Olympics: Adams' shot put final scheduled for TV-friendly time

Valerie Adams celebrates after winning gold in the women's shot put at the Commonwealth Games. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand fans will be able to take in shot putter Valerie Adams' attempt for a third straight Olympic gold medal at a TV-friendly time on the opening day of the athletics program in 2016.

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games event schedule tailored to suit US television needs, at least one gold medal in athletics will be at stake during every morning session and broadcast overnight in New Zealand.

There were fears Kiwi fans would be forced to rise during the night to catch Adams' final on the opening day of the Athletics schedule, but instead the evening event will be televised at 1pm on Saturday, August 13.

The women's 10,000 metres will be the first morning final that day, meaning a 2.10am viewing time in New Zealand, however the men's and women's 100-metre finals will still be at night.

The marquee women's race is scheduled for August 14, with the men a day later.

Fellow Kiwi shot putter Tom Walsh's final is scheduled for a morning session on Thursday, August 18, meaning New Zealand viewers will see him in action at 11.30pm.

The IAAF says "having finals in the morning will also ensure that we receive maximum visibility for athletics at the Olympic Games across all time zones."

There are 13 morning finals on the schedule, with at least one final in all nine morning sessions. There will be 34 medal events in the evening sessions.