Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Meryl Davis and Charlie White - GOLD

Meryl Davis and Charlie White made history in Sochi.



They won the first Olympic gold medal in ice dancing for the USA.

Congratulations to our Olympic champions!

I want to know why NBC didn't show the medal ceremony in prime time. I didn't see it in the late night program either. Davis and White were interviewed by Costas at the top of the broadcast, but no national anthem and American flag. That was a moment that should have been aired.

I may have missed it but I don't think so.

It definitely wasn't in prime time. Bad decision by NBC.

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UPDATE, February 18, 2014:

NBC did air the medal ceremony in its prime time coverage at the end of Tuesday's program, although Davis and White won the gold on Monday.


Here's why, from NBC:

In a departure from traditional Olympic scheduling, the Olympic medals in Sochi are being awarded to winners at the center of Olympic Park, in an area called Medals Plaza, "bringing fans closer to the champions," according to Sochi2014.com. Fans can get a schedule of events so they can actually gather to watch the moment.

At the immediate conclusion of their finals, athletes take part in a flower ceremony, where they get a bouquet and the chance to gather on a podium. It's not until later that they receive their medals and take part in that teary ceremony that gives us all goosebumps.

If you've been wondering why you haven't seen any medal ceremonies on NBC's coverage, well, you have. Just not as many as usual — and because of the shift in timing, not at the usual post-victory moment you're used to seeing them.

“We air them when they’re relevant, and we feel that they fit best in the coverage,’’ an NBC Olympics spokesman told TODAY.com Tuesday. “For example, tonight we’ll air the Meryl Davis-Charlie White ceremony later in the prime-time show."
It would have helped if NBC had explained this change to viewers, or at least let viewers know when they could see the ceremony.