Familiar ESPN Faces Will Be Seen On NBC’s Coverage Of Summer Olympics From Tokyo

Opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics from Tokyo are tomorrow morning. As the competition continues over the following weeks, viewers might notice some familiar ESPN faces on NBC’s coverage of the Games.

Multiple analysts, reporters, and commentators normally associated with ESPN will be among the contributors to NBC’s various platforms. While it’s nothing new and has happened before for the Olympics and other sports, it’s still sometimes puzzling for a sports fan to see someone they usually see on one network appearing on a different one.

“It’s good to see the recognition of the level of talent, knowledge, and energy that viewers see on ESPN when other networks want to enhance their coverage of a major event like the Summer Olympics,” said ESPN Executive Vice President, Event and Studio Production & Executive Editor, Norby Williamson. “We’re happy to work with everyone involved to make this happen and look forward to seeing the results.”

Many of those assisting NBC at the Games also will, if needed, contribute to ESPN’s news platforms while in Japan.

For the commentators, the opportunity to help bring the Olympics back home to America is an honor.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be calling the U.S. Olympic soccer games with Arlo White from Japan. There is nothing quite like the magic of the Olympics and to be doing it live and in person given the challenges of the last year is special in itself.”

“I am thankful and thrilled that ESPN has ‘loaned’ me out for two weeks to NBC Sports so that I can cover the Tokyo Olympics. So many of the athletes I will cover are players I watched grow up in my roles at ESPN as a college basketball, international basketball, and an NBA Draft analyst. It’s an incredible opportunity that one doesn’t often get in their career.”

“Having played in two Olympics, there is no bigger stage than the Olympic Games. So much passion and commitment over the course of four years (in this case five) to get here — plus covering softball holds a special place in my heart. It has been absent the last 13 years from the Olympic Games, I was on the field the last time it was played. It is a special moment in time to capture the return of softball and baseball here in Tokyo.”

“It is an incredible honor to be chosen to travel to Tokyo to cover the Olympics. Sport has had a profound impact on my life so the opportunity to cover the world’s greatest athletes on the world’s biggest stage while learning new sports and different cultures is a dream come true.”

Bill Hofheimer, Kim Elchlepp, and Ben Cafardo contributed to this story.