FIGURE SKATING BEGINS, HEDRICK MAKES OLYMPIC DEBUT & KEARNEY GOES FOR GOLD IN MOGULS ON SATURDAY, DAY 2 OF THE TORINO GAMES

NBC'S SATURDAY PRIMETIME OLYMPIC COVERAGE BEGINS AT 8 P.M. ET/PT

TORINO, Italy -- February 10, 2006 -- Figure skating begins and Chad Hedrick and Hannah Kearney go for gold in Torino highlighting NBC's "Complete Olympics" coverage continuing Saturday on NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Universal HD and NBC HDTV. NBC's primetime coverage of the Torino Games begins Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/PT with the pairs short program and America's first look at Houston's Chad Hedrick, the two-time reigning world champion in the men's 5000m.

NBC's Jamie Sal� and David Pelletier were at the center of the 2002 Salt Lake figure skating judging scandal that eventually led to their shared gold medal, with the Russian pair Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, and a new judging system for the sport. That new scoring system will appear for the first time in Olympic competition during Saturday's pairs short program.

"Before it was a lot about who you were and paying your dues. Now with this new system today, it doesn't matter who you are. You can be someone who is there for the first time and come out and win," said Sal�. Pelletier added, "Right now we don't know what's happening behind the score that we see on the board and that's kind of a scary thing. But that being said, the skating itself has improved tremendously in the last four years and that's a very good aspect of that new skating judging system."

In speed skating, Hedrick begins his quest for five golds in Torino after being inspired to switch from inline skating to the ice while watching the Salt Lake Games. NBC's Dan Jansen on Hedrick: "He's from Texas, and he's all Texas. He's very confident and he loves being here. He didn't even skate on ice four years ago and now he's an Olympic favorite."

Additional action includes reigning world champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, Vt.) going for gold in the women's moguls and the men's downhill final timed training, which helps determine the start order for Sunday's men's downhill and offers a first look at the men who will make one daring downhill dash for gold tomorrow night, including reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) and veteran Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) of Team USA. Bob Costas will host NBC's primetime coverage throughout the Games.

Highlights for Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, include:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

NBC

3:00 p.m.�6:00 p.m. Luge�Men's Singles Competition Nordic Combined�Individual Gold Medal Final Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Final Timed Training Figure Skating�Pairs Preview

8:00 p.m.�11:30 p.m. Figure Skating�Pairs Short Program Freestyle Skiing�Women's Moguls Gold Medal Final Speed Skating�Men's 5000m Gold Medal Final Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Final Timed Training

Midnight�1:00 a.m. Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Competition Figure Skating�Pairs Analysis Medals Plaza�Awards Ceremony

1:00 a.m.�4:30 a.m. Primetime Replay

USA

7:00 a.m.�9:00 a.m. Biathlon�Men's 20km Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

Noon�2:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Switzerland (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

CNBC

7:00 a.m.�Noon Hockey�Women: Finland vs. Germany (LIVE) Sweden vs. Russia (LIVE)

2:30 p.m.�5:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Italy (LIVE)

UNIVERSAL HD

7:00 a.m.�Noon Hockey�Women: Finland vs. Germany (LIVE) Sweden vs. Russia (LIVE)

Noon�2:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Switzerland (LIVE)

2:30 p.m.�5:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Italy (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

Gold medal favorites in the 2006 Olympic pairs competition are Russia's Tatyana Totmiyanina and Maxim Marinin, who live and train in Chicago. The two-time reigning world champions are back after a scary crash at a competition in Pittsburgh in October 2004 � Totmiyanina fell to the unforgiving ice headfirst. The crash and her remarkably quick recovery received widespread media attention last fall and an outpouring of fan support. Also watch for the top U.S. team, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin (Santa Monica, Calif.) who became the first pair in history to land the throw triple Axel in competition at the 2006 U.S. Championships.

America's first look at Houston's Chad Hedrick, the two-time reigning world champion in the men's 5000m makes his Olympic debut today. Hedrick, a former inline skating world champion, was inspired to switch to speed skating just four years ago when he watched former inline rival Derek Parra win gold in Salt Lake City while playing blackjack in Las Vegas.

Reigning world champion in women's moguls Hannah Kearney makes her Olympic debut tonight. Just two years ago, the 19-year-old New Hampshire native was a high school star in soccer and track that also happened to be an up and coming freestyle skier.

The men's downhill, final timed training helps determine the start order for Sunday's downhill and offers a first look at the men who will make one daring downhill dash for gold tomorrow night, including reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) and veteran Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) of Team USA. Miller and Rahlves won gold and silver at the 2005 World Championships in Bormio, Italy.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

The USA has never won a medal in Nordic Combined, in which athletes must combine the power and agility of ski jumping with the endurance and determination of cross-country skiing. Veteran U.S. Olympian Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) has a chance to end that drought, if he can keep pace with German world champion Ronny Ackermann, the gold medal favorite.

In the men's singles luge competition, defending Olympic champion Italian Armin Zoeggeler begins his chase for a second straight gold, which could be the first for the host country Italy at the Torino Games. Also watch for Minnesota's Tony Benshoof, an emerging contender who's having his best season.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):

Ski Jumping begins as the world's best soar beyond the length of a football field in pursuit of Olympic gold. Watch for Finnish star Janne Ahonen, who doubles as a drag racer back home.

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

The puck drops for the first day of two scintillating weeks of Olympic hockey, featuring LIVE coverage of the world champion U.S. women's hockey team against Switzerland. Olympic veterans Angela Ruggiero ( Harper Woods, Mich.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Team USA as they attempt to reclaim gold after falling to archrival Canada four years ago.

Be sure to set your alarm in time to catch LIVE coverage of the men's 20km gold medal biathlon final, the Torino Winter Games' first medal event, featuring one of stars of the Salt Lake Games, five-time Olympic gold medalist Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway in the first of five chances to strike gold in Torino.

Highlights for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, include:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

NBC

3:00 p.m.�6:00 p.m. Speed Skating�Women's 3000m Gold Medal Final Cross Country�Women's Pursuit Competition Cross Country�Men's Pursuit Competition Luge�Men's Singles Competition

7:00 p.m.�11:30 p.m. Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Gold Medal Final Short Track Speed Skating�Men's 1500m Gold Medal Final Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Gold Medal Final Snowboarding�Men's Halfpipe Gold Medal Final Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Gold Medal Final Luge�Men's Singles Gold Medal Final

12:05 a.m.�1:00 a.m. Short Track Speed Skating�Women's 3000m Relay Competition Women's 500m Competition Medals Plaza�Awards Ceremonies

1:00 a.m.�5:00 a.m. Primetime Replay

CNBC 10:30 a.m.�1:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Russia (LIVE)

USA 1:00 p.m.�3:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Germany (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

UNIVERSAL HD

10:30 a.m.�1:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Russia (LIVE)

1:00 p.m.�3:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Germany (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

Reigning World Champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) makes his Torino debut in the Men's Downhill, the most thrilling event in alpine skiing. Miller and California's Daron Rahlves, who won gold and silver, respectively, at the 2005 World Championships in Bormio, Italy, will race two miles in two minutes in pursuit of Olympic gold, and give the U.S. its most potent 1-2 punch ever in this event.

Another Salt Lake gold medalist returns to the Olympic stage, as electrifying Seattle native Apolo Anton Ohno, who won the gold medal in the 1500m event four years ago amid controversy (his South Korean rival was disqualified for interfering with Ohno), looks to add to his collection of Olympic gold and his reputation as his sport's marquee star.

Four years ago, American snowboarders swept the men's halfpipe medals 1-2-3, and Team USA once again fields a strong group, which includes Salt Lake silver medalist Danny Kass (Greenwich, Conn.), crossover skateboarding star Shaun White (Carlsbad, Calif.), and Andy Finch (Fresno, Calif.)

Janne Ahonen, the latest in a long line of "Flying Finns", attempts to return his nation to ski jumping's pinnacle and cement his reputation as a two-sport star back home � he's also a champion drag racer in Finland.

In the luge men's singles gold medal final, defending Olympic champion Italian Armin Zoeggeler, attempts to win Italy's first gold medal of the Torino Games. Also watch for Minnesota's Tony Benshoof, an emerging contender who's having his best season.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

In speed skating's 3000m gold medal final, expect a cross-Atlantic clash as Germany's Anni Friesinger, whose model good looks have earned her the nickname "Sexy Anni" and made her one of the most popular winter athletes back home, meets Canada's Cindy Klassen, who's thrived since making a successful transition to the sport after she was cut from the Canadian hockey team before the 1998 Games.

Comprehensive coverage of the men's and women's cross country pursuit competitions.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):

The Winter Games' most frenetic sport will keep you awake as short track's female stars look to advance toward gold medal finals in the relay and 500m events. China's Yang Yang (A), double gold medalist from Salt Lake City, has returned from retirement to lead China's charge, and up-and-coming skaters Allison Baver (Reading, Pa.) and Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) pace Team USA.

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

LIVE hockey coverage continues with Team USA in action against Germany.

Listings subject to change, please check NBCOlympics.com for updates.

FIGURE SKATING BEGINS, HEDRICK MAKES OLYMPIC DEBUT & KEARNEY GOES FOR GOLD IN MOGULS ON SATURDAY, DAY 2 OF THE TORINO GAMES

NBC'S SATURDAY PRIMETIME OLYMPIC COVERAGE BEGINS AT 8 P.M. ET/PT

TORINO, Italy -- February 10, 2006 -- Figure skating begins and Chad Hedrick and Hannah Kearney go for gold in Torino highlighting NBC's "Complete Olympics" coverage continuing Saturday on NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Universal HD and NBC HDTV. NBC's primetime coverage of the Torino Games begins Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/PT with the pairs short program and America's first look at Houston's Chad Hedrick, the two-time reigning world champion in the men's 5000m.

NBC's Jamie Sal� and David Pelletier were at the center of the 2002 Salt Lake figure skating judging scandal that eventually led to their shared gold medal, with the Russian pair Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, and a new judging system for the sport. That new scoring system will appear for the first time in Olympic competition during Saturday's pairs short program.

"Before it was a lot about who you were and paying your dues. Now with this new system today, it doesn't matter who you are. You can be someone who is there for the first time and come out and win," said Sal�. Pelletier added, "Right now we don't know what's happening behind the score that we see on the board and that's kind of a scary thing. But that being said, the skating itself has improved tremendously in the last four years and that's a very good aspect of that new skating judging system."

In speed skating, Hedrick begins his quest for five golds in Torino after being inspired to switch from inline skating to the ice while watching the Salt Lake Games. NBC's Dan Jansen on Hedrick: "He's from Texas, and he's all Texas. He's very confident and he loves being here. He didn't even skate on ice four years ago and now he's an Olympic favorite."

Additional action includes reigning world champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, Vt.) going for gold in the women's moguls and the men's downhill final timed training, which helps determine the start order for Sunday's men's downhill and offers a first look at the men who will make one daring downhill dash for gold tomorrow night, including reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) and veteran Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) of Team USA. Bob Costas will host NBC's primetime coverage throughout the Games.

Highlights for Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, include:

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

NBC

3:00 p.m.�6:00 p.m. Luge�Men's Singles Competition Nordic Combined�Individual Gold Medal Final Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Final Timed Training Figure Skating�Pairs Preview

8:00 p.m.�11:30 p.m. Figure Skating�Pairs Short Program Freestyle Skiing�Women's Moguls Gold Medal Final Speed Skating�Men's 5000m Gold Medal Final Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Final Timed Training

Midnight�1:00 a.m. Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Competition Figure Skating�Pairs Analysis Medals Plaza�Awards Ceremony

1:00 a.m.�4:30 a.m. Primetime Replay

USA

7:00 a.m.�9:00 a.m. Biathlon�Men's 20km Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

Noon�2:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Switzerland (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

CNBC

7:00 a.m.�Noon Hockey�Women: Finland vs. Germany (LIVE) Sweden vs. Russia (LIVE)

2:30 p.m.�5:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Italy (LIVE)

UNIVERSAL HD

7:00 a.m.�Noon Hockey�Women: Finland vs. Germany (LIVE) Sweden vs. Russia (LIVE)

Noon�2:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Switzerland (LIVE)

2:30 p.m.�5:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Italy (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

Gold medal favorites in the 2006 Olympic pairs competition are Russia's Tatyana Totmiyanina and Maxim Marinin, who live and train in Chicago. The two-time reigning world champions are back after a scary crash at a competition in Pittsburgh in October 2004 � Totmiyanina fell to the unforgiving ice headfirst. The crash and her remarkably quick recovery received widespread media attention last fall and an outpouring of fan support. Also watch for the top U.S. team, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin (Santa Monica, Calif.) who became the first pair in history to land the throw triple Axel in competition at the 2006 U.S. Championships.

America's first look at Houston's Chad Hedrick, the two-time reigning world champion in the men's 5000m makes his Olympic debut today. Hedrick, a former inline skating world champion, was inspired to switch to speed skating just four years ago when he watched former inline rival Derek Parra win gold in Salt Lake City while playing blackjack in Las Vegas.

Reigning world champion in women's moguls Hannah Kearney makes her Olympic debut tonight. Just two years ago, the 19-year-old New Hampshire native was a high school star in soccer and track that also happened to be an up and coming freestyle skier.

The men's downhill, final timed training helps determine the start order for Sunday's downhill and offers a first look at the men who will make one daring downhill dash for gold tomorrow night, including reigning world champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) and veteran Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) of Team USA. Miller and Rahlves won gold and silver at the 2005 World Championships in Bormio, Italy.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

The USA has never won a medal in Nordic Combined, in which athletes must combine the power and agility of ski jumping with the endurance and determination of cross-country skiing. Veteran U.S. Olympian Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) has a chance to end that drought, if he can keep pace with German world champion Ronny Ackermann, the gold medal favorite.

In the men's singles luge competition, defending Olympic champion Italian Armin Zoeggeler begins his chase for a second straight gold, which could be the first for the host country Italy at the Torino Games. Also watch for Minnesota's Tony Benshoof, an emerging contender who's having his best season.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):

Ski Jumping begins as the world's best soar beyond the length of a football field in pursuit of Olympic gold. Watch for Finnish star Janne Ahonen, who doubles as a drag racer back home.

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

The puck drops for the first day of two scintillating weeks of Olympic hockey, featuring LIVE coverage of the world champion U.S. women's hockey team against Switzerland. Olympic veterans Angela Ruggiero ( Harper Woods, Mich.) and Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Team USA as they attempt to reclaim gold after falling to archrival Canada four years ago.

Be sure to set your alarm in time to catch LIVE coverage of the men's 20km gold medal biathlon final, the Torino Winter Games' first medal event, featuring one of stars of the Salt Lake Games, five-time Olympic gold medalist Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway in the first of five chances to strike gold in Torino.

Highlights for Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, include:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

NBC

3:00 p.m.�6:00 p.m. Speed Skating�Women's 3000m Gold Medal Final Cross Country�Women's Pursuit Competition Cross Country�Men's Pursuit Competition Luge�Men's Singles Competition

7:00 p.m.�11:30 p.m. Alpine Skiing�Men's Downhill Gold Medal Final Short Track Speed Skating�Men's 1500m Gold Medal Final Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Gold Medal Final Snowboarding�Men's Halfpipe Gold Medal Final Ski Jumping�K95 Individual Gold Medal Final Luge�Men's Singles Gold Medal Final

12:05 a.m.�1:00 a.m. Short Track Speed Skating�Women's 3000m Relay Competition Women's 500m Competition Medals Plaza�Awards Ceremonies

1:00 a.m.�5:00 a.m. Primetime Replay

CNBC 10:30 a.m.�1:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Russia (LIVE)

USA 1:00 p.m.�3:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Germany (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

UNIVERSAL HD

10:30 a.m.�1:00 p.m. Hockey�Women: Canada vs. Russia (LIVE)

1:00 p.m.�3:30 p.m. Hockey�Women: USA vs. Germany (LIVE)

6:00 p.m.�7:00 p.m. Olympic Ice

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

Reigning World Champion Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) makes his Torino debut in the Men's Downhill, the most thrilling event in alpine skiing. Miller and California's Daron Rahlves, who won gold and silver, respectively, at the 2005 World Championships in Bormio, Italy, will race two miles in two minutes in pursuit of Olympic gold, and give the U.S. its most potent 1-2 punch ever in this event.

Another Salt Lake gold medalist returns to the Olympic stage, as electrifying Seattle native Apolo Anton Ohno, who won the gold medal in the 1500m event four years ago amid controversy (his South Korean rival was disqualified for interfering with Ohno), looks to add to his collection of Olympic gold and his reputation as his sport's marquee star.

Four years ago, American snowboarders swept the men's halfpipe medals 1-2-3, and Team USA once again fields a strong group, which includes Salt Lake silver medalist Danny Kass (Greenwich, Conn.), crossover skateboarding star Shaun White (Carlsbad, Calif.), and Andy Finch (Fresno, Calif.)

Janne Ahonen, the latest in a long line of "Flying Finns", attempts to return his nation to ski jumping's pinnacle and cement his reputation as a two-sport star back home � he's also a champion drag racer in Finland.

In the luge men's singles gold medal final, defending Olympic champion Italian Armin Zoeggeler, attempts to win Italy's first gold medal of the Torino Games. Also watch for Minnesota's Tony Benshoof, an emerging contender who's having his best season.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

In speed skating's 3000m gold medal final, expect a cross-Atlantic clash as Germany's Anni Friesinger, whose model good looks have earned her the nickname "Sexy Anni" and made her one of the most popular winter athletes back home, meets Canada's Cindy Klassen, who's thrived since making a successful transition to the sport after she was cut from the Canadian hockey team before the 1998 Games.

Comprehensive coverage of the men's and women's cross country pursuit competitions.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):

The Winter Games' most frenetic sport will keep you awake as short track's female stars look to advance toward gold medal finals in the relay and 500m events. China's Yang Yang (A), double gold medalist from Salt Lake City, has returned from retirement to lead China's charge, and up-and-coming skaters Allison Baver (Reading, Pa.) and Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) pace Team USA.

USA HIGHLIGHTS:

LIVE hockey coverage continues with Team USA in action against Germany.

Listings subject to change, please check NBCOlympics.com for updates.