BOB promises best ever TV coverage for Chinese Olympics

CMC Saturday, September 29, 2007

 

BEIJING, China (CMC) - The Beijing Olympic Broadcasting (BOB) Company declared Thursday it was aiming to stage the best ever television coverage for the Olympics when the Games of the 29th Olympiad unfold here next summer.

Addressing the World Broadcaster Meeting, BOB production manager Bob Kemp said they planned to utilise improved technology and equipment available to ensure the event surpassed television standards set by previous Games.
"BOB aims to facilitate the best Olympic Games television coverage ever for viewers around the world," said Kemp said.

The official dates for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be from Friday, August 8, 2008, when the Opening Ceremony will be staged, to Saturday August 24, 2008, although preliminary round football matches will actually begin on Wednesday, August 6.

Host broadcasters BOB have been working closely with the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) to fine-tune all the broadcasting plans for the two-and-a-half week show.

The Beijing Games will provide increased coverage in several sports, including table tennis, which enjoys vast popularity in China, tennis, badminton, and fencing.

BOB will also offer - for the first time in Olympic Games history - some virtual enhancement elements on the International TV signal from selected sports at the discretion of the producer.

"BOB will insert when appropriate, a world record indicator on track events of 1,500 metres or longer. The pace of the indicator will be based on the current world record holder's split when the record was set," Kemp outlined in his presentation at the Shangri-La hotel.

For some field events, including throws, extra lines or shading will be included to enhance the current World Record or Olympic Record marks.

And for qualifying competition, a virtual indicator will be inserted during competition to show the distance an athlete needs to achieve in order to automatically qualify for the final.
"Throughout the final, there will be a virtual indicator to show the current gold medal-winning performance for an easy indication of the latest attempt against the best in the competition to that point," Kemp stated.

Similar virtual indicators will also be used in swimming, rowing and canoe/kayak events, and sailing.

"These (virtual enhancements) are being offered to enhance the viewers' understanding and enjoyment of the action," he stated.

While producing high definition pictures, BOB said it would introduce improved camera angles in certain sports and "hawkeye" technology in tennis for the first time.
All 302 medal presentations will be televised for the International TV signal.

Organisers say they have drawn on references from eight past Olympic Games as they strive to make media services "very efficient".

Approximately 10,500 athletes from 200 countries will attend the Games, with 28 International Sports Federations overseeing the competition.

The sports included in the 2008 Olympics roster are the same as the Athens Games in 2004, although event changes in some sports has resulted in an overall increase in events.

The new events in Beijing are Marathon Swimming - an open water 10-kilometre swimming race, and a BMX bicycle moto cross event.

Women's participation in certain sports will also rise in Beijing. Football, handball, and hockey now include 12 women's teams, two more than Athens.

In athletics, the women's 3 000-metre steeplechase has been added.

Competition will be contested across 44 venues, the largest being the 91,000-seater National Stadium that will stage the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field competition.