Katie Couric Set To Co-Host Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

Katie Couric will co-host the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea with fellow host Mike Tirico.

KATIE COURIC TO CO-HOST WINTER OLYMPICS

Tirico is replacing Bob Costas as NBC’s primetime host for the games. The opening ceremony is scheduled to air Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., and Couric will additionally be contributing to NBC’s overall coverage of the Winter Olympics for the network. “During my years at NBC, I loved covering the Olympics and showcasing the hard work, dedication and perseverance of athletes from around the world,” Couric told CNN. “The Opening Ceremony will be a chance for South Korea to share its culture and customs and for the international community to celebrate this unparalleled display of athletic achievement and sportsmanship. There’s nothing quite like it. I’m also looking forward to working with Mike, who brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to everything he does.”

Couric joined NBC in 1989 as the Deputy Pentagon Correspondent. She frequently filled in for absent hosts on the Today show, until she joined full time in 1991. In 1994, she was given her own show to co-anchor, with Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric. She stayed at NBC and Today for 15 years until leaving in 2006 to become the first solo female anchor of the so-called “big three” nightly news broadcasts, joining CBS Evening News. Couric remained at CBS, while pursuing other projects, through 2011, when she moved to ABC and Yahoo.

Hosting the Olympics will be Couric’s first time back at NBC since 2006. She had previously hosted the opening ceremony three times – in Sydney, Salt Lake City, and Athens. “It’s beyond exciting to welcome Katie back to our Olympic booth. Katie has extensive Olympic experience, having anchored the Today show at six previous Games, and hosted the Opening Ceremony in Sydney, Salt Lake City, and Athens,” said Jim Bell, president of NBC Olympics production and programming, in a statement.

“We have been eagerly awaiting Mike’s first prime time Olympic hosting duties, and now, with Mike and Katie, viewers will have two pros, and two terrific storytellers leading the way,” Bell continued. “I’m looking forward to both of them engaging with Joshua for his keen analysis, first shared with our viewers so memorably in Beijing in 2008. I have no doubt this compelling trio will capture both the significance and glory of the ceremony’s signature moments.”

Couric found out last week that she would be joining Tirico for the games. “Some of the athletes of course I know, but luckily I’m a quick study and a fast learner and hopefully I’ll have everything under my belt,” she said on her preparedness. She also discussed her hope for the athletic event to “transcend politics.” “There’s this geopolitical backdrop in terms of what’s happening the world, what’s happening internationally,” the veteran host said. “But I feel that this is one instance when domestic politics are really gonna take a back seat. This is gonna be a really wonderful opportunity for the country to unify, and stand together, support the athletes and really help celebrate their stories.”