Entertainment Reporter Pat O’Brien To Host U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented Allstate
Monday, August 15th, 2011Article by Chris D
06/29/2004 – COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo
The U.S. Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company announced today that two-time Olympic commentator and former Access Hollywood co-anchor, Pat O’Brien, will emcee the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate induction ceremony at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theater on Thursday, July 1. The award-show style ceremony will welcome 10 individuals into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate. Athletes include: Bonnie Blair (speedskating), Jackie Joyner Kersee (track and field), Janet Evans (swimming) and O’Brien’s fellow Olympic commentator, Bud Greenspan, who will enter the Hall in the special contributor category.
Most recently an entertainment reporter, O’Brien’s broadcast roots are in news. His career began in 1970 when, after graduation from the University of South Dakota, he was hired as a researcher at NBC News in Washington, D.C. He later worked at WMAQ-TV Chicago as a correspondent, and hosted two Olympic Winter Games broadcasts (1992, 1994) where he was a commentator when “Class of 2004″ U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame inductee Bonnie Blair won four of her six Olympic gold medals. O’Brien has also been the voice of the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, NBA All-Star game, NCAA Final Four tournament, Baseball’s All-Star game, the World Figure Skating Championships and other premier sporting events. On June 16, O’Brien rejoined the Olympic ranks when he was a torchbearer for the 2004 Global Olympic Torch Relay, running the Olympic flame in Los Angeles. More than 20 Olympic legends will be on-hand to welcome the newest group of star-studded athletes into U.S. Olympic history books. Also joining O’Brien for the made-for-television “Class of 2004″ induction ceremony will be Olympians Dorthy Hamil (figure skating), Bruce Jenner (decathlon), Bart Conner (gymnastics) and Dick Fosbury (track and field). The red-carpet event will air on the USA Network in July 24.
Tickets for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame “Class of 2004″ induction ceremony range from to and are available at Ticketmaster.com or at (312) 977-1700. Balcony and second tier seats are available. Red carpet interviews and b-roll, as well as backstage interviews following the award ceremony will be available to the media. Post-event party interviews will take place at “312 Chicago” restaurant. For media credentials, please visit our web site at http://usocpressbox.org and select the “media registration” icon.
About the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by AllstateThe first class to be inducted since 1992, the Class of 2004 will welcome six inductees from the individual sport category, and one inductee from each of the team, Paralympic, veteran and special contributor categories. Voting for the Class of 2004 was divided among U.S. Olympians, select U.S. Olympic family/media and, for the first time ever, online fans. Allstate is the Presenting Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and Kleenex is a Supporting Sponsor.
The nationally televised event will return to its roots in Chicago where the charter class was enshrined in 1983, with such U.S. Olympic legends as Bob Beamon, Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Al Oerter, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, Jim Thorpe and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Hockey Team.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:Kevin TwerAllstate Insurance Company(949) 378-0405
U.S. Olympic Committee Media & Public Relations Division(719) 866-4529
Credential applications for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame induction ceremony are available online at http://www.usocpressbox.org under the media registration.
About the Author
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Chris D is an advocate for Allstate Insurance.