One of the biggest stars of the 2014 Winter Olympics will be forced to sit out during Tuesday night's competitions. No, it's not one of the athletes.
"If you've been watching, you've seen Bob Costas, and he will not be in the anchor chair tonight. He's been struggling with this infection in his eye. It's now gone to both eyes." (Via WHDH)
Costas has been trying to tough out a pretty persistent eye infection since the beginning of the Sochi Games. He's been a real trooper, but even Olympics viewers have noticed the infection has certainly spread since last week.
NBC confirms the "Today" show's Matt Lauer will fill in for Costas while he takes some time off to rest and let the infection heal.
Costas himself hasn't said exactly what kind of infection he's suffering from, but Time and several news outlets are reporting he has conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
He told Sports Illustrated: "If it was just discomfort, I'd be there. ... It's a viral infection, and all you can do is try to manage the symptoms while the virus runs its course. But I'm hopeful that those symptoms will improve in the next couple of days and I can return to the broadcast."
But the anchor did try one last thing to get rid of the infection on air Monday night.
"I'm not really that much of a vodka guy. I'm looking at it this way, though: My eyes can't get any redder." (Via NBC / "Olympic Late Night")
Tuesday's coverage of the games will be the first time in 26 years someone other than Costas will host the Olympic prime-time show on NBC. Lauer says he's happy to keep Costas' chair warm for him — as long as he can put some Purell on it first.
