Gaels Play Pivotal Role in Bringing Olympic Games to Life
Iona University students and alumni were hard at work bringing the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games into homes across the country
As the world turned its attention to Milano Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Gaels were hard at work helping to bring the Games into homes across the country. From producing to streaming and everywhere between, members of the Iona University community helped tell the stories of – and behind – the performances. Each step of the way, Gaels once again demonstrated how an Iona education translates into real-world impact on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Rebecca Bittner ’28: Gaining Meaningful Experience
For Rebecca Bittner, a Media & Strategic Communication major expected to graduate in May 2028, the Olympics marked a defining early chapter in her professional journey. Serving as an intern within NBC Sports’ immersion program, Bittner worked in digital ad commerce, streaming exclusive events across Peacock and NBC platforms while inserting advertising pods into live coverage.
“This experience was truly one of a kind,” Bittner said. “I was able to push myself and learn about thriving in a professional environment.
For Bittner, the experience was not only an opportunity to bolster her resume; it provided firsthand exposure to the world of sports broadcasting — providing practical experience and preparation to succeed in her career.
“It felt surreal that I was able to contribute and do my part during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics,” Bittner said. “All while representing Iona University and the type of students we pride ourselves on being."
Chernoh Jalloh ’25MA: Bringing the Games to Life
Just one year after earning his master’s degree in Sports Communication & Media, Chernoh Jalloh ’25MA helped power NBC’s Olympic curling coverage as a freelance production assistant.
Throughout the Games, Jalloh organized, tagged and managed broadcast footage of curling events, logging and time-coding commentator audio to support editors and producers. He also assisted with real-time asset retrieval, helping ensure smooth live and post-production workflows.
“Working the Winter Olympics was a life-changing experience,” Jalloh said. “It proved that the stories I once watched on TV were now the stages I help bring to life — from every sweep, every call and every stone.”
Nico Laveris ’23MA: Shaping the Story of Freestyle Skiing
As an associate producer at NBC Sports, Nico Laveris ’23MA served as edit producer for freestyle skiing, covering aerials and moguls.
In his role, Laveris produced short-form content for both daytime and primetime broadcasts across NBC platforms, crafting everything from quick-turn highlight packages to in-depth athlete features that captured the personal journeys behind the performances.
“Covering the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was an unforgettable milestone for me,” Laveris said. “Whether building momentum heading into a final run or delivering emotional depth in a feature piece, I was proud to produce content that elevated the viewer experience. Being part of such a globally celebrated event and collaborating with an incredibly talented team made this chapter of my career especially meaningful. It was truly a rewarding experience that I will carry with me for years to come.”
Gus Ramirez ’17, ’19MBA: Powering the Streaming Experience
For Gus Ramirez ’17, ’19MBA, the Milano Cortina Games marked his third Olympics with NBC. As an L2 Digital Operator on the NBC Sports streaming team, Ramirez helped run Peacock’s morning edition of NBC’s daily “Gold Zone” show.
Working as master controller, he oversaw prechecks for video, audio and graphics, coordinating closely with the production team to ensure the show ran smoothly for viewers streaming at home.
“This was my third Olympics,” Ramirez said. “It is always rewarding knowing that thousands of people are watching my work on Peacock and knowing that I am contributing the best work that I can. It is very tiring work for those two weeks but always rewarding once we get to the closing ceremony.”
Allen Pines ’21MA: From Digital Operator to Emmy Winner
Allen Pines ’21MA brought experience from four Olympic Games — Tokyo, Beijing, Paris and now Milan Cortina — to his current role as associate technical product owner at NBC.
Earlier in his career, Pines worked as a digital operator, assisting in launching and running live event streams for Peacock and the NBC App, monitoring events and escalating technical issues in real time. For Milan Cortina, he transitioned into a leadership-focused role, helping manage and enhance the tools the digital team uses to deliver those same streams successfully.
“While this past Olympics I got to work from home, the hustle and bustle of the 24/7 environment, while also living in a hotel in Stamford for the run of the games was a real grind, which I consider some of the best team building and overall accomplishments I can claim,” Pines said. “Our team was even awarded Sports Emmys for the Paris games, which now makes me an Emmy winner. I look forward to future Olympic events.”
From students gaining hands-on experience to alumni advancing in the industry, Gaels continue to make an impact in the professional world. Their work surrounding the 2026 Winter Olympic Games highlights the career readiness Iona students build — and the value of an education rooted in real-world opportunity.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.