NBC Cuts IOC President Thomas Bach's Remarks from Olympics Opener

Deadline writes that NBC cut anti-discrimination remarks from IOC President Thomas Bach during the Sochi Olympics' opening ceremony. The network says this was due to time constraints.

"The IOC's President was edited for time, as were other speeches, but his message got across very clearly to viewers," said an NBC spokesperson.

Read the original report here.

Viewers in other countries heard the entire speech, which included a statement by Bach on Russia's anti-gay policies.

"It is possible, even as competitors, to live together under one roof in harmony, with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason," he said.

ABOUT THE OPENING CEREMONY: Matt Lauer, co-anchor of TODAY, and Meredith Vieira, special correspondent for TODAY, hosted the Opening Ceremony on NBC on Friday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Lauer and Vieira were joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New Yorker editor David Remnick. Lauer and Vieira will be covering their respective eighth and fourth Olympics for NBC. Bob Costas, Primetime host of NBC Olympics coverage of the Sochi Games anchored the ceremony from the International Broadcast Center.

ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS: A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal's Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history