91Èȱ¬'s sport programmes move to the fore
In our planning for 2012, there was never any doubt about what would be the most intense period: the Olympic Games themselves from July 27 to August 12.
But we also knew that this would be a summer where people would want to enjoy the build-up to the big event.
That's why we committed to covering the Olympic torch relay on every step of the journey and why we've always been enthusiastic supporters of the London 2012 Festival.
On both those fronts we'd say "so far, so good". The torch has been a major hit in communities right across the UK, and as an addition to the schedule we'll be marking the journey with a documentary on 91Èȱ¬ One on Wednesday July 25.
The festival, meanwhile, has had some remarkable broadcast pieces: the Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, Britain In A Day, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra concert from Stirling - and the magnificent series of Shakespeare films on 91Èȱ¬ Two.
As we get closer to the Games, the emphasis naturally moves towards sport and I want to pick out some of the programmes you'll be able to see and hear before the Opening Ceremony.
It's not a comprehensive list, but I hope it illustrates the range that's on offer across the 91Èȱ¬.
The most ambitious series runs this week. "Faster, Higher, Stronger" is four one-hour history programmes about the Olympics, though they're not a typical chronology of the Games.
Mark Spitz, who won a then record seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics
Instead, each show is based around a particular sport or event: the 100m, the 1500m, swimming and gymnastics.
What makes it for me is the brilliant use of archive, which offers both nostalgia and insight. I'd no idea until now about how the butterfly stroke started, for instance; and the dissection of how the 100m is run is the best I've seen on television.
It's all supplemented with interviews with the stars as they are today, and journalists at the 91Èȱ¬ Olympics launch loved Nadia Comaneci's account of that perfect 10 in Montreal.
Highly recommended not just by me but by the newspaper previewers too. Monday to Thursday at 7pm on 91Èȱ¬ Two.
There are more sport documentaries coming up on 91Èȱ¬ One.
The featured stars are:
- Victoria Pendleton, July 18
- Tom Daley, provisionally July 26
Over on 91Èȱ¬ Three there will be a film they're calling the "Bad Boy Olympian" - judo's Ashley McKenzie - as well as a countdown of the Olympics' Amazing Moments.
On July 17 they'll be asking the question, increasingly salient, "Can Anyone Beat Bolt?"
Throughout London's Olympic and Paralympic story, probably the most diligent chronicler in the 91Èȱ¬ has been Radio 5 Live and they're not letting up in the closing days.
This week on the evening of July 10 we have a - looking at how Team GB might do - and on July 11 an that tries to explain the Games. Then the regular London Calling strand with Eleanor Oldroyd goes international on July 12.
For those who aren't out-and-out sport fans, we have other genres coming into play too.
The warm, history-based drama "Bert and Dickie" will have a peak slot on 91Èȱ¬ One just before the Games; and the show we all love in the 91Èȱ¬ 2012 project "Twenty Twelve" will be raising some laughs again from Tuesday night on 91Èȱ¬ Two.
We'll alert you to more programmes and the precise timings as each one becomes closer; and our hope is that by the time we're ready for the Opening Ceremony, you'll be in the mood for the feast of live sport that follows.
I'm Roger Mosey, the 91Èȱ¬'s director of London 2012. That means I'm overseeing all the 91Èȱ¬'s 2012 preparations including not just sport but the Cultural Olympiad, our Olympic news and information services and everything that will bring the story of the London Games to audiences at home and abroad. I want to share here what we're planning - and debate some of the big issues. You can also follow me on .
Comment number 1.
At 9th Jul 2012, Tiger Rose wrote:Thanks for the update Roger - looking forward to these.
One thing missing for me (and perhaps an idea for 2016) is an in depth documentary on the Ancient Olympics. Mary Beard wrote an excellent newspaper article on this recently and has done a number of programmes for the 91Èȱ¬ in recent years so would be an obvious choice to present this.
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Comment number 2.
At 10th Jul 2012, Brekkie wrote:Still to watch the first episode of Faster, Higher, Strong but doesn't look like it's the complete Olympic story like the Essential Olympics was pre-1996. All in all I think the build up has actually turned out to be fairly low key but glad to see you're dedicated the day to the build up on the 27th.
One question - with 91Èȱ¬ HD largely simulcasting 91Èȱ¬3 coverage and 91Èȱ¬1 coverage switching to 91Èȱ¬2 during the news will we get that a rather annyoing switch in coverage on 91Èȱ¬ HD at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm (ish) from the 91Èȱ¬3 broadcast to 91Èȱ¬2?
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Comment number 3.
At 10th Jul 2012, David Shield wrote:Looking at next week's Radio Times I don't think I will be able to keep up!
Really looking forward to the Victoria Pendleton documentary then there is a second Usain Bolt programme on 91Èȱ¬3 as well as an interesting looking football documentary, the GB warm up basketball matches, diamond league athletics and the GB football atheltics then the Open Golf!
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Comment number 4.
At 11th Jul 2012, AndyyMurray wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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Comment number 5.
At 11th Jul 2012, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:@Tiger Rose in #1: We've done something on those lines on the 91Èȱ¬ News Channel /news/magazine-18627487 but it may well be an idea we can explore again as you suggest.
@Brekkie in #2: not sure about the "low-key" with this range of documentaries, drama, comedy and music - which is the most ambitious ever by the 91Èȱ¬ around an Olympic Games. But good news on your other question: 91Èȱ¬ HD will stay with 91Èȱ¬ Three on most forseeable plans.
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Comment number 6.
At 14th Jul 2012, usernamefood wrote:Could I ask when the 24 91Èȱ¬ Olympics HD channels are coming to the sky EPG?
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Comment number 7.
At 14th Jul 2012, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:From Sky's website: "The 24 brand new 91Èȱ¬ channels will appear in the Sports section of the Sky Guide from channel 450 on 23 July. All the 91Èȱ¬ Olympic Games coverage can also be found by pressing the red button on your Sky remote from any 91Èȱ¬ channel, so you can search for your favourite sport and find out what’s on when." Obviously, the main action starts on 28 July; and the 24 91Èȱ¬ channels are also available online and on Virgin Media and Freesat.
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Comment number 8.
At 14th Jul 2012, Andyy Murray wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 9.
At 15th Jul 2012, Brekkie wrote:Must say the 100m edition of Faster Higher Stronger was good viewing. I had little interest in the gymnastics/1500m version, but will try and catch the swimming one on the iPlayer as my series link failed.
Notice two Usain Bolt documentaries this week, plus a greatest moments on 91Èȱ¬3 which I suspect might be ruined by the opinion of trendy young celebs sharing their memories of events which happened before they were born (although I could bluff my way through a Ben Johnson piece even though I was just 5 at the time!).
Finding it quite difficult though to navigate your full schedule - with so many sports and so many events it's quite poorly designed when you have to click through to a new page for every session to find out what's in it rather than just hover over it, though as I type have discovered the "list view" option is much easier to read and all on one page.
P.S. Notice "Sprots Archive" scheduled on the red button over the next few days - no details in the description but I'm assuming it's Olympic related.
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Comment number 10.
At 15th Jul 2012, Brekkie wrote:P.S. Are the 91Èȱ¬ doing anything outside news to mark the torch's first day in London next Saturday, surely one of the most significant days of the relay? I can't see anything scheduled (other than Blue Peter) and thanks to The Open there is no torch coverage on the red button either.
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Comment number 11.
At 15th Jul 2012, Roger Mosey - 91Èȱ¬ Director, London 2012 wrote:Brekkie: I know Radio Times are planning a special 72-page section on the Olympic Games schedules, so hope that helps.
On Torch - the main days in London will be Thursday 26 July and Friday 27 July, when we'll have Red Button coverage and also News Specials on 91Èȱ¬ One at 5pm (both days) and 12 noon (Friday). There'll be more coverage in the Sport programme running 7pm-10pm on Thursday.
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Comment number 12.
At 16th Jul 2012, andymurry wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 13.
At 16th Jul 2012, stuart brod wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 14.
At 16th Jul 2012, Brekkie wrote:Re: 11 - Thanks Roger - the old ways are somewhat the best. Do you know if it's in the RT this week or next?
P.S. Watched the swimming edition of Faster, Higher, Stronger - very interesting. Some great archive footage too from as far back as 1912.
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