Ryan Opila Earns Olympics Internship with NBC Sports

2016 Jul 14

Scottsdale resident Ryan Opila has been selected by NBC Sports to assist with the network's coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, being held Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro. Opila is a junior integrated marketing communications major in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College.

A total of 13 students from the Park School will be serving essential behind-the-scenes roles at the world's biggest athletic event. Opila will serve as a runner at the NBC Sports broadcast and production facility in Stamford, Connecticut. As a runner, he will be involved in all aspects of production.

"I love the Olympics," said Opila. "Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to work on the Olympics and be a part of telling the story of the Olympics."

Ithaca College students have previously interned at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, 2012 Summer Olympics in London, 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino.

"I'm very proud that NBC has recruited interns from the Park School for every Olympics since 2006; for each of these students, it represents a validation of the comprehensive education they've received in their courses, in our co-curricular student media organizations, and through prior internships," said Diane Gayeski, dean of the Park School. "I consistently hear from internship supervisors that our students are not only well-prepared, but that they also are exceptionally hard working and team oriented. The Olympics will provide an exceptionally challenging and complex environment for them to build their skills and professional networks."