NBC’s Katie Couric has apologized for suggesting Olympians from the Netherlands excel at ice skating because the Dutch skate to work every day — as the nation’s US embassy took her to task over the ridiculous claim.
“My apologies for being on thin ice for my comments re: skating on canals. I was trying to salute your historical passion for the sport but it didn’t come out that way!” she tweeted Monday night.
Couric said during Friday night’s opening ceremony that the Netherlands “has lots of canals that can freeze in the winter. So for as long as those canals have existed, the Dutch have skated on them to get from place to place, to race each other and also to have fun.”
A flood of criticism ensued.
“Dear @katiecouric, the Dutch do NOT skate to work. Skating on clogs is too hard, even for us,” chided Twitter user Gert van Dijk.
“You just can’t make this up,” tweeted Jos Duijvestein. “NBC opening ceremony coverage. Katie Couric talks about why The Netherlands is so good at speed skating as The Netherlands enters the stadium. And this folks is why Americans are less bright about the rest of the world as they spread fake news!”
She issued her mea culpa after the Dutch embassy threw her some social media shade.
“Hi @katiecouric, please come visit the Netherlands. We’d love to show you all the innovative ways the Dutch get around 🚴🚘⚡🚊🚄🛥, & are building the future of transportation. Of course, we can also visit our famous skating rinks. Let’s break the ice!,” the account tweeted.
The embassy said it would let her comments “slide” following the apology.
“Please do come to the Netherlands @katiecouric,” Dutch Ambassador to the US Henne Schuwer added. “And when (🤞) you do, I’ll be glad to host you in Amsterdam and show the historic canals.”