PARIS, France — Michael Burns has been in Paris for more than a week already, even through the 2024 Olympic Games officially just got underway.
The University of Colorado professor, who works in the Department of Communications, is working with the Today Show during the Olympics. He traveled from Boulder, along with a CU student, to help with production management and logistics. It’s his eighth Olympic Games working with the Today team.
“I’m 'lead runner' for the Today Show. I oversee a lot of 20-somethings,” he laughed, referring to the interns looking to break into the broadcasting industry. “We run everywhere. A big part of what we do is, we arrive early, before most of the team gets here. We set up the office, buy office supplies, research areas of the city, understand the venues, work with transport teams to get drivers trained to get to and from venues and to the athletes’ village.
"And from there, the producers arrive. Once they arrive, we start helping them with research, picking up guests, working with athletes on the show. You name it — we do it. Props, cooking segments, running left and right — then we stay and help clean up at the end!”
Since the day he arrived, Burns said Parisians have been incredibly welcoming and excited to show off their city and country to the world.
“They’re super proud, super excited. Everywhere you walk in this city you can feel the energy. It’s like a party!” he said. “It’s been an awesome time. Everywhere we go, people want to chat, talk, learn about what we’re doing. The French and Parisians have opened their arms to us since we’ve arrived.”
And Burns is excited to see a return to “normalcy” for the Olympics this year.
“This is our first Olympics post-COVID,” he said. “It is so awesome to be back at an Olympics when it’s in its true exciting form with fans and excitement. We’re so excited to have it back to normal.”