The Olympics

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Michael Phelps, Rachel Brown and the Cultural Olympiad Jun 29, 2012

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As the US Olympic swimming trials get underway, the legendary Michael Phelps speaks about his comeback and rivalry with fellow American Ryan Lochte. Eleanor Oldroyd, former tennis player Mark Woodford and hurdler Jack Green discuss if athletes should take part in Olympic opening ceremony. Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown and Colin Murray discuss how pregnancy impacts on sporting careers. An emotional BBC Sheffield witnesses the most severely injured solider ever, former paratrooper Ben Parkinson, walk with the torch. With less than 30 days until the Games, the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad picks up pace; BBC Scotland has a live performance of the world-class Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra with children from Raploch in Stirling; Simon Armitage tells Front Row about The Poetry Parnassus and after the spectacular BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend, DJ Trevor Nelson reflects on the importance of Olympic investment in the area.

Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis & Martine Wright Jun 26, 2012

Show notes

After years of training, last weekend the UK Olympic trials for track and field took place in Birmingham. BBC 5 Live's Sonja McLaughlan was trackside to speak to a delighted Shara Proctor about her new British record, a disappointed Jessica Ennis who had five no-jumps out of six attempts at the long jump and high jumper Robbie Grabarz. Mo Farah explains to 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire why he pulled out of the 1,500 metres at the UK trails. In total, a staggering 175,000 sports kits will be handed out to the members of the Team GB squad, BBC Radio Leicester caught up with sculls doubles champions Anna Watkins and Katherine Grainger about receiving their Olympic kit. Martine Wright who lost 75 percent of her blood and both her legs in the 7/7 bombings reveals her journey to participate in the first ever British women's sitting volleyball team at a Paralympics. And the Olympic torch travels through Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire... with BBC Olympic Correspondent Gordon Farquhar.

Sir Chris Hoy, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Miles Jupp Jun 22, 2012

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After four years of intensive training, this weekend’s Aviva 2012 athletic trials will decide which track and field athletes will make Team GB. The competition is expected to be fierce as Olympic gold medallist Jason Gardener told BBC London. European Champion hurdler Andy Turner and British long jump record holder Chris Tomlinson joined “London Calling” to reveal what its like to room with other athletes in the Olympic village. BBC 5 Live’s “Colin Murray’s Gold Run” learns how Sir Chris Hoy gained inspiration from his indomitable great-uncle Andy Coogan. Comedians Charlie Brooker, Miles Jupp and Susan Calman suggest some new Olympic sports. Radio 4’s “Making History” explores the archaeology of the Stratford site and future of its extraordinary finds. Olympian and World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce tells BBC World Service why she is happy to stay out of the limelight.

Greg Searle, David Florence and Olympic motivation Jun 19, 2012

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Great Britain's rowers enjoyed mixed fortunes in the last competition before the Olympics, winning three golds but seeing two leading hopes beaten. Jonathan Legard speaks to a disappointed Greg Searle after the men’s eight only managed to secure a bronze medal. After the Canoe Slalom World Cup, David Florence tells BBC World Service how it felt to make history by becoming the first man to win two gold medals across two classes. Team GB’s Alex Stott speaks about her career in football. BBC Radio 4’s “All in the Mind” investigates if watching big sporting events like the Olympics encourages people to take up sport. British gymnast Beth Tweddle tells BBC 5 about her overcoming her knee injury. Mark Houlton was one a Britain’s best hurdlers, he competed in the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 LA Games. He rarely mentions his former life as a sportsman but Mark recounts this world to his daughter Sophie for Radio 4’s “Listening Project”.

Dai Greene, Aaron Cook and the torch in Scotland Jun 15, 2012

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As the Olympic torch tours the beautiful cities, highlands and islands of Scotland, Bryan Burnett marvels at the joyous atmosphere surrounding the torch relay while Fred MacAuley speaks to some of the Scottish torch bearers. World Taekwando number one Aaron Cook reveals how he feels “cheated and robbed” by BOA’s decision to ratify his exclusion from Team GB. Paralympian Georgina Bullen speaks to BBC Three Counties’ Gail Emms and Luke Ashmead about goalball, a sport which takes place in total silence. World 400 meters hurdles champion Dai Greene discusses his recent poor form and his use of music to enhance his performance with BBC 5 Live’s Steve Parry. The BBC Radio 4 documentary “Pump Up the Volume” explores the relationship between music and performance to reveal why a pop music playlist is a good scientific choice for a physical work out.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Daley Thompson and Tom Daley Jun 12, 2012

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Team GB diver and European Champion Tom Daley speaks to Radio 2’s Steve Wright about his physical and mental preparation going into the London Games. Young British rower Moe Sbihi discusses joining the highly competitive men’s eight boat, and balancing his faith with Olympic training. BBC Radio Lancashire’s documentary “Olympic God Special” investigates how athletes juggle the logistics of harsh training regimes, blood testing and dietary requirements with their religious beliefs. Colin Murray has dinner with a former British decathlete and one of greatest track and field athletes of all time...Daley Thompson. 11 time gold medal Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and double Olympian Sarah Webb reveal the impact of elite sport on their personal lives in Women’s Hour on Radio 4. All that, and the Olympic Torch has begins its tour around Scotland.

Sir Steve Redgrave, Venus Williams and Olympic Flame in Northern Ireland Jun 08, 2012

Show notes

This week, additional tickets to London 2012 went on sale amidst slow ticket sales, Paul Deighton Chief Executive of LOCOG spoke to 5 Live Breakfast to defend the ticketing process. Sir Steve Redgrave on Team GB's rowing hopes as the final squad is announced and tennis star Venus Williams speaks about her desire for another Olympic medal. 5 Live's Olympic Question Time brings together a panel of special guests in Hackney to debate the major issues surrounding the Games. Six months ago Adam Gemili was playing right-back for Thurrock FC but this week the 18-year-old Londoner ran the second fastest time by a European athlete this year, will he be the next Usain Bolt? Double Olympian and 400 metres hurdle great Edwin Moses reveals how athletics became commercialised in The Olympic All Star Show. All that and the Olympic Torch takes a trip to Ireland!

Christine Ohuruogu, Jessica Ennis and Olympic Flame in Wales Jun 01, 2012

Show notes

This week, showjumper Tim Stockdale speaks about his amazing recovery just seven months after he broke his neck in a riding accident. Team GB Taekwondo Performance Director Gary Hall defends the decision to omit European Champion Aaron Cook from the Team GB squad in favour of Lutalo Muhammad. Defending Olympic champion Christine Ohuruguo on her preparations to defend her 400 metres title this summer, Jessica Ennis celebrates her new British heptathlon record and swimmer Liam Tancock speaks about hot weather training in Florida. As part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Radio 3 will broadcast 20 outstanding new works, each lasting 12 minutes. These works include Joe Culter’s “Ping” which brought together four members of the Fusion Table Tennis Club and the Coull String Quartet, and finally BBC Wales reflects on the flames historic five day visit to the country.

The Olympic cauldron is lit, Liam Phillips, Oscar Pistorius, Hollie Avil and Tom Daley May 25, 2012

Show notes

In a week where Olympic excitement finally arrived in Great Britain, we hear from a gripped BBC Devon as the Olympic cauldron is lit for the first time in Plymouth. BMX champion Liam Phillips speaks about his return to the sport on the eve of the World BMX Championships in Birmingham. South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius tells 5 Live’s Shelagh Fogarty about his extraordinary efforts to qualify for both the Paralympic and the Olympics. BBC Ulster’s science programme “What Next?” looks at mental preparation for the Games while former British champion, Hollie Avil, reveals how an eating disorder has prompted her to retire from elite sport. Diver Tom Daley sends a message to his Chinese rival Qu Bo after winning European Gold. And American John Carlos recalls his black power salute at the 1968 Olympics which sent shockwaves around the world.

Princess Anne, Jessica Ennis and Anish Kapoor May 18, 2012

Show notes

This week, the Olympic flame began its 70-day relay around the UK. BBC Sports Editor David Bond discussed the build-up to the Games with former Olympian Princess Anne at the official ceremony in Athens. Team GB heptathlete Jessica Ennis speaks about balancing her preparations for the Olympics with her public profile. Leicester Riders director Kevin Routledge speaks to BBC Radio Leicester about the fate of British basketball; paralympian Danny Nobbs tells BBC Radio Norfolk about the logistics of competing in London and, UK Sport reveals the British technological advances that give Team GB a winning edge. And as Anish Kapoor’s controversial Orbit structure is unveiled at the Olympic Park, Radio 4's “Front Row” reviews the latest addition to the London skyline.

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