NBC apologizes for insensitive comment

By The Associated Press

NBC apologized to South Koreans for an on-air remark by an analyst that cited Japan as an important example for Korea’s own transformation.

The remark was made by analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo during NBC’s coverage of Friday’s opening ceremony. He was noting the significance of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit.

“Every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural and technical and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation,” Ramo said.

An online petition quickly circulated demanding an apology, and NBC did on its NBCSN cable network Saturday and formally to the Pyeongchang Olympic organizing committee.

Japan occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945. Petitioners said anyone familiar with Japanese treatment of Koreans during that time would be deeply hurt by Ramo’s remark. They also criticized the accuracy of giving Japan credit for South Korea’s resurgence.

“We believe that staying silent is not an appropriate response to such ignorant, insensitive, and harmful information that defies the very spirit of peace, harmony, and human dignity of the Olympics,” it said.

NBC said Sunday it was gratified that local Olympic officials accepted the apology. The network said that South Korea’s Olympic organizers have been “exceptional hosts in every way.”

Ramo, a former journalist at Time magazine, is co-CEO at Kissinger Associates and had been hired temporarily by NBC to bring historical context to its coverage.

The network said his assignment at the Olympics is now over.

Protecting athletes

Prince Feisal of Jordan said the fight against harassment and sexual abuse in sports should share equal footing with work to prevent doping. An IOC member, Feisal is leading an effort to protect athletes, many of whom come from countries that offer few safeguards.

“Yes, it is important,” Feisal told reporters at the Pyeongchang Olympics. “Is it more important than doping? I think it should be equal to doping, but not many people see that right now.”

Feisal said the sexual abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar illustrates how little protection athletes have.

“The current scandal begs the question: Why aren’t we doing more?” he said. “Maybe you need a tragedy like this for people to use it as a wake-up call. Unfortunately, a few months ago nobody even considered that this was going to be such a major issue.”

Feisal said the International Olympic Committee began several years ago supporting federations and national Olympic committees “to make sure they have regulations and procedures in place” to protect athletes.

Too windy again

The women’s giant slalom was rescheduled for Thursday because of strong wind, the same day as the men’s downhill. The giant slalom, which was set to be U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin’s first event of these Winter Games, will be contested at the Yongpyong Alpine Center used for technical races, and the men about 30 miles away at the Jeongseon Alpine Center used for speed races. Now Shiffrin’s first race will be Wednesday in the slalom, where she is the defending Olympic champion.