CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Champaign resident and Paralympic gold medalist Nichole Millage will be providing commentary NBC during the Paralympic games. Millage, a retired sitting volleyball player, and her teams won the gold medal in Tokyo 2020, silver in Beijing 2008, silver in London 2012, and gold in Rio 2016. 

The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, August 28, and closing ceremonies will follow on Sunday, September 8. 

This is Millage’s first time working for NBC as an analyst. The request from NBC came as a complete – but welcome – surprise. “As another Paralympic Games were fast approaching, I was looking forward to supporting and cheering on my former teammates, and taking on my new role as #1 fan. Then, I was absolutely elated when NBC approached me a few months ago about working as an analyst for the sitting volleyball matches in Paris! It just felt like a no brainer. I immediately jumped at the chance for this opportunity to tell the world about these amazing athletes and a sport that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart.”

The Para (in Paralympics) stands for parallel with or in a similar way to the Olympics Games. The Paralympic games always occur in the same venues and village, but the Paralympics are always held close to three weeks after the Olympics. 

There are 22 sports in the Summer Paralympics & six sports in the Winter Paralympics. 

  • Physical impairment (8 different types): amputees like Nichole, impaired muscle power, leg-length difference, etc. (sitting vball, wheelchair bball, cycling, badminton, archery, shooting, table tennis, powerlifting, rowing, sled hockey, track & field, etc.) 
  • Visual impairment: ranging from partial vision, sufficient to be judged legally blind to total blindness (sports include goalball, archery, swimming, track & field, etc.) 

Nichole believes that events will be available on NBC, CNBC, USA, with live streams available on the Peacock app. She will be located in Stamford, Connecticut at the NBC Studios there.

USA’s first match is Friday, Aug 30, against the USA’s biggest longtime rival, China. As of right now, NBC does not have access to the first 3 days of sitting volleyball (Aug 29-31) but they are working diligently to change that. Millage anticipates her first match will be USA vs. France.

Millage works for the City of Champaign Public Works department as an Environmental Sustainability Specialist.