The claws are already out when it comes to Summer Olympics counterprogramming.
Hallmark Channel is launching its "Kitten Summer Games" on Aug. 5th — the same day the Summer Olympics for two-legged competitors kick off in Rio. And they're bringing on some big names from the world of (human) athletics to provide commentary and support, most notably Olympic and World Cup soccer gold medalist Brandi Chastain and the irrepressible (translation: shirtless and dancing pretty much whenever he's not flattening defenses on the playing field) NFL superstar Rob Gronkowski.
Wait … The Gronk likes cute little kitty-cats?!
Apparently so, considering he posed for this elaborate photo spread in ESPN The Magazine a few years ago with kittens draped around his — shirtless, natch — body.
This first ever Kitten Summer Games is a natural extension of the "Kitten Bowl," Hallmark's adorably successful attempt at Super Bowl Sunday counterprogramming in recent years. And they're not pussyfooting around: Don't expect to see anything like the Meowing Marathon or the High Purr-dles in August. Instead, events in the Kitten Games will mirror the most popular ones at the real Summer Games, including including kitten gymnastics with balance beam, uneven bars, rings and floor exercises; track and field with a de-CAT-hlon, pole vault, and high jump, as well as volleyball, tennis and wrestling.
Gronk, we presume, will cheer for the kitten who competes with the least fur on its chest.
