Weekend Programming Includes World of Adventure Sports & Diamond League Track & Field

NEW YORK – Aug 26, 2010 – NBC Sports presents coverage of the 110^th U.S. Amateur Championship this Saturday and Sunday, 4-6 p.m. ET, from Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in the country, just one day older than the U.S. Open.

This is the 15^th consecutive year that NBC Sports has broadcast the event. NBC Sports’ golf commentators Dan Hicks, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie and Dottie Pepper will call the action.

The event features the best amateur golfers competing in a match play format. Some of the game’s all-time greats are among the past winners including Tiger Woods, who won three years in a row (1994-96), Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson.

WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS, SATURDAY, 3 PM ET

NBC Sports presents coverage of the Emmy Award Winning World of Adventure Sports this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. Host Pat Parnell brings viewers the fifth episode of the 2010 season from the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif. There’s no surf stadium like the Huntington Beach Pier and it remains the Headliner at the US Open, with five separate events, 300-plus competitors and more than $300,000 in prize money on the table.

Also in this episode, professional racer Rhys Millen attempted to beat the current “Unlimited Class” World Record at the 88th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the “Race to the Clouds.” For 10 years, it has been Rhys’s dream to break the 10-minute barrier and this year he hoped to capture the elusive record.

WOAS heads to Chicago where the top riders in BMX compete for over $50,000 in prize money at the Red Bull Stomping Ground, where an abandoned lot is converted into the ultimate dirt playground designed by BMX legend Fuzzy Hall.

Lastly, WOAS takes an inside look at athletes and adventures featured in “Uniquely.” “Uniquely”is a six-section travel-inspired women’s multi–sport (snowboard, ski, surf, skate, wake) film that exposes the “unique” personalities and lifestyles of the athletes involved as they pass the baton, or camera, from one location to the next.

DIAMOND LEAGUE TRACK & FIELD, SUNDAY, 3 PM ET

NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the Diamond League Track and Field this Sunday from Brussels, Belgium.

The Belgacom Memorial Van Damme is the second of two finals – where Diamond Race trophies accompanied by a prize of $40,000 will be awarded to the winners of 16 disciplines – and the 14th and last meeting of the inaugural series of the Samsung Diamond League.

Scheduled to compete among many of the world’s top track athletes are 2008 Beijing Olympians representing the USA: Tyson Gay, Allyson Felix and Lolo Jones. Paul Sunderland, Ato Boldon, Lewis Johnson, and Dwight Stones will provide commentary.

NEW YORK- June 24, 2010- NBC Sports presents live coverage of the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships this Saturday and Sunday from 3-4 p.m. ET from Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. This meet marks the third event of the 2010 USATF Outdoor Championship Series and will showcase the country’s best professional track and field athletes competing for national honors.

Coverage Saturday begins at 3 p.m. ET and will feature the following events: 400m hurdles (men’s and women’s), 1500m (women’s), 400m (men’s and women’s), and 100m hurdles (women’s). Sunday’s coverage, also beginning at 3 p.m. ET, will highlight the 800m (men’s), 400m hurdles (women’s), 200m (men’s and women’s), 1500m (men’s), 110m hurdles (men’s), long jump (men’s), and the pole vault (women’s). Commentary will be provided by NBC’s Olympic Track and Field broadcast team of Tom Hammond, Ato Boldon, Lewis Johnson and Dwight Stones.

Highlighting the men’s competition is 2004 Olympic gold medalist and reigning national champion Shawn Crawford who will compete in the 200m event and will face two-time World Outdoor bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon. Among the competitors in the men’s 400m is 2004 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Neville and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Kerron Clement. David Payne, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist, will compete in the 110m hurdles event and will be up against 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver. The 400m hurdles competition will showcase 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Bershawn “Batman” Jackson.

Headlining the women’s competition is two-time Olympic gold medalist (2004,2008) Sanya Richards, who will looks to reclaim her title for the sixth time in the 400m run. Des Moines native and two-time World Indoor champion Lolo Jones will join the competition in the 100m hurdles and competing in the pole vault event is 2008 Olympic silver medalist Jenn Suhr.

NEW YORK – August 13, 2009 – The fastest athletes in the world, including Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica and reigning world champions Tyson Gay, Bernard Lagat and Allyson Felix of the U.S., headline NBC Sports’ live coverage of the World Track & Field Championships from Berlin over the next two weekends.

TEAM USA: The 2009 Team USA squad consists of 20 Olympic medalists, 28 World Outdoor Championship medalists and 10 American record holders. The reigning World champions on Team USA competing in Berlin includes Gay, Lagat, Felix, Jeremy Wariner, Kerron Clement, Michelle Perry, Reese Hoffa and Brad Walker.

Over the past 11 World Track and Field Championships, Team USA has won a total of 228 medals, including 110 gold. Russia places second during that span with 122 total medals (33 gold).

COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC Sports will air eight hours of competition over two weekends beginning this Saturday from 1-3 p.m. ET (LIVE), continuing this Sunday from 2-4 p.m. ET (LIVE), August 22 from 1-3 p.m. ET (LIVE) and concluding August 23 from 2–4 p.m. ET (Same Day Tape). Coverage highlights include:

This Saturday: Men’s 100m Quarterfinals
Women’s 10,000m Final
Men’s Shot Put Final
This Sunday: Men’s 100m Final
Women’s Shot Put Final
Women’s 400m Semifinal
Saturday, Aug. 22: Men’s 4x100m Relay Final
Women’s 4x100m Relay Final
Women’s 5,000m Final
Men’s Long Jump Final
Men’s Pole Vault Final
Women’s Hammer Throw Final
Men’s Marathon
Sunday, Aug. 23 Men’s 4x400m Relay Final
Women’s 4x400m Relay Final
Men’s 800m Final
Women’s 1,500m Final
Woman’s Marathon
Women’s Long Jump Final
Men’s Javelin Final

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: UniversalSports.com will provide a live webcast of the morning and evening sessions from Berlin each day of the Championships, from August 15 – 23. UniversalSports.com’s Alan Abrahamson will provide daily blog posts and news updates from Berlin. The full webcast schedule, highlights, full-length videos, photos, breaking news and more is available at UniversalSports.com/trackandfield.

TEAM USA RETURNS TO BERLIN: These World Championships marks the first time that the USA Track and Field team will return to Berlin for a major international competition since the 1936 Olympic Games where Jesse Owens won four gold medals.

ANNOUNCERS: Calling the action from Berlin is NBC Sports Olympic Track and Field broadcast team of: Tom Hammond, Ato Bolden, Lewis Johnson, Dwight Stones and Bob Neumeier.

NEW YORK- June 25, 2009-NBC Sports presents live coverage of the U.S. Track and Field Championships, this Sunday from 4-6 p.m. ET from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The event will feature the best professional track and field athletes competing for spots on the Team USA roster for the 2009 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, August 15-23 on NBC from Berlin, Germany.

After a stunning sweep at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 400m men’s hurdlers Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson will look to take gold, silver and bronze once again, this time in Eugene. Headlining the men’s middle long distance is reigning world 1,500m & 5,000m champion Bernard Lagat (Kenya). Also, competing this weekend in the men’s championship is 100m double world champion Tyson Gay; 2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor long jump champion Dwight Phillips; 2008 Olympic Trials high jump champion Jesse Williams; and reigning World Outdoor champion and the 2006 World Indoor Championships gold medalist pole vaulter Brad Walker.

Headlining the women’s competition in the 100m and 200m are two-time Olympic silver medalist and World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix and two-time World Outdoor 100m medalist Lauryn Williams. Competing in the women’s 100m hurdles are 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper and fellow Olympians Lolo Jones and Damu Cherry. Cherry currently has the fastest time by an American this year and Harper is coming off wins in Jamaica and at the Adidas Track Classic. Also competing this weekend in the women’s championship is three-time USA Outdoor and 2008 Visa Outdoor pole vault champion Jenn Stuczynski, who is looking to win her fourth consecutive USA Outdoor title and the top three finishers from the 2008 Olympic trials in triple jump: two-time Olympic Trials runner-up Shakeema Welsch, three-time USA Outdoor champion and two-time USA Indoor champion Shani Marks and 2008 NCAA champion Erica McLain.

Commentary provided by Tom Hammond, Ato Boldon, Lewis Johnson, Dwight Stones, and Bob Neumeier.

ALLI DEW TOUR NIKE 6.0 BMX OPEN, 2 PM ET
NBC Sports presents the Alli Dew Tour Nike 6.0 BMX Open live from 2 p.m. ET from Chicago, Ill. where the world’s top BMX freestylists will compete in the BMX Dirt final .

Competitors include Australia’s high-flying Cameron White who is looking to become the first athlete to defend his Dew Cup crown along with USA veteran Ryan Nyquist and teenage sensation Dennis Enerson in the rough and tumble BMX Dirt event.

Kenan Harkin, Jamie Bestwick and Tiffany Simons will provide commentary.

NEW YORK – June 4, 2009 – NBC Sports presents live coverage of the Nike Prefontaine Classic, this Sunday at 2 p.m.ET from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. In the featured race, former world recordholder Asafa Powell will face off against Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix.

Along with Powell and Dix, competitors include men’s 1500-meter 2004 Olympic silver medalist Bernard Lagat, women’s 100-meter hurdle Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper facing off against bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and the reigning Olympic and Prefontaine Classic high jump champion Andrey Silnov.

In its 35th year, the Prefontaine Classic is a premiere track and field event in the United States and is the only stop in America for the World Athletics Tour. This year’s events will showcase men and women’s 100 and 800-meter sprints. Men will participate in the 300-meter sprints, mile, steeple, 400-meter hurdle, high jump, shot put and pole vault. Women will compete in the 400-meter sprint, 1500 and 2000-meter, 100-meter hurdle, long jump and discus and hammer throw.

Tom Hammond, Ato Boldon, Lewis Johnson, Dwight Stones and Bob Neumeier will provide commentary.

JEEP WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS, SATURDAY, 5 PM ET

NBC Sports presents the Emmy Award winning Jeep World of Adventure Sports, an action and adventure sports series, this Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. The show highlights an array of adrenaline-inspired feats and adventurous sporting events from around the world. Featured sports include surfing, stand up paddling, the Red Bull Wake Lab and downhill skateboarding.

The Yukon River Quest is the longest annual canoe and kayak race in the world. Except for two mandatory rest stops totaling 10 hours, paddlers race non-stop over the 742 kilometers (460 miles) to Dawson City. The Red Bull Wake Lab is a groundbreaking event influenced by the design of the modern skateboarding skatepark and snowboarding snowpark. It includes a mix of hand and transfer rails, sliders, an elevated pool and 16-foot high wall ride/quarterpipe. Participants can also compete in the Olukai ho’olaule’a stand up paddle competition. This event couples high level competition with time honored customs of Hawaii including traditional sports, cultural activities, parties, food and music.

Commentary will be provided by Pat Parnell.

Includes all major IAAF World Athletics Series events from 2010-2015 including three IAAF World Championships in Athletics

LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK—May 4, 2009— Universal Sports and NBC Sports today announced a long-term partnership with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world’s governing body for track & field, and their commercial partner’s, Dentsu Inc. for broadcast rights to all major IAAF World Athletics Series events from 2010-2015, including the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, 2011, 2013 and 2015. The agreement extends the existing relationship between Universal Sports, NBC Sports, the IAAF and Dentsu already in place that covers this year’s IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin.

“This long term partnership with the IAAF confirms that Universal Sports together with NBC will be the long term destination in the United States for the very best in global athletics competitions, providing fans a true season for the sport of track and field,” said Claude Ruibal, Chairman and CEO Universal Sports.

“Our relationship with the IAAF is a critical component to our Olympic sports strategy, and this agreement gives us a terrific platform to further build the awareness of the best track & field athletes as we lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games,” said Gary Zenkel, President NBC Olympics.”

This announcement signifies a substantial increase in the coverage of athletics in the United States as NBC and Universal Sports will make these popular sports available on multiple platforms, with most events covered live and same-day on their networks, starting with a total of over 130 hours of coverage on the two networks in 2009.

“We are proud to extend our partnership with Universal Sports and NBC Sports,” said Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF. “They have consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing the IAAF broad distribution of our events and we consider them the perfect partner for the IAAF as we work to further build the sport of athletics in the U.S.”

UNIVERSAL SPORTS WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY: Universal Sports is now available in eight of the top 10 DMAs including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. Recent expansion includes launches in Houston, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Jacksonville. Go to UniversalSports.com for a complete list of TV markets.

2009 TRACK AND FIELD COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: NBC Sports will provide broadcast coverage of the Reebok Grand Prix on May 30 and the Prefontaine Classic on June 7 in combination with Universal Sports, as well as the 12th IAAF Track & Field World Championships, on August 15, 16, 22 and 23, from Berlin.

2009 TRACK AND FIELD COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports television and UniversalSports.com will offer the complete outdoor 2009 IAAF track & field season, with the Golden League, Super Grand Prix and Grand Prix events featuring the top track & field athletes in the world. In addition, Universal Sports will have exclusive live online coverage of the 12th IAAF Track & Field World Championships, August 15-23, from Berlin. Fans can visit the track & field channel on UniversalSports.com/trackandfield for updated schedules (TV and online), news, video highlights, special features, photo galleries, sweepstakes and more.

UPCOMING TRACK & FIELD EVENTS ON NBC AND UNIVERSAL SPORTS:
(All times ET)

May 8 IAAF Super Grand Prix Doha, Qatar 12 Noon US
May 30 IAAF Reebok Grand Prix New York 4:30 p.m. NBC
May 31 IAAF Reebok Grand Prix New York 12 Noon US
June 7 IAAF Prefontaine Classic Eugene, Ore. 2 p.m. NBC
June 8 IAAF Prefontaine Classic Eugene, Ore. 8 p.m. US
June 14 IAAF Golden League Berlin 2 p.m. US
June 28 US Track & Field Championships Eugene, Ore. 4 p.m. NBC
June 29 US Track & Field Championships Eugene, Ore. 8 p.m. US
July 7 IAAF Super Grand Prix Lausanne 12 noon US
July 10 IAAF Golden League Rome 2 p.m. US
July 12 IAAF World Youth Championships Bressanone, Italy 8 p.m. US
July 17 IAAF Golden League Paris 2 p.m. US
July 24 IAAF Super Grand Prix London 1 p.m. US
July 25 IAAF Super Grand Prix London 1 p.m. US
July 28 IAAF Super Grand Prix Monte Carlo, Monaco 3 p.m. US
July 31 IAAF Super Grand Prix Stockholm 2 p.m. US
Aug. 15 IAAF World Championships Berlin 1 p.m. NBC
Aug. 16 IAAF World Championships Berlin 2 p.m. NBC
Aug. 22 IAAF World Championships Berlin 1 p.m. NBC
Aug. 23 IAAF World Championships Berlin 2 p.m. NBC
Aug 28 IAAF Golden League Zurich 2 p.m. US
Aug. 30 IAAF Golden League Zurich 1 p.m. NBC
Sept. 4 IAAF Golden League Brussels 2 p.m. US
Sept. 6 IAAF Golden League Brussels 2 p.m. NBC
Sept. 12 IAAF World Athletics Final Thessaloniki, Greece 7 p.m. US
Sept. 13 IAAF World Athletics Final Thessaloniki, Greece 7 p.m. US
Oct. 11 IAAF World Half Marathon Champs Birmingham, UK 7 p.m. US

* schedule subject to change; visit UniversalSports.com for up-to-date TV and online event schedules and availability of Universal Sports 24-hour network.

MARATHON COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports is the home of the entire World Marathon Majors series, a championship-style competition started in 2006. The series includes the annual marathons from Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City, as well as the 2009 IAAF World Championship Marathon. Universal Sports will be delivering coverage of other prestigious marathons, including Los Angeles and Stockholm.

For more information on current programming schedules and channel listings please visit UniversalSports.com/tvschedule.

ATHLETE BLOGS ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: UniversalSports.com features blogs from Lauryn Williams (100m, 200m), Sanya Richards (400m), Shannon Rowbury (1500m) and Ryan Hall (marathon).

ABOUT UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online. Universal Sports is a 24-hour television channel available in 50 million television households in markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Reno and Omaha. Major world championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports range from track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons and cycling, to volleyball, rowing, triathlon, fencing, speed skating and martial arts. UniversalSports.com delivers an immersive experience via live and on-demand competition coverage, interaction with top athletes through blogs and in-depth access to Olympic sports news and information year round. For more information on the availability of the Universal Sports 24-hour television channel, please visit UniversalSports.com
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