Let the games begin!
Starting Monday, Aug. 1, NBC News kicks off its coverage of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad from Rio de Janeiro with Matt Lauer reporting live from Copacabana Beach for Today. Rio 2016 represents Lauer’s 11th Olympics for Today. Additionally, Lester Holt will begin anchoring NBC Nightly News live from Copacabana on Thursday, Aug. 4. This marks Holt’s eighth Olympics for NBC News and his first as full-time anchor of Nightly News.
Lauer, Hoda Kotb and Meredith Vieira will host the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 5 in prime time. This is Lauer’s fifth Olympics in a role on the Opening Ceremony telecast. Vieira works her third Opening Ceremony telecast for NBC. Kotb has been part of multiple Olympics for NBC News including Athens (2004), Torino (2006), Beijing (2008) and London (2012).
Today will be anchored by Lauer, Kotb, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and new teammate Billy Bush in Rio starting Aug. 8 through the 19, with Savannah Guthrie anchoring from New York. Tom Brokaw, Jenna Bush Hager and Keir Simmons will report for Today from Brazil. Located in Copacabana Beach, Today will broadcast from the portable Olympic Pavilion also used in Athens, Torino, Beijing, London and Sochi. In addition to reporting on everything Olympics-related, Today will feature exclusive musical performances, including The Band Perry slated to play Aug. 11 from Rio as part of the Citi Summer Concert Series on Today.
Nightly News will report on the most important issues of the 2016 Olympics, featuring behind-the-scenes access and interviews with noteworthy athletes. Covering breaking news and all angles of the 2016 Olympic Games, Nightly News will feature reports from Peter Alexander, Miguel Almaguer, Stephanie Gosk, Ron Mott and Chris Jansing, with additional contributions from Today anchors and correspondents. Holt will anchor Nightly live from Rio through Aug. 19.
Both Today and Nightly News will cover stories leading up to the 2016 Games. Later this month, Today will catch up with American Olympic legends of years past. Starting Monday, Aug. 1, Nightly will feature NBC News correspondents reporting live from Brazil on the key issues affecting the 2016 Rio Olympics.