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Transcript/ScriptOLYMPICS DURING COVID (TV)
HEADLINE: US Olympic Athletes Prepped on China’s Extensive COVID Protocols
TEASER: US athletes talk about jobs as arborists, no spectators during COVID
PUBLISHED AT: 2/02/2022 at 3:55
BYLINE: Carolyn Presutti
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Instagram, Zoom,
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Hernandez
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bowman, Jepsen
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Instagram, Zoom, AP, Reuters, CCTV (maybe and if so restric, no china mainland)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X__ RADIO __X
TRT: 2:41
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((ANCHOR INTRO))
[[Top athletes from around the world are preparing to pursue their dreams and compete in the Winter Olympics, which start February 4. But this year is unlike any other, as athletes are coached on specific pandemic protocols they must follow. For some, it creates uncertainty, for others, a sense of relief. VOA’s Carolyn Presutti spoke with three U.S. Olympians before they left for Beijing.]]
((Nats, ride from Mazdzer instagram))
((Courtesy Chris Madzder/Instagram))
((NARRATOR))
This is what Olympian Chris Madzder sees on his luge.
[[RADIO TRACK: Olympian Chris Madzder describes a luge run.]]
“We basically go on t hese race cars -- Formula One's race sleds, 90 miles an hour down a sheet of ice.”
((Nats, ride from katieu11 Instagram ))
((Courtesy Katie Uhlaender/Instagram))
((NARRATOR))
This is Olympian Katie Uhlaender in a skeleton race.
[[RADIO TRACK: Olympian Katie Uhlaender explains her skeleton race]]
((Katie Uhlaender, Olympian (video over sot)))
“It's basically like jumping on top of a cookie sheet and using your body to go as fast as possible.”
((Courtesy Kevin Bickner/Instagram))
((NARRATOR))
This is Olympian Kevin Bickner on a ski jump.
[[RADIO TRACK: Here’s the last thing that goes through Kevin Bickner’s head before he executes his ski jump.]]
((Kevin Bickner, Olympian (video over sot)))
“At the top of the hill. I'm really just thinking about the things that my coaches told me moments before the things I need to work on.”
((NARRATOR))
((combine all three videos/pix from insta on the screen vertically))
Three U.S. athletes, pursuing gold in Beijing during the coronavirus pandemic that, like them, refuses to quit.
[[radio track: Like specific Olympic-required testing, says Madzder the luge athlete.]]
((Chris Madzder, USA Luge Team))
((Courtesy: Zoom))
“So, you have to make sure you're getting the right test. So yeah, it's definitely a logistical headache at times.”
((NARRATOR))
To avoid losing focus, the U.S. luge team hired a COVID liaison to keep track of vaccinations, tests, and masks – all mandatory. A year ago, Olympic organizers in China held a testing event – to show the athletes what they will face when they land in Beijing for the real competition.
[[RADIO TRACK: Again, Madzder]]
((Chris Madzder, USA Luge Team))
((Courtesy: Zoom))
“They tested every day. Every person that we interacted with, essentially was wearing a hazmat suit unless they did a three-week quarantine to be able to interact with us and we're still wearing masks.”
((NARRATOR))
Ahead of the Games, athletes dealt with closed gyms and income losses from canceled tournaments.
((Courtesy Katie Uhlaender/Instagram))
Uhlaender, who only had audio available when we spoke to her while traveling to Beijing, says she took a job as an assistant arborist to stay fit.
((Courtesy Katie Uhlaender/Instagram))
((Voice of Katie Uhlaender, USA Skeleton Team))
((Courtesy: Zoom))
"I pulled trees over and then when he would cut them down, I'd move all the logs and it was a great substitute for the weight room and just general fitness and plus I got to be out in the woods, which is my one of my favorite places to be.”
((NARRATOR))
Bickner says he looks forward to landing in Beijing and, once inside the Olympic bubble, seeing no one except other COVID-tested athletes.
((Courtesy: Zoom))
((Kevin Bickner, USA Ski Jump Team))
“I don't think anyone is going to be spreading COVID around the village, and so I'm not going to be too worried about it once I'm there. It'll be definitely a bit of relief. “
((NARRATOR))
Much like last year’s Summer Games in Tokyo, no spectators will be allowed in the stands in Beijing.
((Courtesy Chris Madzder/Instagram))
That means Madzder’s wife and 9-month-old stay home.
((Courtesy Katie Uhlaender/Instagram))
Uhlaender’s family can’t cheer her to a women’s record as she competes in her fifth Olympics.
((Courtesy Kevin Bickner/Instagram))
And Bickner’s parents won’t see him in his second Olympics.
((combine all three videos/pix from insta on the screen vertically))
Even so, these athletes are keeping their eyes one thing.
((Mandatory Zoom))
“Going for the gold.”
((NARRATOR))
((Courtesy Katie Uhlaender/Instagram))
Carolyn Presutti,
((Courtesy Kevin Bickner/Instagram))
VOA News,
((Courtesy Chris Madzder/Instagram))
Washington.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsOlympic Athlete
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 2, 2022 16:17 EST
BylineCarolyn Presutti
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
