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Controversy

Here is how Katie Couric became the laughingstock of the Winter Olympics

NBC's Katie Couric. (WikiMedia)
February 13, 2018

News anchor and NBC broadcaster Katie Couric is being criticized for her recent on-air explanation of why speed skating is so important to the Dutch.

“It’s probably not a news flash to tell you the Dutch are really really good at speed skating,” Couric said Friday, as the team from the Netherlands made its way into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“Now, why are they so good? Because skating is an important mode of transportation in a city like Amsterdam, which sits at sea level. It has lots of canals that can freeze in the winter. For as long as those canals have existed, the Dutch have skated on them to get from place to place, to race each other and also to have fun,” Couric said.

Listen to Couric here:

Since her comments have gone viral, many have taken to Twitter to parody her comments, but also to criticize Couric.

One Twitter user posted a photo of “rush hour” in the Netherlands:

Another wrote that the canals in Amsterdam “rarely” freeze.

Many posts have said Couric should do her research before making comments like this, as the canals in Amsterdam rarely freeze.

One Twitter user posted a photo that’s reportedly from 2012, and said “2012 was the last time.”

Couric has since taken to Twitter herself to apologize.

“Congrats Netherlands on your [medal] count so far! My apologies for being on thin ice for my comments re: skating on canals. I was trying to salute your historical passion for the sport but it didn’t come out that way! I’d [love] to visit again and celebrate your success,” she wrote.