NBC's Closing Ceremony Broadcast Edited Out More Than An Hour. Here's What You Missed.

Timothy Burke|published: Mon 22nd August, 11:24 2016

As in years past, NBC went heavy on the razor blade in trimming down last night’s closing ceremony to a time that allowed for commercials and a Very Special Episode of The Voice. The festivities in Rio took two hours, 43 minutes to complete; NBC aired one hour, 40 minutes of them. That left 38% of the show on the cutting room floor; that’s exactly how much they cut out of Sochi’s closing ceremony two years ago, too. Here’s what NBC didn’t show you:

1. Athletes entering the stadium (33 minutes)

It took the athletes a really, really long time to get into Maracanã Stadium. NBC sped this up, a bunch.

2. A montage (three minutes)

This was a montage of athletes experiencing the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

3. The men’s marathon victory ceremony (five minutes)

NBC aired the very end of this, but not (surprisingly) American Galen Rupp being awarded his bronze medal.

4. The introduction of newly-elected IOC members (eight minutes)

Four athletes were elected to eight-year IOC membership terms. One of them was pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who was banned from the Rio Olympics due to Russia’s doping scandal.

5. Carlos Nuzman’s speech (12 minutes)

Once again, the president of Rio’s organizing committee gave a rambling speech. Once again, NBC didn’t air it.

The remainder of unaired ceremony is bits and pieces from other elements, adding up to just a few minutes. Did U.S. viewers miss anything? Not really.

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