US Olympics host Katie Couric sorry for Dutch skating flub
The Dutch embassy in the United States invited American TV host Katie Couric to visit the Netherlands so that she can see "all the innovative ways the Dutch get around". This follows Couric saying that the Dutch are good at speed skating because they skate to work.
"It's probably not a news flash to tell you the Dutch are really, really good at speed skating... 'Why are they so good?' you may be asking yourself", Couric said during the Olympic Opening Ceremony as the Dutch athletes came in. "Because skating is an important mode of transportation in a city like Amsterdam." She explained: "As you all know, it has lots of canals that can freeze in the winters." And: "So, for as long as those canals have existed, the Dutch have skated on them to get form place to place, to race each other and also to have fun."
You just can't make this up.
β Jos Duijvestein π³π± π¨π¦ (@JosDuijvestein) February 10, 2018
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! pic.twitter.com/7YC5deTl2w
As can be imagined, these comments led to a flood of indignant social media responses from people in the Netherlands, as well as a number of memes - and an invitation from the Dutch embassy extended to Couric.
"Hi Katie Couric, please come visit the Netherlands. We'd love to show you all the innovative ways the Dutch get around, and are building the future of transportation", the embassy wrote, referring to the Netherlands' work in developing the hyperloop. "Of course, we can also visit our famous skating rinks. Let's break the ice!"
Hi @katiecouric, please come visit the Netherlands. We'd love to show you all the innovative ways the Dutch get around π΄πβ‘πππ₯οΈ, & are building the future of transportation. Of course, we can also visit our famous skating rinks. Letβs break the ice! https://t.co/6COFp0jlxh
β Netherlands Embassy in the US π³π±πΊπΈ (@NLintheUSA) February 12, 2018
Couric replied with an apology, and congratulations for the medals the Netherlands won so far in the Winter Olympics:
Congrats #Netherlands on your π₯count so far! 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 didnβt come out that way! Iβd β€οΈ to visit again & celebrate your success! π³π± https://t.co/NvYi7LwB2V
β Katie Couric (@katiecouric) February 12, 2018
Below see some of the responses Couric's skating comments got on Twitter:
Because this literally happens every ten years or so and itβs a huge ordeal when it does!!! Us being able to skate on open water is as rare as a sane tweet from your president.
β Manonvbππ (@Manonvb) February 13, 2018
Please come! You can see some highlights and take @petehoekstra home.
β MK (@mkramer01) February 13, 2018
Thanks for your nice remarks on my country. I actually don't understand all the fuzz. Your idea of our skating culture is a romantic one and I think most Dutch people wished it was actually true :-) So cheers from Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/ielpOLi34A
β Joeri Donsu (@Joejoesan) February 13, 2018
Dear @katiecouric, the Dutch do NOT skate to work.
β Ethiek is overal (@Gert_van_Dijk) February 11, 2018
Skating on clogs is too hard, even for us. https://t.co/WkwQ0yQTIf
This is true, this is me skating to work at the cheese factory last friday pic.twitter.com/otHRmDSeys
β Thomas Hogeling (@ThomasHogeling) February 11, 2018
Indeed! This is the typical morning commute for the windmill workers in Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/Y15HX3gzGx
β Steven Ottens π (@stvno) February 11, 2018