The 2008 Beijing Olympics
and Paralympics
on the 91Èȱ¬
91Èȱ¬ TV team Olympic impressions
Gabby Logan
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Gabby Logan joined the 91Èȱ¬ in January
2007. She presents Inside Sport on 91Èȱ¬
One, and The Gabby Logan Show on Sunday
mornings on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live, covering
news, current affairs and entertainment.
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A former international gymnast, Gabby began
her broadcasting career in 1992 for radio
and joined Sky Sports in 1996. She quickly
established herself as a football presenter,
joining ITV in 1998. In her nine years at ITV,
Gabby's repertoire of sports expanded to
include the World Cup, Champions League
and the Premiership.
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In 2004 she co-hosted
Sport Relief with Gary Lineker for the 91Èȱ¬.
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She is a key member of the 91Èȱ¬ Sport
presenting team with Wimbledon, Match
Of The Day and Six Nations rugby among
her credits.
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Gabby is a columnist for the Times and has
previously written for the Sunday Mirror,
Independent and Yorkshire Post.
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"For me, first and foremost the Olympics is
about the sport, the athletes, the realisation
of their dreams. With the exception perhaps
of boxing, where the competitors often turn
professional afterwards, it's the pinnacle of
sport.
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"When I was a gymnast it was my
dream – I tried and I didn't make it and I
understand how much it means for the
athletes involved to be there.
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"My first memories are of Moscow; I was
seven years old. I remember Alan Wells's
gold medal very well and the incredible
efforts of Sebastian Coe. Then in 1984 it was
the first time that my sport, rhythmic
gymnastics, was represented, I was addicted
to the screen and recorded every minute of
the gymnastics which I played back again and
again.
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"I also followed Zola Budd with interest
that year and love Daley Thompson. LA 1984
was the Olympics which inspired me to put
more time and effort into my sport; one of
my team mates from Leeds, Lorraine Priest,
represented GB and I was so inspired by her.
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"I was in Beijing in February and I loved it. I
have always been obsessed by China, and I
am so excited about going back in August,
although I think it may be slightly less play
and even more work then.
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"Thinking about the significance of the
Games being held in Beijing, I think this is a
question which needs an essay for an answer.
I think that the Games being held there is
hugely significant not just for the people of
China but for our understanding of the
country.
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"I hope that by opening its doors to
the world China will start to fall in line with
the basic human rights we expect from a
country with such a huge impact on the
economies of the world.
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"Getting down to specifics, I'm really looking
forward to seeing Tom Daley in the diving;
Kelly Sotherton in the heptathlon; any of the
gymnastics!; Paula Radcliffe in the marathon;
and the three-day eventing. I think Kelly has
a real chance of the gold in the absence of
Carolina Kluft.
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"I think London 2012 is an enormous
opportunity for this country and I am so
excited that the city I live in is hosting the
Olympic Games.
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"My children will be seven,
the same age I was when I was first aware of
the Olympics, and I can't wait to take them
to see a different sport every day.
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"I hope that Londoners will really get behind
the Games and feel the benefit of having
such a global event on our doorstep.
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"As for
Team GB, this is a massive opportunity for all
the athletes involved and traditionally the
nation hosting the Games tend to
overachieve in the medal table; I hope it's
the same for us!"
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