Olympic reporter slurs words in bizarre TV report as colleague forced to step in
Concerns have been raised over the wellbeing of Today show presenter Danika Mason after she was heard slurring her words during a live report from the Winter Olympics.
With around 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries currently competing in the Winter Olympic Games, the multi-sport competition is of course receiving media attention from across the world.
Hundreds of reporters from a wide range of media outlets have arrived in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy to cover their athletes, with some focusing on the success of their country while others look at the various controversies surrounding the Games.
Among the media outlets in Italy is Australian network Channel 9, with the Today show's Mason covering the successes of Team Australia, who have picked up five medals so far, including three golds.
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However, Mason's latest report has caused a stir online as viewers expressed concerns as she was heard slurring her words, forcing colleagues Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi to step in.
During their morning report, Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi spoke with Mason who was standing outside during a snowstorm at around 10pm local time.
Speaking in her segment, Mason addressed the price of coffee in Livingo after Stefanovic likened her to a frozen iguana.
"The price of coffee over here is actually fine... it's actually the price of coffee in the US we have to get used to... I'm not sure about the iguanas? Where are we going with that one?" Mason asked.
"Anyway, let's get into today's sport because there's plenty happening back home."
It didn't take long for viewers watching the segment to express concern online about Mason's delivery of her report, with many pointing out that she was clearly slurring her words and struggling to deliver full sentences.
Stefanovic and Azzopardi also noticed, as they suggested that the cold weather conditions - around -8 degrees Celsius - in Livingo were potentially impacting their colleague's speech.
Social media has lit up with speculation after popular Channel 9 sports and rugby league host Danika Mason appeared on morning television struggling to get her words out while covering the Winter Olympics in Italy.
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"There is such a cold wind, you can't actually move your lips," Stefanovic claimed.
Clips from the report were posted across Channel Nine's social media accounts, but comments were quickly turned off after many joked about the , while others suggested there may have been other factors contributing to Mason's speech.
Ben McCrum