before.
Which Sports are Scheduled for the Tokyo Olympics?
Are you curious to know which sports are on the agenda for the Olympic Games? Going back to its origins, the Olympics started with just nine sports. Now, the list of competitions taking place is huge; in total, there will be 339 events taking place. Below you will find a list of all Olympic sports for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games:
- 3×3 Basketball
- Archery
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Artistic Swimming
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Boxing
- Canoe Slalom
- Canoe Sprint
- Cycling BMX Freestyle
- Cycling BMX Racing
- Cycling Mountain Bike
- Cycling Road
- Cycling Track
- Diving
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Football
- Golf
- Handball
- Hockey
- Jody
- Karate
- Marathon Swimming
- Modern Pentathlon
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Rowing
- Rugby Sevens
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Skateboarding
- Sport Climbing
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Trampoline Gymnastics
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
2020 Tokyo Games Schedule (July 23 – August 8 2021)
Here’s a complete schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
| Sport | Discipline | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Aquatics | Swimming Diving Artistic Swimming Marathon Swimming Water Polo |
July 24 – Aug. 1 July 25 – Aug. 7 Aug. 2-7 Aug. 4-5 July 24 – Aug. 8 |
| Archery | N.A. | July 23 – July 31 |
| Athletics | Marathon Track and Field Race Walk |
July 30 – Aug. 8 July 30, Aug. 6-7 |
| Badminton | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 2 |
| Baseball | N.A. | July 28 – Aug. 5, Aug. 7 |
| Basketball | Three-on-three Traditional teams |
July 24-28 July 25 – Aug. 8 |
| Boxing | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 1, Aug. 3-8 |
| Canoe/Kayak | Slalom Sprint |
July 25-30 Aug. 2-7 |
| Cycling | Road Track Mountain Bike BMX Racing BMX Freestyle |
July 24-25, July 28 Aug. 2-8 July 26-29 July 29-30 July 31-Aug. 1 |
| Equestrian | Jumping Eventing Dressage |
Aug. 3, Aug. 6-7 July 30 – Aug. 2 July 24-25, July 27-28 |
| Fencing | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 1 |
| Football | N.A. | July 21 – Aug. 7 |
| Golf | N.A. | July 29 – Aug. 1, Aug. 4-7 |
| Gymnastics | Artistic Trampoline Rhythmic |
July 24-29, Aug. 1-3 July 30-31 Aug. 6-8 |
| Handball | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 8 |
| Hockey | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 6 |
| Judo | N.A. | July 24-31 |
| Karate | N.A. | Aug. 5-7 |
| Pentathalon | N.A. | Aug. 5-7 |
| Rowing | N.A. | July 23-30 |
| Rugby | N.A. | July 26-31 |
| Sailing | N.A. | July 25 – Aug. 4 |
| Shooting | Rifle and pistol Shotgun |
July 24-Aug. 2 July 25-31 |
| Skateboarding | Park Street |
Aug. 4-5 July 25-26 |
| Sport climbing | N.A. | Aug. 3-6 |
| Surfing | N.A. | July 25 – Aug. 1 |
| Table Tennis | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 6 |
| Taekwondo | N.A. | July 24-27 |
| Tennis | N.A. | July 24 – Aug. 1 |
| Triathlon | N.A. | July 26-27, July 31 |
| Volleyball | Beach Court |
July 24 – Aug. 7 July 24 – Aug. 8 |
| Weightlifting | N.A. | July 24-28, July 31 – Aug. 4 |
| Wrestling | N.A. | Aug. 1-7 |
In Conclusion: Watching Olympics Abroad
The Olympic Games is a major sporting event that many enthusiasts around the world will want to follow closely. Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, you’ll have to watch the Olympics online. Due to geographical limitations, it can be difficult to watch the Olympics abroad. Fortunately, there is a simple solution.
With a VPN, you can bypass geographic restrictions and access blocked content. Choose a reliable VPN like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark, and connect to a server that’s located in the same country as your Olympics live stream. This way you can enjoy the Summer Games from anywhere in the world!
Please note that while we provide you with tips on how to watch the Olympics online from overseas, it is your own responsibility to read the user agreement of the streaming service you use. Some streaming services block VPNs, so you should make sure you understand the user agreement before going ahead.
Do you have a question about watching the Olympics abroad? In the FAQ below you’ll find the most frequently asked questions. Click on the question and the answer will appear automatically.
If you’re having trouble trying to watch Olympics online, it’s likely due to a geoblock (geographical restriction). The broadcasting rights of the Olympic Games are divided by country, so visitors outside of a country are normally prevented from accessing online tv channels or streaming services. Luckily, there’s a way to watch your favorite stream of the Olympics anyway: with a VPN. You can read more about this right here.
When you download a VPN, you can access streaming services and tv channels that broadcast the Olympics online. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server that’s located in the same country where the tv channel or live stream is being broadcast. You can find a list of streams and channels in this article.
We recommend NordVPN for watching Olympics online from abroad. This VPN provider offers thousands of servers and fast connections, which is going to be useful for what will be an immensely popular sporting event.
The 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed for a year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the Summer Games are now scheduled from 23 July to 8 August 2021. We recommend downloading a VPN and finding a suitable stream ahead of time so you don’t miss out on any of the action.
