A group of 89 athletes are at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs working toward the "goal of being identified" as a potential Olympic athlete as part of NBC and NBCSN's forthcoming show "The Next Olympic Hopeful," according to Talya Minsberg of the N.Y. TIMES. The show, which will air Nov. 24-25, is the "result of a need for fresh athletic talent in some Olympic sports and a pitch" from USOC Senior VP & Managing Dir of Marketing & Media Brian Gordon, USOC CMO Lisa Baird and USOC Chief of Sport Performance Alan Ashley in '16. The competition and TV show "came into existence as the 'American Idol'" of the U.S. Olympic program, where competitors "win the chance to train for a slot on a team, with financial support." The contestants do not "come from professional sports backgrounds," but the 89 competitors will "compete for slots in one of eight sports: weight lifting, rowing, rugby, canoe/kayak, cycling, skeleton, bobsled and boxing." Each athlete was "provided three numbered shirts for the three days of competition," which was their "required uniform." Other than shoes, "no gear from any company other than Nike was permitted," and "no iPhones either." Each of the athletes also had to "go through a day and a half of general drills before dozens of coaches, producers and USOC staff members" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/23).
