CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE TORINO OLYMPICS SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. ET/PT ON NBC

CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE TORINO OLYMPICS SUNDAY AT 7 P.M. ET/PT ON NBC

Men's Gold Medal Hockey Game--Sweden vs. Finland--Sunday on NBC at 8 AM ET/PT & Streamed Live on NBCOlympics.com

"If Anyone Said They Had the Swedes and Finns in the Gold Medal Game, They are Lying. It's Like Saying You Knew the Ending of 'The Usual Suspects.'"--Ray Ferraro

TORINO, Italy--Feb. 25, 2006--The final night of the Torino Olympics is highlighted by the Closing Ceremony that promises an Italian-style celebration where the torch will be passed to Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan for the 2010 Winter Games during NBC's primetime coverage Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Bob Costas will host primetime coverage from NBC's Torino Olympic studio in the International Broadcast Center while Dan Hicks and Mary Carillo will co-host the Closing Ceremony from the Olympic Stadium in Torino with Andrea Joyce and Bob Neumeier reporting. Jimmy Roberts will also be at the stadium to present his "Chevrolet Olympic Moments" on Sullivan, who broke his neck in a skiing accident when he was 19 and has no use of his legs, fingers or hands. "Some have questioned the wisdom of Vancouver sending its worst skier to Torino," he said this week.

Tom Brokaw will join Costas as a special guest in the studio to present "Lasting Valor," based on the book of the same name. "Lasting Valor" tells the story of one American soldier, who fought alongside Italy's partisans over the mountains from Torino during World War II and was abandoned by his commanding officer during a suicide assault on the Nazis. The soldier, who became a symbol of freedom on two continents, was brought to the White House 50 years later to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Clinton.

Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne will sing during the handoff to representatives of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games in addition to other performers that include opera singer Andrea Bocelli, and "Livin' La Vida Loca'" crooner Ricky Martin. Speed skater Joey Cheek, who claimed Torino gold in the 500m and silver in the 1000m, was elected to carry the American flag during the Closing Ceremony.

The two remaining medals of the Torino Olympics are awarded Sunday as Sweden and Finland battle in the men's gold medal hockey game with coverage on NBC at 8 a.m. ET/PT and streamed live on NBCOlympics.com.

"Looking at the gold medal game, starting with the Finns, they have pretty much played perfect hockey so far. They shut down a very explosive team from Russia and actually made them look pretty ordinary. That being said, I expect the gold-medal game to be a very tactical game...and a very passionate game because of the two countries that are involved," said NBC's hockey studio analyst Ray Ferraro.

"If I'm making a pick, I'm going to take the Swedes just because I think they have a couple of extra guys that can score that the Finns don't have. It's going to be a great game to watch. If you've watched this tournament up to now, you know one thing has been clear throughout this whole thing--there has been no set formula followed by anyone. If anyone said they had the Swedes and Finns in the gold medal game, they are lying. It's like saying you knew the ending of 'The Usual Suspects.' There's just no way anyone could have predicted the way things have turned out."

Also before the Closing Ceremony, it's cross-country skiing's ultimate test--the 50km, a race of attrition that's actually longer than a marathon with more than 30 miles of breath-stealing, leg-burning agony.

"Soft under footing--six inches or more of snow before dawn Friday--may have as much to do with the 50K winner as pure talent or luck. My heart says national hero Pietro Piller Cottrer but my head says probably Frenchman Vincent Vittoz," said NBC's cross country analyst Paul Robbins.

Relive all of the thrilling moments from a fortnight of figure skating on "Figure Skating: The Best of Torino" at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

Highlights for Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006, include:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

NBC

8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Hockey--Men's Gold Medal Final (LIVE)--Sweden vs. Finland *The gold medal game will also be streamed Live on NBCOlympics.com

4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. "Figure Skating: The Best of Torino"

7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony Cross Country--Men's 50km Gold Medal Final

11:35 p.m.-3:30 a.m. Primetime Replay

USA

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. "The Olympic Champions"

UNIVERSAL HD

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. "The Olympic Champions"

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):

During the Closing Ceremony, the Torino Games will conclude with an Italian-style celebration featuring musical performances and the athletes of 2006 Winter Games.

Before the Closing Ceremony, it's cross-country skiing's ultimate test--the 50km, a race of attrition that's actually longer than a marathon with more than 30 miles of breath-stealing, leg-burning agony.

NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):

The men's hockey competition comes to a spectacular conclusion with a clash of--Sweden vs. Finland--the world's two best teams for Olympic gold.

Tune into "Figure Skating: The Best of Torino" and relive all of the thrilling moments from a fortnight of figure skating, from the dynamic pairs competition that jump-started the program to the climactic ladies' free skate and all of the stories in between of another memorable Olympic competition.

USA NETWORK:

"The Olympic Champions" is a final installment of the critically acclaimed "Olympic Ice," all-access figure skating show.

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