Tulsa World: Colbert, fans to sponsor U.S. Olympic speedskating team

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Colbert, fans to sponsor U.S. Olympic speedskating team

Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Nation are sponsoring the U.S. speedskating team that will participate in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. COURTESY

By RITA SHERROW World TV Editor
Published: 11/3/2009 12:18 PM
Last Modified: 11/3/2009 12:20 PM

It’s Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Nation to the rescue — of the U.S. speedskating team.

Comic Colbert, host and writer of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central, has announced The Colbert Nation, aka his legions of fans, will be the primary sponsor of the team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. TCN replaces cash sponsor DSB Bank of the Netherlands, which has declared bankruptcy.

The announcement was made Monday by Colbert, Olympic Gold medalist Dan Jansen and Bob Crowley, executive director of U.S. Speedskating.

To aid the team in its bid to bring America Olympic Gold, Colbert is urging his show’s fans to make donations in the name of The Colbert Nation at tulsaworld.com/colbert.

“We must ensure that it is America’s 38-inch thighs on that medal platform!” Colbert said in a press statement.

“U.S. Speedskating is thrilled to be able to create a unique partnership between one of the great entertainers in the industry and one of the great sports in the Olympic movement,” added Crowley. “Embracing the U.S. Speedskating Team will provide immeasurable exposure for our sport and very talented athletes.”

U.S. Speedskating is a non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union as the governing body for the sport of speedskating in the United States. America’s speedskating athletes are the most successful of all winter sport athletes, earning 75 gold medals. In the 2008-2009 season, Team USA has won a combined total of 64 world cup and world championship medals for long and short track events. On the 2010 team are veterans Apolo Anton Ohno, Chad Hedrick, Jen Rodriguez, Catherine Raney and several newcomers.

“The Colbert Report” airs at 10:30 p.m. weeknights on Comedy Central, cable 61. The Olympic games will be held Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver, Canada.

By RITA SHERROW World TV Editor

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "TV's Colbert will sponsor team," which was published on 11/4/2009. So far, 6 comments have been made.