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Introduction

The 2004 Olympic Games is a meeting of the ancient and the modern.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's coverage, of an event which stretches back into antiquity, will offer the very latest in 21st-century analysis and technology.

The long journey of the Olympic Games began more than 2,700 years ago.

In 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens and, since that time, they have been on a journey around the world for more than a century.

Now, at the dawn of the third millennium, the Games are returning to the country of their birth.

Athens 2004 is a 16-day festival of live international sport – from aquatics to athletics; boxing to badminton; football to handball; sailing to softball; taekwondo to tennis; and weightlifting to wrestling – taking place from 13 to 29 August.

The competition schedule involves 28 Olympic sports and 37 disciplines, held throughout 35 venues.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV will broadcast over 1,200 hours of the 16-day event, bringing British audiences the global stories of ambition, determination and courage, while capturing the excitement, drama and magical moments of the Olympic Games.

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is proud to have broadcast every Summer and Winter Olympic Games since 1960," says ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Director of Sport, Peter Salmon, "and, this year, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ marks the Games' return to the country of their birth by offering the first ever interactive Summer Olympics and live coverage of the Olympics on bbc.co.uk.

"At the greatest sporting event in the world, legends will be rewritten, heroes will be made and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ will tell every story and capture every magical moment, on TV, interactive platforms, radio, online and via broadband.

"The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is set to produce more hours of coverage than ever before and more than any other world broadcaster.

"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ONE and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TWO are planning 250 hours of coverage of the Games, plus over 1,000 hours via the first ever interactive Summer Olympics TV service offering a complementary schedule.

"Viewers with digital TV can access four additional streams of coverage to see extended coverage of the 37 events.

"At bbc.co.uk/olympics, for the first time ever, UK broadband users can access high-quality live coverage of the Olympics direct to their desktop. The service includes live simulcast coverage from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV's five streams, as well as comprehensive daily round-ups," Peter reveals.

As Peter also points out, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio will also have a massive presence at the Olympics.

"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Five Live's comprehensive and complementary coverage will broadcast 180 hours; ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World Service will bring the event to 45 million homes globally, on the English network; and throughout the Nations and Regions, local and regional TV and radio will relay the stories of local competitors – their elation or disappointment, whether they are medal winners or not – to their home audiences.

"The Olympics and Paralympics are sure to capture the public imagination once again, but Athens is not only a challenge to Team GB but also to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

"In 2000, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Television won an IOC Olympic Rings Award, a Bafta, an RTS award and a Broadcast award for its coverage of the Sydney Olympics.

"This year the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is determined to be even 'higher, faster, stronger'.

"Our world class television production team is led by the Sydney duo of Dave Gordon, Head of Major Events, and Martin Hopkins, Executive Producer.

"Once again, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport has been recognised at an international level, as one of our top producers, Paul Davies, heads a team producing the global coverage of the tennis competitions and some of the equestrian events for the host broadcaster.

"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sport is proud of its strong team of expert commentators and analysts, including, for the first time this year, the world's greatest-ever Olympian – Sir Steve Redgrave," Peter announces.

And, also for the first time, the Olympics and Paralympics are being organised by a single committee following an IOC/IPC agreement.

The Paralympics take place from 17 to 28 September. Peter continues: "There's another first at the Paralympics. It will also be covered live on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Television.

"³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV will make sure the British public can share in the great Paralympic moments as they happen and experience the triumph and tears of Team GB's Paralympic stars."

On the evening of 13 August, the world will turn its eyes to the Olympic Stadium for the spectacle and splendour of the Opening Ceremony.

Approximately four billion people worldwide will view this historic event, which heralds 16 days of stunning competition.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV will have live coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, presented by Barry Davies.

Steve Rider and Sue Barker head the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's presentation team with live evening coverage from Athens.

On ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ ONE and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TWO Hazel Irvine and Steve Cram start the mornings with Olympic Grandstand and Clare Balding and Craig Doyle catch up on all the day's highlights in Olympics Today.

A team of world-class presenters, commentators and analysts will provide intelligent, informative and exclusive analysis. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV team comprises some well-loved and respected faces, as well as some new names.

Michael Johnson, Colin Jackson, Jonathan Edwards and Sally Gunnell will guide viewers through the track and field events, with Brendan Foster, Paul Dickenson and Stuart Storey; Sharron Davies, Adrian Moorhouse and Andy Jameson will be poolside; Garry Herbert, Gillian Lindsay and Dan Topolski will be joined by the greatest Olympian of all time – Sir Steve Redgrave – at the water's edge; and Richie Woodhall and Jim Neilly will be ringside.

One of Sydney's golden girls, Steph Cook, will bring back the excitement of the modern pentathlon, and former Olympian Matthew Syed will be covering the table tennis competition.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV team of roving reporters – Garry Richardson, Phil Jones, Suzi Perry, Jill Douglas and Rishi Persad – will prove indispensable as they get under the skin of the man or woman of the moment.