SNL's Leslie Jones Will Join NBC Olympics Coverage as Contributor

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE cast member and Olympics super fan Leslie Jones is coming to Rio! She will join NBC Olympics as a contributor for its coverage of the Games of the xxI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Starting this Friday, Jones will attend live Olympic events, meet athletes, and spread her enthusiasm for the Olympics on-air and online during NBC Olympics' coverage of Rio 2016.

Since the Games began, Jones has been live-tweeting her Olympic viewing experience, along with witty commentary and words of support for Team USA. At the start of the Games, Jones posted on Twitter a video of herself decked out in the American flag and wearing plastic gold medals, cheering for Team USA and displaying her love for the Olympics. Upon seeing this, NBC Olympics Executive Producer Jim Bell invited Jones to Rio. Bell tweeted at Jones: "You're officially invited to Rio. Want to come?" Jones accepted today.

"We're thrilled to have Leslie come to the Olympics," said Bell. "She's a member of the family, and her passion for the Olympics is remarkable."

In 2014, Jones was hired by SNL as a writer, and quickly gained popularity after a memorable on-air appearance during the show's "Weekend Update" segment as herself. Upon returning for the show's 40th season, Jones became a cast member. Essence Magazine noted Jones' rise to success as "meteoric," while Vulture has cited Jones as an "SNL standout due to her brash sensibility, humor, and forceful presence."

Her film credits include Paul Feig's Ghostbusters, starring alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon, and the upcoming Masterminds.

Image courtesy of NBC

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