TV IN HIGH HEELS: OYLMPIC CHANNEL NEWS
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 13, 2017 – Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA — a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal — launches in just two days – Saturday, July 15.
Following are quotes from U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Ted Ligety, Nathan Adrian, Tatyana McFadden, and J.R. Celski, as well as USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel and USA Archery CEO Denise Parker, discussing the impact of the new Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA TV network.
Ted Ligety, two-time Olympic gold medalist in alpine skiing: “The launch of the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is great for the growth of our sport in America, specifically in this big Olympic year. It will bring a lot more eyes to our sport, athletes and our stories.”
Nathan Adrian, eight-time Olympic medalist in swimming: “For athletes who dream of competing in the Olympic Games, training and preparing is a full-time commitment, and we don’t slow down in the years between the Games. The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will give fans more and better opportunities to watch Olympic Sports, and that helps build interest in the competitions, the sports, and the stories of the athletes.”
Tatyana McFadden, 17-time Paralympic medalist in track and field and cross-country skiing: “The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will help deliver more Paralympic sport than ever before – starting with the World Para Athletics Championships from London this week. The attention on Paralympic athletes and our stories will be great for fans everywhere watching now, and for the future growth of Paralympic sport.”
J.R. Celski, three-time Olympic medalist in short track speed skating: “The start of the Olympic Channel is great for all sports and their fan bases. This new channel will provide speed skating and sports within the Olympic Movement a chance to be seen year-round, and will enable everyone an unprecedented access to their favorite sports.”
Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track and Field: “Sports like track and field thrive on the elite and professional levels every year. With robust offerings, including documentaries and archival footage, the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will help bring the personalities and stories of our sport to the public each year of the Olympic cycle. Together with USATF’s annual event coverage on NBC and its networks, the Olympic Channel is a critical part of providing 360-degree programming for track and field and all Olympic Sports.”
Denise Parker, CEO of USA Archery: “The Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will provide expanded coverage critical to the promotion and growth of all of the sport disciplines within the Olympic movement. USA Archery is excited to be a part of this project and to increase the fan base for archery, and in turn, for the USOC and IOC. With increased exposure for often untelevised sports, people will be better able to see the full scope of the Olympics and share the incredible stories of all of Team USA athletes.”
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OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA LAUNCH SPECIAL – SATURDAY, JULY 15, AT 6 A.M. ET
Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA Launch Special, a 30-minute program hosted by NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, will include a Team USA athlete roundtable with Olympic medalists Shaun White, Kelly Clark and Gus Kenworthy, moderated by Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski; and preview the FINA World Aquatics Championships and IAAF World Track & Field Championships, which will supply significant programming during the network’s first few weeks. Click here for more details on the special.
ABOUT OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA
Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. The new TV network will offer fans year-round programming of Olympic Sports from around the world, highlighting their favorite American athletes and teams. Programming will emphasize live events from a broad portfolio of summer and winter Olympic Sports. It will also include Olympic-themed original content produced by all three parties, such as original programs produced by filmmakers from around the world commissioned by the global Olympic Channel; rich archival footage from the IOC and NBCU’s libraries of Olympic features and documentaries; and original Team USA programming produced by the USOC that provides authentic, wide-ranging and athlete-focused coverage of the Olympic Movement in the United States. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will be live streamed on OlympicChannel.com, the Olympic Channel app, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. Select replays and highlights will be available on these digital platforms as well as TeamUSA.org.
