From Opening Ceremony to Daily Coverage: CBC and WRAL-TV are In the Zone for the Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are about to begin, and Capitol Broadcasting is ready! Employees are getting excited to watch TEAM USA compete as WRAL-TV gears up for coverage. The fun starts with the Opening Ceremonies this Friday, July 26, 2024.

CBC Employees Love the Olympics

“I always love the opening and closing ceremonies. They’re always a big spectacle and it’s cool to see how each hosting city puts their own interpretation on it. I also enjoy seeing the USA team come out in the parade of nations. It’s a proud moment to see some of the veterans return and also some of the new faces that are experiencing their first Olympic games and how excited they all are.”

Greg Best

WRAL-TV ENG Editor

In an informal and non-scientific poll, CBC employees shared their top Olympic athletes are Simone Biles and Michael Phelps. This year staffers are most excited to see Biles, Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles.

“Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky are my favorite athletes to watch, they are absolute masters of their craft. Simone Biles is not only one of the greatest athletes of all time, but she’s been an advocate for mental health which is an important and often overlooked aspect of athletics.”

Rylan O’Connor

WRAL-FM Audience Activation Specialist & That Station Weekday Music Curator

Getting in the Zone for Olympics Coverage

As an NBC affiliate, WRAL-TV is proud to broadcast the network’s coverage as well as a number of stories from right here in the Triangle, featuring our local athletes who having traveled to France to compete. Tune every night during the 2024 Paris Olympics to watch Team USA, and for a special half-hour Olympic Zone special.

“We produce so many wonderful shows, but The Olympic Zone is truly special because it’s set in a world stage…this year in the beautiful City of Lights, Paris!” said WRAL-TV Director of News Operations, Sports & Special Projects Leesa Moore. “We get to add our local touches to an international event that will be seen by millions.”

WRAL-TV Anchors Ashley Rowe and Lena Tillett will anchor the half-hour special on weekdays, with Kacy Hintz and Julian Grace stepping in for the weekend broadcasts. Produced by WRAL-TV’s Bri Leach and Sam Maneri, Olympic Zone will include outstanding AR/VR graphics by Shan Zhong. WRAL-TV’s Liz McLaughlin will report directly from Paris.

“The Olympic Zone is live, fast-paced, and current,” said Moore. “We literally get the rundown of content the day of. And we showcase with an incredible ‘Shantastic’ virtual set that changes daily.”

Olympic Zone will begin airing the night after the Opening Ceremonies, running every night from Saturday, July 27 thought Saturday August 10 at 7:30pm.

“Producing 13 live specials is no small feat, but it is exhilarating!” said Moore. “I’ve been project coordinator since our very first Olympics in Rio as an NBC affiliate. It was daunting on paper, but once we got going it was magic because of the incredible talent we have at WRAL. I’m really looking forward to the shows this year, not only because of the location, but because the Olympic games will be back to normal after the impact of Covid.”

Live coverage of the Opening Ceremonies will be presented on NBC/WRAL-TV and Peacock on Friday, July 26, beginning at noon EDT. Highlights and a replay will air for primetime coverage beginning at 7:30pm that night.