Mike Tirico Suspiciously Leaving The Olympics Early After Discussing Controversies Involving China

Mike Tirico Leaving Olympics Early After Discussing China Controversies

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  • Mike Tirico is leaving the Olympics earlier than planned.
  • The move comes shortly after he brought up controversies in China on-air.
  • Be sure to check out more sports stories at BroBible here.

Mike Tirico is leaving the Winter Olympics in Beijing earlier than expected.

According to the Associated Press, Tirico will head back to the United States after Monday’s primetime Olympic coverage. NBC’s original plan was to have Tirico cover the Games through Thursday, head to Los Angeles to cover the Super Bowl, and potentially return to China to close out Olympic coverage.

The network has now tapped Maria Taylor to fill in for Tirico for Tuesday’s primetime coverage. Tirico will now host coverage from NBC’s studios in Connecticut on Wednesday and Thursday before heading to the Super Bowl. He’ll then return to Connecticut to continue covering the Olympics.

Tirico was one of the very few American reporters actually on-site in China, but he’ll be leaving after covering just five of NBC’s eighteen primetime slots.

The question, of course, is why is Tirico all of the sudden leaving China early?

Tirico Addresses Controversies In China

The AP nor NBC has given a rationale for the decision. It’s easy to suggest that the network didn’t want to risk Tirico not making it to Los Angeles to cover the Super Bowl. Or, one might assume Tirico is being asked to leave China – by either NBC or the country itself – after discussing the various controversies involving China on-air.

During NBC’s opening coverage, before mentioning anything about athletes, Tirico spoke about the alleged genocide of the Uyghur Muslim population taking place in China. He also noted that China is “the nation where COVID began” before noting many countries, including the United States, have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games.

“Everyone and everything attached to these Games is facing questions,” Tirico explained. “The hosts, the guests, the IOC, the sponsors, media, and athletes.”