FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, July 24th, 2021
TOKYO OLYMPICS – JULY 24 PRIMETIME HIGHLIGHTS ON NBC
“My heart is about to pop out of my chest right now, I am so stoked. I remember that feeling…What a great way to start.” – Michael Phelps after Americans Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland Won Gold and Silver
“He’s used to putting medals around his neck at the Olympics – now he’s putting headsets over his ears.” – Mike Tirico on Phelps making his debut as an NBC Olympics swimming analyst
“These are the moments that you are going to remember…to have this moment with your Olympic teammates, you will create a bond with them for the rest of your life.” – Nastia Liukin on Team USA Qualifying for the Men’s Gymnastics Team Final
Simone Biles Leads Team USA in Gymnastics Qualifier NEXT Live at 2 a.m. ET/11 p.m. PT on Peacock
Sunday’s Competition Headlined by Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel in the Pool; Team USA Men’s Basketball Faces France Live at 8 a.m. ET on Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 24, 2021 – NBC Olympics began its primetime coverage of the Tokyo Olympics tonight on NBC. Mike Tirico serves as NBC Olympics primetime host and opened coverage on NBC.
Highlights of upcoming coverage include:
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- Simone Biles leads Team USA in gymnastics qualifiers NEXT at 2 a.m. ET/11 p.m. PT live on Peacock;
- In the pool tomorrow, five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky (400m freestyle) and two-time Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel (4x100m freestyle relay) will begin competition live in primetime on NBC, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET;
- Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green and Team USA men’s basketball play their first game of the Tokyo Olympics when they face Rudy Gobert and France live Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on Peacock.
Following are highlights from tonight’s primetime coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on the networks of NBCUniversal:
Tirico on the Tokyo Olympics primetime show on NBC: “The good news with the time difference – we’re going to show you a lot of live action back home and also give you the best of everything going on here. Our goal in primetime these next couple of weeks is pretty simple – we want to show you at least a glimpse of all 41 sports on this Olympic program.”
SWIMMING – NBC
Tirico on Michael Phelps joining the NBC Olympics broadcast team as an analyst: “He’s used to putting medals around his neck at the Olympics – now he’s putting headsets over his ears.”
Phelps on calling select swimming events in Tokyo: “There are a lot of emotions…I’m like a kid in a candy store, so being here I’m super excited…I can’t even talk. Just excited.”
Dan Hicks: “Could not really be a better start for the U.S. team.”
Tirico: “The United States had no medals and, in an hour, went from zero to five with the success in the pool.”
Hicks to Phelps as Americans Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland won gold and silver in the men’s 400m individual medley: “Well, Michael, you’ve seen this movie before. The United States going 1-2 in the 400 IM.”
Phelps: “My heart is about to pop out of my chest right now, I am so stoked. That is insane. I remember that feeling… this is awesome, guys. What a great way to start the first final for Team USA.”
Hicks on Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia winning gold in the men’s 400m freestyle: “Certainly one of the biggest upsets we have seen in this event through the years…he’s only the second swimmer from Tunisia to make an Olympic final.”
Hafnaoui to Michele Tafoya: “I just can’t believe it…it’s a dream that became true.”
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GYMNASTICS – NBC
Sam Mikulak to Team USA after qualifying for the men’s team final: “I’ve never had this much fun on the Olympic stage before in my life. Thank you all for just being the greatest teammates out there. You came out here like champions. First timers, you guys are bringing tears to my eyes…We have a lot more to do, so proud of every single one of you. This was just the moment of a lifetime for me and I’m so glad to share it with you all.”
Play-by-play commentator Terry Gannon: “There is one advantage to not having fans – the only advantage – we can listen in to the postgame huddle.”
Analyst Nastia Liukin: “These are the moments that you are going to remember. Regardless of what happens in the team finals, to be able to have this moment with your Olympic teammates, you will create a bond with them for the rest of your life.”
Liukin on Team USA’s floor routine performance: “It’s about really turning that page mentally, being able to move on and start fresh on the next event, and they did absolutely that…They’re having an Olympic day here.”
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SKATEBOARDING – NBC
Tony Hawk on why skateboarding’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics is important: “Mostly the international recognition, because it’s going to be exposed to new countries that maybe have never embraced skateboarding. Hopefully they will choose to embrace it themselves and build parks.”
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BEACH VOLLEYBALL – NBC
Analyst Kevin Wong on the dynamic between April Ross and Alix Klineman: “A lot of times we see the greatest successes coming from diverse personalities…Most times you would enter a partnership with someone like April Ross, who’s done it all, and defer. Klineman hasn’t and I think that’s what April saw – someone who can stand on her own two feet.”
Wong following Ross/Klineman’s win vs. China: “Everything you would want from a first match. You got some of the jitters out, you got to deal with some of the heat, and you had a really good test from a team playing at a high level.”
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ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS
A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games. NBC Olympics is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. NBCUniversal owns the U.S. media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. NBC Olympics also produces thousands of hours of Olympic sports programming throughout the year, which is presented on NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms.
— NBC OLYMPICS —
