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ALA protests NBC’s coverage of Latvia in Winter Olympics

Andris Straumanis

February 20, 2010

The president of the American Latvian Association is urging supporters to join the organization in protesting the failure of the U.S. television network NBC to fully show the Latvian team during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

In a Feb. 19 e-mail to ALA members and supporters, Juris Mežinskis said protest letters to the network also should point out what he called NBC’s ignorance of Latvia’s history.

Mežinskis, in a letter to NBC Chairman Dick Ebersol, said it was “mildly irritating” when the network in its live telecast of the Feb. 12 opening ceremony cut away to a commercial before the Latvian team was due to enter Olympic Stadium in Vancouver. Shots of the teams from Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Lebanon were briefly shown when the network returned to live coverage.

But the ALA president used stronger language to criticize the network’s color commentary during the Feb. 16 men’s ice hockey match between Latvia and Russia.

“During the Russia-Latvia hockey game, it was more disturbing to have the commentator try to put Latvia in perspective by describing it as a ‘former Soviet republic,’” Mežinskis wrote. He added that according to the U.S. government, Latvia was an occupied country during World War II and the Americans never recognized its incorporation into the Soviet Union.

“Describing Latvia as a former Soviet republic carries a certain message of civility and legality which is misleading the TV audience,” Mežinskis wrote. “Latvia will have several more hockey games and other competitions where your ‘color commentators’ can either describe Latvia from the occupier’s point of view or that of the Latvian people.”

NBC officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

This was not the first time the Latvian team has not been shown during the live NBC broadcast of an Olympics opening ceremony. However, during the Salt Lake City games in 2002, Latvian fans and NBC affiliate KSL-TV convinced network officials to show the team live.

NBC has exclusive broadcast rights for the Winter Olympics in the U.S. In other countries, including Canada, the Latvian team was shown entering Olympic Stadium without commercial interruption.

Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.

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ALA letter to NBC

The president of the American Latvian Association on Feb. 19 wrote the following letter to Dick Ebersol, chairman of the American television network NBC:

Here is a friendly suggestion for “color” commentary during hockey games tonight and tomorrow.

It was mildly irritating to have your network switch to a commercial as the Latvian team was about to enter the stadium. After the break it did not help to show a brief shot of the flag bearer, fail to mention that he is the current world champion in his sport, and the odds on favorite for the gold medal. It did not help to have no shots of the full 58 member Latvian Olympic team!

During the Russia-Latvia hockey game, it was more disturbing to have the commentator try to put Latvia in perspective by describing it as a “Former Soviet Republic.”

According to our U.S. government, Latvia was an occupied country. Latvia was independent prior to WWII and your record books will show it sent a hockey team to the Olympics prior to the occupation. Latvia was occupied by the Soviet army in the same week that France was occupied by the Nazis.

During 45 years of occupation, the Latvian embassy remained open in Washington and successive presidents routinely invited the staff to major diplomatic events. For 45 years, US diplomats refused to travel to Latvia on a Soviet visa because that would have tacitly recognized the illegal incorporation of Latvia into the Soviet “Union.”

Describing Latvia as a former Soviet Republic carries a certain message of civility and legality which is misleading the TV audience.

Latvia will have several more hockey games and other competitions where your “color commentators” can either describe Latvia from the occupier’s point of view or that of the Latvian people.

Thanks for your consideration.

Juris Mezinskis
President, American Latvian Association

Comments

maija

Piekriitu ALAi kad nedriikst laist garaam lielu vai mazu starptautisku necienu pret Latviju, jo tad neciena turpinaasies, sakaraa ar Olimpijas speelju uzsakumu un hokeja starp-ciinjas komantaaru. Arii buutu piemeeroti kad kaads atmodies "sports-casters" ieveerotu to kad Latvija, ar nepilniem 3 miljarda pilsoniem, tika pienemti 58 ~lai gan paraadijas tikai 53 jeb 54~ Olimpijas sportisti. Manupraat, tas ir, nudien, "newsworthy!"

20 Feb 2010 (United States)

sneega

NBC always does this at the Winter Olympics. I have been watching the Opening Ceremony for decades and only once do I recall actually seeing the Latvian athletes enter the stadium. NBC should go to soccer style adverts during the openings (have ads run on the side of the screen showing live action at the same time).

21 Feb 2010 (United States)

Mark Williams

How would the USA like to be referred to as the "Former British Empire Colony"?

22 Feb 2010 (United States)

Vilis

The last statement isn't true. When the Canadian coverage (CTV) went to commercial, I would switch to the US (NBC) station. This is good, I thought. Since they appear to be cutting away at different times, I will see the Latvian team march into the stadium on one or the other station. HOWEVER, just as the Latvian team was entering and the flagbearer was announced, BOTH networks went to commercial!!! Almost like it was planned.

11 Mar 2010 (Canada)

Modris

In ancient Greece all hostilities were suspended to conduct their special competitions in various physical feats of agility, strength and endurance. Today we are lucky if individual competitors can quit their country's politics for the duration of the games. And then evil minded fiends have seized upon these festive occasions to create havoc for whatever cause they espouse. How unfortunate it is that hostile money is allowed to officially disrupt the orderly procession of the parade of nations. About all pictures, including TV, have the most interesting parts toward the lower half. It is always in this area that the creeping commentary and fixed identifiers block the view. Why not place them at the top of the screen to display the sponsors names, etc., and have non-stop viewing of the competitors? Dievs Sveetii Latviju!

12 Mar 2010 (United States)

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