Welcome
Welcome to the third of our BBC newsletters looking ahead to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as to the London Games in 2012. As we’re now just over a fortnight from the start of the 29th Summer Olympiad, we will be concentrating in this newsletter on Beijing. However please be assured that our preparations for London in four years time are gathering momentum. We’ll be updating you on our 2012 plans in our next newsletter towards the end of this year. In this month’s update, Dave Gordon, BBC Sport’s Head of Major Events, details just how comprehensive our coverage in Beijing will be across all media. It really will be a case of "whenever and wherever you want the action". Mihir Bose, the BBC’s Sports Editor, takes a fascinating look at how the world’s media will cover the Games, and James Reynolds, the BBC’s Beijing Correspondent, reflects on some of the major challenges the organisers in China are facing. Tony Garrett, the BBC’s Disability Sport Executive, also outlines how the BBC will be showcasing the Paralympic Games in September. I do hope that you enjoy the various articles in this newsletter, and welcome any feedback that you may have. Please use the link below to get in contact with the BBC’s Olympics and Paralympics Group. Many thanks, and I hope you enjoy our comprehensive coverage of the Olympics and Paralympic Games over the coming weeks. 
Mark Byford, Deputy Director-General BBC |  | Useful links |  |
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“Whenever and wherever you want it” – the BBC’s coverage of Beijing 2008By Dave Gordon, Head of Major Events, BBC Sport If we were to sum up what the BBC is offering from these Olympics, it would be “the Games whenever and wherever you want it 24/7”. Along with the state-of-the-art television and radio coverage, the new media will help us minimise those frustrations when you can’t be in two places at once or when you accidentally miss one of those golden moments.
read the full article
The big media challengeby Mihir Bose, BBC Sports Editor “Ask not,” said John Kennedy at his inauguration as US president, “what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” These may have been clever Kennedy words, but they apply to the media covering the Beijing Olympics.
Ask not what China can do for the media, ask what the media can do for China.
read the full article
The view from Beijingby James Reynolds, BBC Beijing Correspondent My desk in the BBC’s Beijing bureau overlooks the main avenue leading towards Tiananmen Square. In the last few days, workers have hung red and white Olympic flags from street lights next to the avenue. As I write, I can see an engineer fixing up a big TV screen by the side of the road. Beijing says it’s ready for its Olympic Games. (It’s worth knowing that it’s been saying this for some time. The motto for the one-year-to-go events in August 2007 was “We Are Ready”.)
read the full article | |
Paralympics 2008by Tony Garrett, BBC Disability Sport Executive From 6 to 17 September 2008, Beijing will play host to the 13th Paralympic Games and the BBC will be on hand to provide extensive coverage across TV, interactive, radio and online. The event will also mark the 60th anniversary of the first unofficial games for athletes with disabilities. read the full article | |
Olympic Dreams: new seriesby John Douglas, Series Producer, Olympic Dreams Olympic Dreams, the BBC’s long-term documentary series, continues this summer with four 45 minute films on BBC One in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. They are being broadcast on Thursdays at 10.35pm from 15th July to 5th August. read the full article Celebrating the handover to Londonby Jane Fletcher, Executive Producer, BBC Events Sunday 24 August 2008 will be another significant day in Britain’s sporting history – the day that London officially takes up the role of host city for the 2012 Olympic Games. read the full article | |
London 2012 topics on bbc.co.ukby Claire Stocks, Assistant Editor, BBC Sport Online There is not one part of the BBC that will not be involved in London 2012 over the next four years. This is why in mid-August we will be launching an online 2012 portal which will pull in content from every part of the BBC, from news and sport to CBBC, from national TV to local radio, as well as linking to 2012-related content on the wider web. read the full article | |
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