Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

'Today' in Sochi

by jmaloni

Submitted

Wed, Jan 29th 2014 07:00 am

"Today" broadcasts live from Russia for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games with Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Jenna Bush Hager and Meredith Vieira

Special correspondents include Lindsey Vonn, Evan Lysacek and Kristi Yamaguchi

"Today" begins its Olympic coverage, Monday, Feb. 3

"Today" will bid farewell to Studio 1A in New York, and once again bring the excitement of the Olympics to viewers at home. Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist and Jenna Bush Hager will travel to Sochi, Russia, to host "Today" during the XXII Olympic Winter Games. The Sochi Winter Olympics marks the ninth Olympic Games the "Today" show has traveled to and covered. The Olympics start in primetime on NBC Thursday, Feb. 6. 

Before the Olympics begin, "Today" will take viewers to the heart of the action. Beginning Monday, Feb. 3, Lauer will co-host split editions of "Today" live from Olympic Park and the mountain venues with several Olympians joining him in Sochi. Vieira and Geist will also be reporting for "Today" during the week. They will look ahead to the start of the Games, introduce the athletes to watch, and take a look at the tremendous preparations underway. On Friday, Feb. 7, Lauer will broadcast live from The Fisht Olympic Stadium to preview the opening ceremony, which he is co-hosting with Vieira.

On Monday, Feb. 10, Guthrie, Roker and Morales will join Lauer and Geist in Sochi, and the "Today" team will broadcast live from the exclusive set they will call home for the duration of the Games.

"Today's" Sochi set, which is centrally located in Olympic Park, boasts outstanding views of The Olympic Stadium, The Iceberg Skating Palace, The Bolshoy Ice Dome, The Olympic Cauldron and Medals Plaza. "Today's" Orange Room will also be relocating to Sochi as The Oранжевый Room with Hager serving as host. Vieira will contribute frequently to "Today" in Sochi, and Lester Holt, Richard Engel, Kier Simmons, Ann Thompson and Kevin Tibbles will also be reporting for NBC News platforms. 

A star-studded group of athletes will also join the "Today" show Olympic roster. As previously announced, Lindsey Vonn will serve as Olympic correspondent for "Today" and NBC Sports reporting from the U.S. Gold medal ice skaters Evan Lysacek and Kristi Yamaguchi will serve as special correspondents for "Today" in Sochi providing expert commentary and analysis of the Games.

While in Sochi, "Today" will broadcast in-depth news coverage of the Winter Olympics with the latest on the events, and previews of the upcoming action. Broadcasting daily at 4 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET), the program will give viewers an all-access pass to everything Olympic, going behind-the-scenes and profiling the competitors who make up Team USA.

Athlete interviews will include Shaun White, Julia Mancuso, Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, Mikaela Shiffrin, Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner, Polina Edmunds, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, Lolo Jones and the women's bobsled team, Sarah Hendrickson, Emily Cook, Shani Davis, and many others as they go for the gold. "Today" will also take a look at the competition the U.S. athletes will be facing including Spanish skater Javier Fernandez.

In addition to covering the Games, "Today" will have a little Olympic fun in Sochi. The show anchor team will embrace the spirit of friendly competition and go head-to-head with the NBC Sports anchor team in an intramural Olympiad - it's anyone's game to win. Also - they've tried the luge and synchronized swimming, and once again, Lauer and Roker will team up to attempt not one, but several surprise Olympic sports.

During the Olympics, "Today" will take a look at Sochi's unique culture, society, cuisine and, of course, its vodka. Each day, the show will introduce the Russian language to viewers with "Al's Word of the Day." And, on Friday, Feb. 14, Nashville recording duo and "The Voice" season four finalists, The Swon Brothers, will perform a live concert from "Today's" set in Olympic Park. 

The weekend edition of "Today" will broadcast live from Olympic Park Saturday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, Feb. 16 with Holt, Roker and Morales hosting. 

At today.com, viewers can get closer to the Games than ever before. Special series include "Look Like an Olympian," where athletes share their fitness secrets, and "Team Behind the Team," which highlights the personal stories about their journeys. Fans can connect via live chats and callouts on the hashtag #SochiTODAY on Facebook and Twitter. For "Today's" Olympics coverage, visit www.today.com/Sochi.

Hometown News

View All News