August
10, 2004
The International Broadcast Center sign in
Greek
GETTING CLOSER TO THE
OPENING CEREMONY
Things are really starting to
pick up as we get closer to the Opening Ceremony. The
workday is
moving into 15 and 16 hours, and my days of sightseeing are likely
over.
Every day, I work with the 30 or so people in the Research Room who are
preparing the information that will be necessary for this gigantic
broadcast –
the largest broadcast in the history of television: over 1200
hours,
shown 24 hours a day, on 7 NBC channels (NBC, CNBC, MSNBC,
USA,
Bravo, HDTV, and Telemundo). Researchers
spend their days and nights studying every sport on the Olympic program
in
Athens, speaking with delegations from around the world in a variety of
languages to see who is going to carry the flag for their team in the
Opening
Ceremony’s Parade of Nations, and answering the questions of writers,
producers, analysts, and show hosts. What are some easy
questions?
Well, where is Kiribati?
Is this the first time that women have
wrestled in Olympic competition? Who is the oldest athlete
competing in
these Games? Who is the tallest? Which U.S.
state sends the most athletes? (California,
by the way, by far!) Are there brothers and
sisters on the teams? Is anyone married? Which softball
player was
named to People magazine’s 50 Most
Beautiful list? Is decathlete Tom
Pappas Greek? What are some of the more difficult
questions?
Watch and see – it is that kind of information that makes a broadcast
interesting. It all starts on Wednesday and Thursday with soccer,
and
Friday with the Opening Ceremony. It looks to be a wild ride.
The IBC Lobby
Be
sure to check back often
for Dr. Amy Bass's updates
to her Online CNR
Olympic Diary.
