You Can Watch Some Summer Olympics Events in VR

It's not a first in the sports world, but it was announced today that some events at the 2016 Rio Olympic Summer Games will broadcast in virtual reality.

There are a couple of major caveats, however. As GameSpot sister site CNET explains, you will need a Samsung Gear VR headset and a cable or satellite subscription.

The broadcasts will air through the NBC Sports app and you will need to log in with credentials for a pay-TV service to unlock the programming.

In all, there will be 85 hours of programming available during the three-week Olympic run, including the opening and closing ceremonies. As for sporting events in VR, these will include gymnastics, track and field, beach volleyball, diving, boxing, fencing, and men's basketball. There will also be "highlight packages" if you can't or don't want to watch live.

The 2016 Rio Olympic Summer Games begin on August 5 and end on August 21. Gear VR headsets sell for $100, but also require a newer-model Galaxy smartphone.

Sports broadcast in VR is not a new thing. The 2015-2016 NBA season tip-off game between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans was shown in VR last year. This was made possible through a partnership between the NBA, TNT, and NextVR, a company that also broadcast a 2015 Democratic debate in VR with mixed results.

Do you like the sound of watching sports in VR? Let us know in the comments below!