Planning for Vancouver steps up a gear
With now, planning for the next Winter Olympics has stepped up a gear and we've been in Vancouver and Whistler this week on a site visit for the .
They take place from 12 to 28 February and, with less than 14 months to go, it's been a busy few days visiting venues, scouting for live locations, securing accommodation and meeting a lot of the people we'll be working with when the Games come around.
With the different sports split between , which is the largest city ever to host the Winter Olympics, and the ski resort of , we want to make sure that our live presentation represents both locations.
Vancouver is a beautiful city, with modern skyscrapers surrounded by water and framed with snow-capped mountains.
In an ideal scenario we would capture that as our studio backdrop, but that's easier said than done.
Our main operation will be in the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) which is housed in the . It's a spectacular new building complete with a living roof of grass which affords views across water to the mountains.
It would suit us to have a studio in the IBC, being much closer to our operations centre, and on a sunny day the view would be great. However it becomes much more limited at night and during poor weather.
To get around this, we've been looking at alternative locations which provide some foreground and a view of the city as well. However, the further away from the IBC we go, the more complicated it becomes - so there isn't an ideal solution, yet.
The resort of Whistler will play an important part in the Games, playing host to Alpine, Nordic and sliding (bob, luge and skeleton) events. Two hours drive from downtown Vancouver along the scenic , it's a summer and winter playground for adventure seekers and is Canada's most popular year-round destination.
Once again, we want to present from a location there which reflects the beauty of the mountains but also captures the bustling village atmosphere. We have seen plenty of options this week - but finding one location which serves all purposes has not been easy, and there's still some way to go before we finalise our location here.
In Whistler we were lucky enough to be some of the first people to experience the new Peak 2 Peak gondola which stretches between .
It's an amazing feat of construction, and has broken a host of world records: longest lift (4.4 km), longest unsupported span (3km) and highest point above the ground (436 metres).
Whilst not directly linked with Olympic venues, this new lift will open up new possibilities in the resort, providing spectators with stunning views. Stuart Rempel, Senior VP of Marketing and Sales, Whistler Blackcomb said: "It wasn't built with world records in mind, that's just a happy coincidence - it's really all about the guest experience".
The lift system, which took 18 months to build, will enable skiers and boarders to cross directly from one ski area to the other in 11 minutes - a journey which would previously have taken closer to an hour. The trip itself is incredibly smooth despite the speed of 7.5 metres per second - and if you want to heighten the sensation of floating in the air, two of the gondolas even have glass bottoms.
Without doubt the Peak 2 Peak will provide some of the most spectacular views at the Winter Olympics - and you can be sure that ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sport will be showing them to you in 2010.
Comment number 1.
At 12th Dec 2008, RoddyJenkins wrote:Surely the answer is to take studio space in the IBC, but have a plasma screen as the studio 'backdrop' that can take either a live feed on the Vancouver skyline, or a VT feed during periods of inclement weather
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Comment number 2.
At 14th Dec 2008, redtimbo wrote:I think I remember actually enjoying the Winter Olympics much more than the Summer Olympics last time round. Its much more exciting to watch.
The problem is though that if a lot of people share my view in 2010 then they'll be people saying that 2012 will be boring.
As far as a studio is concerned you should take a place in the IBC. I assume that your top-right photo is what you're concerned about but that seems fine to me. The birds nest wasn't exactly colourful. You could just spruce up the studio with decorations. Don't waste money finding a nice view because it doesn't matter to me.
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Comment number 3.
At 14th Dec 2008, WebbyFoxes wrote:IBC seems better then being somewhere else if I am honest.
Take it but spread the operation around.
I say Barker, Irvine and Chiles(if they are still at the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in 2010) at the IBC, while Humpreys and Balding cover the action from the main places as revolving reporters or all 5 in the IBC.
Instead of showing the Vancover Skyline ll the time...when you cut from coverage...show the skyline live from the event that was just covered.
It would seem more better and in the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s quest to cut costs, this would seem the most sane choice for the team.
2006 was bad, having them squashed into a small studio in the middle of nowhere did no justice for Turin.
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Comment number 4.
At 14th Dec 2008, Brekkie wrote:I'm glad to see you're planning to remain on location for 2010 - in these days of belt tightening I thought that might be sacrificed, but I think it adds so much to the coverage - and I hope it's also the plan for the Commonwealth Games too.
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Comment number 5.
At 15th Dec 2008, Andy wrote:Jonathan,
Is there any chance that we could have a dedicated theme tune for the Winter Olympics coverage? I asked in 2006 and was told this was a good idea but you still went with the Ski Sunday theme. Although you did include Andrea Boccelli as a theme to end each programme which was great.
The summer olympics has had its own theme since 1984 and I think it is time the winter olympics did too.
Also, can you confirm the games will be in HD? Have you any ideas of how much coverage you are intending to show? Historically it is much less than the summer games and I know a lot of the events have to take place in daylight, which will be evening our time? However if coverage is to continue through the night I would like to plan ahead and arrange to take time off work!
Finally, would love to see a blog similar to this for the other major 2010 events including the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Also are you covering the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa (a test event for the World Cup). I would love to see that on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and get a feel for what we can expect at the World Cup.
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Comment number 6.
At 15th Dec 2008, David Shield wrote:I agree with Brekkie post #4.
I'm glad also that you are planning to remain on-location for the presentation it really does add to the coverage.
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Comment number 7.
At 19th Dec 2008, Jonny Bramley - Executive Producer, Olympics wrote:Thanks for all of your comments.
To RoddyJenkins I would suggest that our audience prefer a 'real' live shot as redtimbo, WebbyFoxes, brekkie and David Shield II have implied.
To Benelucky, we traditionally have used the Ski Sunday theme as it really seems to capture the Winter feeling - last time we had it re-vamped by Mike Smith, who is musical arranger with Gorillaz, to give it a more contemporary feel. But if anyone has any good suggestions, I wouldn't rule them out!
We'll be broadcasting live on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳2 during the early/mid-evening, and then also after Newsnight until the Skating normally ends about 5am. And there's also a planned 2 hour catch-up programme the next day. There will be coverage on the HD Channel and of course a number of streams on Red Button/Sport Online available 24/7, as well as iPlayer.
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Comment number 8.
At 21st Dec 2008, WebbyFoxes wrote:Keep the Ski Sunday tune for the 2010 Olympics...changing it would be ridculous and plain stupid.
The Monkey for the 2008 Olympics was rubbish and the tune was not even good enough, actually it wasnt even a tune.
I suggest that the Grandstand tune is used for the Summer and Ski Sunday for the Winter Olympics....makes it sound simpler and no need for the Monkey Debacle.
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Comment number 9.
At 22nd Dec 2008, boy_republic wrote:Muse's "Butterflies and Hurricanes" as used on Ski Sunday would make a great overall theme for the Winter Olympics coverage, that and the oft used (but brilliant) "Hoppipola" by Sigur Ros would also be good. Ski Sunday's theme is iconic, but not quite anthemic enough to capture the grand Olympic spectacle. The choice of incidental music for Beijing was great and I personally liked the Monkey music.
I agree with the comments that it would be better to have a 'live' view rather than a screen projection. Despite the bad weather in Beijing, the coverage was still really impressive. The views of the Bird's Nest and the city were real and didn't distract from the coverage. And for all the credit crunch belt tightening, it's cheaper!
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Comment number 10.
At 23rd Dec 2008, Jordan D wrote:I like the Monkey tune, so WebbyFoxes, don't think you speak for everybody! I'd agree that the Ski Sunday tune should be ditched for the Winter Olympics - comission a stand alone piece and run with that.
Also seriously consider your presenting line up - your "three blondes in a studio" did not work. I felt the commentary was slightly patronising and the dynamic really wasn't there. Are there any presenting plans made already?
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Comment number 11.
At 23rd Dec 2008, WebbyFoxes wrote:Jordan D, you too dont speak for everyone..many people on various websites hated it.
Anyway Ski Sunday is iconic, its tune is what the Winter Olympics is about.
I agree the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ should look at its presenting Line up...Keep Adrian Chiles away please....he was dreadfully awful.
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Comment number 12.
At 24th Dec 2008, Jordan D wrote:WebbyFoxes - I didn't suggest that I spoke for everyone ... all I said was that "I like it"!
Ski Sunday's theme tune is iconic ... for being the Ski Sunday theme. I don't believe it should be the Winter Olympics tune because its the SS theme is about snowsports - so what about ice skating and other ice sports?
And I like Adrian Chiles ... maybe for the evening round up programme. Ideally though, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ needs a new heavyweight - Hazel, Sue & Clare just don't cut it.
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Comment number 13.
At 2nd Jan 2009, dazzleh wrote:Whistler and Vancouver are both lovely, so whichever locations are chosen will be great.
I hope to see improved coverage of the newer events like snowboarding and freestyle skiing this time around. I think a lot of people found the coverage of these somewhat patronising and ill-informed in 2006 (comments about the clothes and lifestyle instead of the ability of the competitors).
Funnily enough, it's these sports that are likely to attract younger audiences to the winter games (certainly more so than curling, which has previously received a lot of coverage), so the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ should be looking to capatilise on this. Hopefully the excellent Ed Leigh will be back commentating again.
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Comment number 14.
At 2nd Jan 2009, stephenfisher wrote:This 2010 Winter Olympics looks really exciting! I think that the Ski Sunday theme should remain, but like the last Winter Olympics be jazzed up a bit for a little change.
Also there is nothing wrong with the presenting line!
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Comment number 15.
At 3rd Jan 2009, dennisjunior1 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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