NEW YORK -- An estimated 26.5 million people watched NBCs coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony, a sharp 35 percent drop from the record-setting viewership of the curtain-lifter in London four years ago.The opening ceremony of the London Games was seen by 40.7 million people in the U.S. NBC suggested Saturday that the gap will be narrowed when details about time-shifted viewing and people who streamed Friday nights telecast on mobile devices become available in coming days.To compare linear TV viewership today versus four years ago isnt logical, NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes said.The four-year difference was much kinder to NBC the last time around; the Beijing opening in 2008 reached 34.9 million people, according to the Nielsen company.One of NBCs pre-games fears came true: viewership dropped off after the entrance of the United States team in the Parade of Nations. But because the Portuguese alphabet was used, the U.S. team (Estados Unidos) appeared much earlier in the broadcast than is typical.NBC also front-loaded many of its commercial breaks early in the broadcast so there were fewer during the Parade of Nations. Judging by the harsh social media reaction, that may have backfired. It was a culture shock to binge-watchers and time-shifters who have become accustomed to television without commercials.The ceremony also ran long, and wasnt helped by NBCs decision to air it on tape-delay so it started in prime time. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron wasnt shown until after midnight. A joke by Matt Lauer during the teams entrance had a ring of truth: Are we at Timor-Leste (East Timor) already? he said. Time is flying by.The London Games proved a smash success for NBC. Viewers may simply be less interested in the Olympics from Rio -- and that wont become clear for a few more days.BIKE RIDE: The bicycle race won by Belgian rider Greg van Avermaet was a blast to watch, unfolding over several hours on NBC on Saturday, the kind of experience you cant get in prime time. It was a lesson for announcers Paul Sherwen and Christian Vande Velde to keep in mind that many viewers are new to their sport. The sheer chaos of the mountainous portions of the race, the course clogged with motorbikes, autos and spectators who ran alongside and even touched competitors, seemed shocking. It didnt seem to strike the announcers as unusual, since they didnt mention it.WATER QUALITY: Given all the pre-games publicity about water pollution, it was wise of rowing announcers Leigh Diffey and Mary Whipple to discuss the conditions during a Saturday morning rowing heat, with details about the steps Olympians are doing to protect themselves. Its almost on the back-burner, Whipple said. Its a non-issue so far. Still, its something announcers for all of the water sports should keep bringing up.PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS: The presidential election race intersected with the Olympics for the first time a little past 8 a.m. Saturday, with the first commercial for Democrat Hillary Clinton.REFUGEE: The entrance of the 10-member team of refugees was a highlight of Fridays opening ceremony, so it was important for NBCs Jimmy Roberts to return to the story of these athletes during Saturdays telecast. What a strange and wonderful concept -- running toward something instead of running away, Roberts said. Roberts noted that none of the athletes are medal contenders, but its worth keeping up with their stories as the Olympics go on. Alex Morgan Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. 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BUCHANAN, Mich. -- Ken Roczen won the RedBud National on Saturday for his fifth victory in the first six Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship events of the season, sweeping the 450 Class motos.The RCH Suzuki rider from Germany has won 11 of the first 12 motos this season, and likely would have won all 12 had he not had bike issues while leading at Glen Helen. He has 11 career 450 victories.Weve been doing good work over the whole year, Roczen said. I have to give it up to my team because I went from riding maybe the worst bike Ive had all year, we made some changes (going into the moto), to the best bike Ive had all year (in the second moto). We crushed it in that second moto, and I couldnt be happier right now.Kawasakis Eli Tomac was second in both motos. Suzukis Broc Tickle, from Holly, Michigan, was third overall, finishing fourth in the first moto and third in the second. Red Bull KTM factory star Ryan Dungey missed his third event after cracking a vertebra at Thunder Valley.Roczen leads second--place Tomac by 53 points in the season standings with six events left.ddddddddddddamahas Cooper Webb raced to his second straight 250 Class victory, sweeping the motos to take the points lead. Fellow Yamaha rider Alex Martin was second overall, finishing third in each moto. Husqvarnas Zach Osborne was third, finishing fifth in the first moto and second in the second.Its definitely not easy (to win). The Nationals are not easy, Webb said. It got rough in that second moto. We all had good starts, so I figured it was going to be a battle, and it was. Everyone was riding well and I knew theyd be right there. Were all going fast and everyone wants to win, so its not like youre going to dominate. Luckily, I was able to get it done today.Webb leads Kawasakis Joey Savatgy by 11 points. Savatgy was seventh overall Saturday. He was second in the first moto and 16th in the second. ' ' '