Editor’s note: This article by Blake Stilwell originally appeared on Military.com, a leading source of news for the military and veteran community.
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are set to be the most comprehensively covered Olympic Games ever. Three hours of Olympic competition will dominate NBC’s primetime schedule, capping off nine hours of coverage across all NBCUniversal networks during the day. Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, will stream nearly every moment, including all 39 sports and 329 medal events, and will feature full event replays.
This unprecedented coverage is good news for service members, retirees, family members and honorably discharged veterans, and anyone authorized to shop at the AAFES Exchange online for one simple reason: They’ll be able to watch all of it for free.
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The Paris Games run between July 26 and August 11, and during that period, users will be able to access NBC’s unparalleled Olympic coverage on desktop computers and mobile devices through their access to the AAFES Exchange website, ShopMyExchange.com.
Since becoming in 2000 the sole broadcaster to provide coverage of the Olympic Games, NBC and its now-parent company, Comcast NBC Universal, go all out to bring the Olympics to U.S. viewers. On top of the broadcast and streaming programming schedules, live coverage of the Opening Ceremonies will be available in more than 150 IMAX theaters across the United States.
To access this coverage, eligible military-connected sports fans can log into the NBC Olympics website or the NBC Sports app. After choosing the event they want to watch, they will be prompted to select a service provider. Here, they can choose the Exchange and enter their login information from the ShopMyExchange site.
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Those authorized to access AAFES Exchange services (view the full list of Exchange eligibility here) can view Olympic coverage in the U.S. Those who are overseas will have to use a U.S. military site with internet service from an AAFES authorized provider.
Anyone willing to pay for access to Peacock has another, entirely new way to watch the Olympic Games. For the first time, NBC will offer the Gold Zone channel from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Similar to NFL’s RedZone coverage, Gold Zone will jump viewers around to the most consequential parts of the Paris Olympics. With up to 40 events happening simultaneously, the Gold Zone is probably the most efficient and entertaining way to avoid missing any of the Games’ memorable moments. It’s even hosted by NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson. It is not included with the free AAFES access, however.
Viewers watching the Olympics with free AAFES access may want to cheer on the ten military members from Team USA, all from the U.S. Army, who will be competing in both the Olympic Games and Paralympics this year. Two more will be coaching teams.
- Spc. Kamal Bey, Greco-Roman Wrestling (77 kg)
- Staff Sgt. Will Hinton, Shooting: Olympic Trap
- Staff Sgt. Leonard E. Korir, Track and Field: Marathon
- Sgt. 1st Class John Joss III, Paralympic Shooting
- Sgt. Sagen Maddalena, Shooting: 50m Smallbore and 10m Air Rifle
- Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Marks, Paralympic Swimming
- Staff Sgt. Kevin Nguyen, Paralympic Shooting
- Sgt. Ivan Roe, Shooting: 50m Smallbore and 10m Air Rifle
- Capt. Samantha K. Sullivan, Women’s Rugby
- Staff Sgt. Rachel Tozier, Shooting: Olympic Trap
- Master Sgt. Dennis Bowsher, Modern Pentathlon Coach
- Sgt. 1st Class Spenser Mango, Wrestling Coach
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