notes

Eyes keep Costas on NBC shelf

The viral infection in Bob Costas' eyes did not clear up enough for him to return Wednesday to host the Olympic broadcasts from Sochi, keeping Matt Lauer in the anchor seat while he co-hosts the "Today" show.

On Tuesday night's broadcast, his first in relief, Lauer said: "I keep expecting Costas to follow in the footsteps of Willis Reed and hobble heroically in and take us through the second half."

As Lauer spoke, Costas was most likely in his darkened hotel room, treating his eyes with medication, eye drops and cold compresses. Costas remains day-to-day.

"Bob is America's Olympic host and they have been watching Bob do this and do it extraordinarily for several decades," said Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group. "No one is more frustrated or bothered by it than he is."

Ski jumpers crash

Gold medalist Kamil Stoch of Poland and Russian ski jumper Mikhail Maksimochkin crashed during landings while training for the individual large hill event.

Stoch, who won gold in the normal hill event Sunday, was the last jumper of the night when he fell. He walked off the hill after having a brace put onto his left arm.

Paramedics earlier immobilized Maksimochkin with a neck and back brace.

Kramer won't try four

Speedskater Sven Kramer decided that chasing four gold medals at Sochi would simply be too much. The Dutchman said he is withdrawing from Saturday's 1,500 to concentrate on the 10,000 in hopes of winning his second gold of the games.

Kramer won the 5,000 and is the favorite to win the 10,000 and lead the Netherlands to gold in the team pursuit.

Etc.

• U.S. Olympic leaders are sounding out international officials about a potential American bid for the Olympics, and the feedback is positive. The USOC is weighing a possible run for the 2024 Summer Games. If that's ruled out, the 2026 Winter Games would be an option.

• The Austrian Olympic Committee filed a complaint with the IOC after skier Elisabeth Goergl was drug-tested the night before the women's downhill. The Austrian committee said doping officials visited Goergl unannounced at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday.

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