FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NBC SPORTS to present unprecedented live coverage of
U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in February 2016
August 20, 2015 -- U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon for Men and Women to
Air Live for First Time
Coverage Airs Saturday, February 13, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC
INDIANAPOLIS - NBC will broadcast unprecedented live coverage on air and
online of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon on Saturday, February 13,
2016 beginning at 1 p.m. ET from Los Angeles, California, NBC Sports Group,
the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Track & Field, and LA MARATHON LLC
announced today.
This marks the first time in U.S. Olympic Team Trials history that the
men's and women's marathons will be televised live nationally. NBC Sports
Live Extra – NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile
devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will live stream the coverage.
"Being able to ensure live, national television coverage was a top priority
for USATF in the 2016 Olympic Trials selection process," said USATF CEO Max
Siegel. "With NBC's coverage, the stars of one of this country's biggest
cultural and athletic movements will receive unprecedented national
exposure. February 13 will be a great day for distance running in the
United States."
"The Road to Rio will begin on the streets of Los Angeles as we start our
U.S. Olympic Team Trials coverage with an unprecedented live presentation
of the men's and women's marathons," said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC
Olympics. "This is a great start to our deepest U.S. Trials coverage ever."
"NBC's commitment to Team USA and the Olympic Games is extraordinary and
we're thrilled that these world-class athletes will be able to compete on
live television," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "Whether you're one of the
thousands lining the race course in Los Angeles or one of the millions
watching at home, these athletes will show you just how much it means to
represent the United States of America at the Olympic Games."
"Not only is it a great honor for Los Angeles to host the U.S. Olympic Team
Trials Marathon, it's another opportunity to demonstrate to the country and
the world exactly why Los Angeles is quickly becoming the capital of
premiere endurance sports in the United States," said Tracey Russell, Chief
Executive of LA MARATHON LLC. "We're very pleased to announce that NBC
will be broadcasting the Trials live and that millions of viewers will be
joining us to witness the country's best marathoners pursue their Olympic
dreams here on the streets of Los Angeles."
Expected to headline the men's field will be 2014 Boston Marathon winner
Meb Keflezighi, a three-time Olympian who earned a silver medal in Athens
(2004) and placed fourth in London (2012). Other notable Olympians expected
in the field include Abdi Abdirahman (2000, '04, '08, '12), Ryan Hall
(2008, '12), Dathan Ritzenhein (2004, '08, '12), and Matt Tegenkamp (2008,
'12).
Expected to lead the women's field is three-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan,
who won a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and
placed 10th in the marathon at the 2012 London Games. London Olympian
Desiree Linden, who finished fourth in the 2015 Boston Marathon, will be
looking to make her second consecutive Olympic team. Other notable
Olympians expected in the field include Amy Cragg (2012), Kara Goucher
(2008, 2012), and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor (2000, '04,
'08).
The Marathon Trials on NBC will kick off NBC Sports Group's 2016 U.S.
Olympic Team Trials coverage, the details of which will be released at a
later date.
THE RIO OLYMPICS BEGIN AUGUST 5, 2016
About NBC Olympics
A division of 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. The 2012
London Olympics were watched by 217 million Americans, making it the
most-watched event 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. NBCUniversal has the U.S.
media rights on all platforms to all Olympic Games through 2032. At the
conclusion of the 2032 Games, NBCUniversal will have presented 23 total
Olympic Games and 17 consecutive, the most for a U.S. media company in both
categories.
NBC has won an unprecedented 95 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."
About USATF
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and
field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF
encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched
events of Olympic broadcasts, the country's No. 1 high school and junior
high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in
the United States. For more information on USATF, visit usatf.org.
About LA MARATHON LLC
LA MARATHON LLC, a subsidiary of McCourt Global, creates world-class
experiences that ignite passion in athletes and connect communities through
the transformative power of sport. The Los Angeles Marathon is among the
largest marathons in the country with more than 26,000 participants,
thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of spectators. The
"Stadium to the Sea" course, starting at Dodger Stadium and finishing near
the Santa Monica Pier, is one of the most scenic in the world, taking
runners on a tour of Los Angeles past every major landmark. LA MARATHON LLC
will host the 2016 Olympic Team Trials for Men's and Women's Marathon,
awarded by USA Track & Field and the United States Olympic Committee, which
will take place in Los Angeles February 13, 2016. For more information,
please visit www.lamarathon.com.
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