MAY 15, 2013 – New York and Kearns, Utah – US Speedskating, in collaboration with the United States Olympic Committee, announced today that for the first time ever the 2014 U.S. Speedskating Olympic Trials will air on both network and cable television with 13 hours of coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network. The Olympic Trials will select the 2014 U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team, which will represent Team USA in Sochi, Russia.

“US Speedskating is the most decorated Olympic winter sport in the United States with more than 85 Olympic medals. Having our 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials televised on NBC and NBC Sports Network are outstanding platforms on which to showcase the team we’ll be sending to compete at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia,” said US Speedskating President Mike Plant.

NBC Sports Group will provide 13 hours of coverage over the 11-day event. The U.S. Olympic Trials for long track speedskating will be held from Dec. 27, 2013, through Jan. 1, 2014, followed by the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for short track speedskating, which will take place Jan. 2-5, 2014. Both events will be held at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Utah. The full 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Speedskating will be released at a later date.

“We are excited to present the speedskating Olympic Trials for the first time,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Our extensive coverage gives fans a head start to follow the U.S. Olympians as they prepare for Sochi 2014.“

A total of 30 athletes will be named to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team, with skaters securing a coveted spot on nearly every telecast.

The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be held Feb. 6-23 in Sochi, Russia. Speedskating events will be held in the coastal cluster – located at the center of the Olympic Park – with short track events taking place at the Iceberg Skating Palace and long track events being contested at Adler Arena.

About US Speedskating

US Speedskating is a non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speedskating in the United States. Its mission is to be one of the premier speedskating organizations in the world through excellence in leadership, development and performance. To date, US Speedskating has won 85 Olympic medals, making it the most successful winter sport in the U.S. In addition to its elite programs, US Speedskating is responsible for the grassroots development of speedskating.

About NBC Olympics

A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history.

Having produced every Summer Olympics since Seoul in 1988 and every Winter Olympics since Salt Lake City in 2002, the networks of NBCUniversal are synonymous with the Games in the United States. In 2011, NBCUniversal acquired the U.S. media rights on all platforms to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and the 2020 Summer Olympics. At the conclusion of the 2020 Games, NBCUniversal will have presented 17 total Olympic Games and 11 consecutive, the most for a U.S. media company in both categories.

NBC has won an unprecedented 93 Emmy Awards for its Olympics coverage, as well as a prestigious Peabody Award for its presentation of the Beijing Opening Ceremony in 2008, which USA Today said was “the best overall Olympic experience ever provided by a U.S. network.”

In addition to its unsurpassed heritage and award-winning production, NBCUniversal is known for aggregating large Olympic audiences, as nine of the top 11 most-watched U.S. television events of all time are Olympic Games presented across the networks of NBCUniversal. The 2012 London Olympics rank No. 1 with over 217 million viewers.

For more information on NBC Olympics’ coverage of the London Olympics, please visit: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/

Olympic Medalists Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Evan Lysacek and many more perform

World Famous Cast Has Collectively Won 16 Olympic Medals

NEW YORK – December 22, 2010 – Some of the best figure skaters in U.S. history gather together to perform this Saturday, Christmas Day, at 4 p.m. ET for the “The Caesars Tribute: A Salute to the Golden Age of American Skating” from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. There are 16 Olympic medals between the cast members, nine of which are gold medals. The show is a part of the Pandora NBC Skating Series, produced by Disson Skating in conjunction with NBC.

The cast includes Olympic gold medalists Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Evan Lysacek, Sarah Hughes and Tenley Albright and Olympic silver medalists Nancy Kerrigan (and Olympic bronze in 1992), Sasha Cohen, Paul Wylie, Rosalynn Sumners and pairs skaters Kitty and Peter Carruthers; and Olympic bronze medalist Debi Thomas along with several U.S. National and World champions.

Providing the music for the show is the rock folk band America, a musical sensation during 1972, scoring No.1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist. America’s hits include “A Horse with No Name”, “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway”, “Tin Man“, “Daisy Jane”, and “Lonely People”.

Below is a list of the full cast:

Female Skaters:

Tenley Albright – Olympic Gold Medalist (1956), 2-time World Champion (1953 and 1955), & 5-time US Champion (1952–1956)

Sasha Cohen – Olympic Silver Medalist (2006) & US Champion (2006)

Caryn Kadavy – World Bronze Medalist (1987) & US National Silver Medalist (1986)

Peggy Fleming – Olympic Gold Medalist (1968), 3-time World Champion (1966-1968), & 5-time US Champion (1964-1968)

Sarah Hughes – Olympic Gold Medalist (2002)

Nancy Kerrigan – Olympic Silver (1994) and Bronze (1992) Medalist & US Champion (1993)

Kimmie Meissner – World Champion (2006) & US Champion (2007)

Rosalynn Sumners – World Champion (1983), Olympic Silver Medalist (1984), & 3-time US Champion (1982-1984)

Debi Thomas – World Champion (1986), Olympic Bronze Medalist (1988), & 2-time US Champion (1986 & 1988)

Kristi Yamaguchi – Olympic Gold Medalist (1992), 2-time World Champion (1991 and 1992), & US Champion (1992) (Singles Career)

Male Skaters:

Brian Boitano – Olympic Gold Medalist (1988), 2-time World Champion (1986 and 1988), & 4-time US Champion (1985-1988)

Dick Button – 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist (1948 and 1952), 5-time World Champion (1948-1952), & 7-time US Champion (1946-1952)

Richard Dwyer – Popular ice skating show star from Ice Capades and Ice Follies known as “Mr Debonair”

Todd Eldredge – World Champion (1996) & 6-time US Champion (1990-1991, 1995, 1997-1998, and 2002)

Rudy Galindo – World Bronze Medalist (1996) & US Champion (1996)

Scott Hamilton – Olympic Gold Medalist (1984), 4-time World Champion (1981-1984), & 4-time US Champion (1981-1984)

Evan Lysacek – Olympic Gold Medalist (2010), World Champion (2009), & 2-time US Champion (2007 and 2008)

Michael Weiss – 3-time US Champion (1999-2000, 2003) and 2-time Olympian (1998 and 2002)

Paul Wylie – Olympic Silver Medalist (1992) & 3-time US Silver Medalist (1988, 1990, and 1992)

Pair Skaters:

Tai Babiliona & Randy Gardner – World Champions (1979) & 5-time US Champions (1976-1980)

Kitty & Peter Carruthers - Olympic Silver Medalist (1984) & 4-time US Champions (1981-1984)

Jenni Meno & Todd Sand – 3-time US Champions (1994-1996)

JoJo Starbuck & Ken Shelley – 3-time US Champions (1970-1972)

Carla Urbanski & Rocky Marvel – 2-time US Champions (1992-1993)

Dance Pairs:

Naomi Lang & Peter Tchernyshev – 5-time US Champions (1999-2003)

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBERS LYSACEK, WEIR, NAGASU, BELBIN & AGOSTO THIS SUNDAY IN SKATE FOR THE HEART ON NBC

Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn White Featured In World of Adventures Sports

NEW YORK- Jan. 28, 2010 – NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the Silk Soy Milk Skate for the Heart this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET from the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

This event is packed with skating powerhouses and current U.S. Olympic Team members including 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, three-time National Champion Johnny Weir and current U.S. silver medalist and 2008 National Champion Mirai Nagasu.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks headlines an evening of contemporary music with Olympic and world-class skaters in a show that provides awareness for the prevention of heart disease. Also providing music is 16-year-old singing sensation Charice Pempengco and pop groups Honor Society and KSM.

WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS, SATURDAY, 2 PM ET
The new season of the World of Adventure Sports will kick off this Saturday on NBC Sports with Red Bull Project X, one of the most progressive snowboard sessions in history. In preparation for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Olympic gold medalist Shaun White teamed up with Red Bull to create a private halfpipe nestled in the backcountry of Silverton Mountain, Colo. It was there that Shaun would create a series of new tricks that would change the sport forever.

Pat Parnell hosts.

PBR, SATURDAY, 4:30 PM ET
NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the Professional Bull Riders’ Tecate Light Invitational on Saturday from Anaheim, Calif. The event will feature experienced riders including reigning World Champion Kody Lostroh (Longmont,Colo.), Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil), LJ Jenkins (Texico, N.M.), and Josh Koschel (Greely, Colo.).

NBC’s Craig Hummer, Justin McKee, Ty Murray, Donna Brothers and Justin McBride call the action.

INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, SUNDAY, 3 PM ET
NBC Sports will present a one-hour broadcast of the International Auto Show this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The show will give you a look at some of the most intriguing new vehicles that were on display at the NAIAS 2010 in Detroit. Coverage features the finest production and concept vehicles with a focus on smaller fuel efficient vehicles and automotive design, as well as technical advancements for vehicles of the future.

NBC Sports Commentators Bill Weber, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, and Phil LeBeau will give you a close up look at some of the world’s most incredible vehicles.

LADIES TAKE THE ICE IN HOPES OF MAKING THE OLYMPIC TEAM AS NBC SPORTS AND UNIVERSAL SPORTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE AT&T U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUES

Expanded Live Coverage of the Ladies Free Skate Begins Tonight on Universal Sports

“She looks great, like no time has passed.” – NBC’s Hamilton on Sasha Cohen

NEW YORK – January 21, 2010 - The remainder of U.S. Olympic figure skating team (ladies and dance) will be determined this weekend as NBC Sports and Universal Sports present live coverage of the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, including live primetime coverage of the Ladies Free Skate on Saturday on NBC and expanded live coverage of the Ladies Short Program tonight on Universal Sports.

Coverage on NBC Sports includes the Ladies Free Skate live on Saturday in primetime (9-11 p.m. ET/PT).  Earlier in the day, NBC Sports will have live coverage of the Free Dance and taped coverage of the Ladies Short Program (3-6 p.m. ET).  Universal Sports’ coverage begins tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET with live coverage of the Ladies short program.  *Coverage on Universal Sports is expanded to four hours tonight from the two hours that was announced previously.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held annually since 1914, is the nation’s most prestigious figure skating event, and this year’s event will go a long way in determining the U.S. team for Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, which begin Feb. 12 on NBC.

Coverage this weekend will also include the official announcement of the U.S. Olympic team on Sunday in primetime (9-11 p.m. ET/PT) along with the Exhibition of Champions and a full recap of the competition on Sunday (4-6 p.m. ET).

Event host Bob Costas and legendary figure skater and announcer Dick Button host NBC Sports’ coverage from Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash.  NBC’s Olympic figure skating broadcast team of Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Scott Hamilton (analyst), Sandra Bezic (analyst), and Andrea Joyce (reporter) will call the action for both NBC and Universal Sports.

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS:
- Saturday, 3-6 p.m. ET – Free Dance (Live), Ladies Short
- Saturday, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT – Ladies Free Skate (Live)
- Sunday, 4-6 p.m. ET – Recap of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
- Sunday, 9-11 p.m. ET/PT – Exhibition of Champions and announcement of U.S. Olympic Team

UNIVERSAL SPORTS COVERAGE:
- Tonight, 10:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m. ET – Ladies Short (Live)
- Tomorrow, 11 p.m. – 12 midnight ET – Original Dance (Live)
- Saturday, 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. ET – Ladies Short and Free Dance (Re-Air of NBC Show)
- Sunday, 2-4 a.m. ET (late Saturday night) – Ladies Free Skate (Re-Air NBC Show)

COMPETITION PREVIEW:
LADIES: Two Olympic berths are at stake. 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen makes her much anticipated return to competitive skating in Spokane.  She made her last competitive appearance at the 2006 World Championships in Calgary.  Competing against Cohen for a berth on the U.S. Olympic team is two-time defending U.S. silver medalist Rachel Flatt.  Flatt, the 2008 World Junior Champion, and Japan’s Miki Ando are the only ladies who have beaten world champion Kim Yu-Na in a competition segment this season (no one has beaten her overall). Flatt defeated Kim in the free skate at Skate America in November.  Other competition for the Olympic spots will come from defending U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, defending U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang and 2008 U.S. champion Mirai Nagasu.  2007 U.S. silver medalist Emily Hughes makes her first appearance at nationals since 2007; she missed the past two years due to injuries. She is on a one-year break from Harvard, hoping to qualify for her second Olympics. Hughes is the younger sister of 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes.

NBC’S SCOTT HAMILTON BREAKS DOWN LADIES COMPETITION AFTER WATCHING PRACTICE YESTERDAY:

On Sasha Cohen: “She looks great, like no time has passed.  Some things actually look better than they did four years ago.  A lot of the people that she’s competing against have had four years to kind of up their game and get used to competing under this system, and one thing that might hold her back is the fact that she hasn’t been on competitive ice, but she looked really comfortable.  She was very happy and practiced well.  She’ll be in the mix throughout.”

On the Ladies Competition: “It’s going to be an exciting competition and there is no sure thing.  There are a lot of women this year that can rise to the challenge and with two good performances could accumulate enough points to win this thing.  You look at Alissa (Czisny), the defending champion, who’s skating very well here.  You can look at Rachael Flatt who’s turned in performance after performance and seems to be consistent enough to skate well under that kind of pressure.  Then you have to look at Ashley Wagner who has been coming on strong and then the champion of two years ago, Mirai Nagasu, who looks really good, really calm.  The U.S. has only two spots on the women’s team and we have more ladies than that poised and in shape and ready to try to claim one of those two spots.”

DANCE: Three Olympic berths are at stake. Five-time U.S. champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto compete for their sixth U.S. title; a win would give them the record for most U.S. dance titles. Belbin and Agosto are already the most successful U.S. dance team in history, with four world medals, three Four Continents titles, and an Olympic silver medal from Torino.  Their main competition will come from 2009 U.S. champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who are fresh off a win at the Grand Prix Final, the first-ever by an American team.  Davis & White have never defeated Belbin & Agosto in competition.  They won at Nationals last year when Belbin and Agosto did not compete.  Also competing for one of the three Olympic spots are are two-time U.S. bronze medalists Kimberly Navarro & Brent Bommentre, defending U.S. silver medalists Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates and 2009 world junior champions Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein, who will make their senior debut in Spokane.

HAMILTON ON DANCE COMPETITION: “The U.S. has never been this well represented in a dance event going into Olympics as we are this year. Tanith and Ben and Meryl and Charlie are two of the best dance teams in the world, so they’re going at it nose to nose competing for the National Title because that would give them momentum into the Olympics.  It’s going to be interesting to see who wins there because Charlie and Meryl have been on the rise like crazy, but Tanith and Ben won a medal last Olympics and they’ve been dominant on the international stage.”

NBC SPORTS AND U.S. FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION: NBC Sports and U.S. Figure Skating are in the third year of a multiyear partnership under which NBC will broadcast live high-definition coverage of the AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, including Saturday night primetime coverage of the ladies free skate, as well as Skate America. The deal between NBC and the USFSA was extended last year and continues through the 2014 U.S. Championships