FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, February 22nd, 2014
2014 SOCHI WINTER GAMES – FEB. 22 NBC PRIMETIME HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday in Primetime: Nancy & Tonya Debuts at 7/6c on NBC, Prior to the Closing Ceremony
Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Final Featuring Canada vs. Sweden LIVE IN ALL TIME ZONES; Coverage Begins at 6:30 a.m. ET/3:30 a.m. PT on NBC
Two-Time Bobsled Medalist Steven Holcomb in Four-Man Gold Medal Final in NBC’s 2/1c on NBC
All Events Live Streamed on NBCOlympics.com and NBC Sports Live Extra Mobile & Tablet App
Stamford, Conn. – February 22, 2014 – Highlights of Sunday’s coverage of the XXII Olympic Winter Games:
- NBC’s primetime presentation – which begins 7/6c tomorrow – is highlighted by the special documentary Nancy & Tonya, in which Mary Carillo looks back at the events surrounding the ladies’ figure skating competition at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games, featuring an exclusive sit-down with Nancy Kerrigan and a one-on-one interview with Tonya Harding. For more information, click here.
- Immediately following Nancy & Tonya, NBC presents coverage of the Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games beginning at 8:30/7:30c. Hosted by Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Vladimir Pozner, the Closing Ceremony will include the parade of flags and athletes from countries participating in the Sochi Games. The Olympic flag will be turned over to Pyeongchang, South Korea, host of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and the Closing Ceremony culminates with the extinguishment of the Olympic flame.
- NBC’s coverage on Sunday is highlighted by the men’s hockey gold medal final, featuring Canada vs. Sweden, live in all time zones with coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET/3:30 a.m. PT. In a battle between the past two Olympic champions, Canada and star Sidney Crosby look to defend their 2010 gold medal against Sweden, the 2006 Olympic champion, with New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. An encore presentation of the game will be available for MT/PT time zones at 9:30 a.m. MT/10:30 a.m. PT. Click here for full listings information.
- NBC’s daytime coverage, 2 p.m. ET & PT/1 p.m. CT & MT, also features the four-man bobsled, where Steven Holcomb, who led Team USA to gold in the four-man bobsled in 2010, takes his final runs the event, and the 50km freestyle gold medal final in men’s cross-country. NBCSN will present live coverage of the four-man bobsled final at 10 a.m. ET.
Following are highlights from the penultimate day of NBC’s coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi:
IOC President Thomas Bach to Bob Costas on the Sochi Games: “What pleased me most about these games is that the athletes are extremely happy. They are happy with the sports facilities, happy with the Olympic villages, and extremely happy with the proximity of the Olympic villages to the sports venues, so whenever you talk to an athlete you look into a happy face. This is the best feeling you can have as an IOC president.”
Bach to Costas on logistical issues leading into Sochi Games: “There were some hiccups just before the beginning of the games…I am traveling a lot, so I can understand the feeling when you arrive after a long journey, and your hotel room is not ready…but, these problems have been addressed…now I think everything is fine, and the games are going very smoothly.”
Bach to Costas on political issues in Russia, with respect to the Olympic Games: “The mission of the Olympic games and the IOC is a different one – to show with the games, and to show with the athletes competing with each other, by living together under one roof, without any kind of discrimination, to give an example to the world that a peaceful society is possible. People can compete with each other and live together at the same time in a peaceful way with tolerance, respect and without any kid of discrimination…with this, we are sending a message to the society of the host country, and we are sending a message to the world.”
Bach on possibility of 2024 Olympic Games being held in the United States: “We want to promote the Olympic sports in the United States. In recent years, the USOC has made great progress in its international approach…I think a bid from the United States would be very much appreciated.”
Additional content from Bob Costas’ interview with Thomas Bach is featured on tonight’s NBC Late Night Olympics telecast at midnight ET, and on NBCOlympics.com.
Tara Lipinski on Gracie Gold: “I’ve never seen a skater improve so quickly in one season. The beginning of the season, no one was talking about her…all of a sudden, she becomes America’s sweetheart going into Sochi – her future looks bright.”
Lipinski on Yuna Kim: “She will always be Queen Yuna. Nothing has changed. She has an Olympic silver medal, and she will always be an Olympic champion…she’s made her mark.”
Todd Brooker on Ted Ligety, unable to finish his second slalom run: “Mentally, that was over after the first mistake…that points to the course…there’s a lot of weird combinations…the snow conditions on this steep hill are making it tough…so many mistakes right out of the start…this is something that finally got him so mad, he just couldn’t continue on.”
Brooker on difficulty of the slalom course: “This is absolutely unbelievable. There is going to be a lot said about this course set…I have never seen anything like this, particularly in an Olympic course. This is unbelievable. Generally, a second run course is open, allowing skiers to catch up, take risks, make up time. This one was designed to challenge the skiers, make them think…but it’s got them all scratching their heads. ”
Dan Jansen on the Dutch speed skating team, which earned 23 medals, including eight gold medals, during the Sochi Games: “The Dutch team performed like no one in history before them, and quite possibly, no one to follow.”
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