Working the Olympics has always been something every freelancer can dream of doing. Since starting my sport broadcasting gigs in 2011, I have been striving to get this opportunity. With help from a local rugby friend, Mike Wright, I was able to get that chance.
I was hired by NBC Sports Group to work as a talent statistician & researcher for the Rugby Sevens games, both men’s and women’s matches. My assignment had me working remote out of the NBC Sports Group headquarters in Stamford, CT. They flew me out a few days before the matches began to get acclimated to the time change and discuss my assignment. Once the game began, my workday would start with a 3pm call time; show at 6pm. The workday would end around 7am. This process lasts for 6 days straight.
My responsibilities during the matches were to assist the commentators, both color and play-by-play. I would relay specific stats and tidbits so the commentators could inform the audience of that particular player or team that was playing. A lot of help was involved behind the scenes. I had two Olympic researchers that assisted me if I had certain information I had trouble finding.
The experience was a grind but something I will cherish forever. Rugby was the sport that got me into sports broadcasting, and I was able to work on the highest-level production for the sport.