BBC announces World Olympic Dreams project

The BBC today announced it will broadcast an innovative multi-platform project across TV, radio and online, entitled World Olympic Dreams. Beginning on 27 July 2010, the BBC will track 25 athletes from around the world as they strive to turn their hopes for Olympic success at London 2012 into a reality.

With the third installment of successful documentary series Olympic Dreams currently running on BBC One, World Olympic Dreams moves beyond the UK with the 25 athletes drawn from across all five continents and competing in 20 different Olympic Sports.

Those featured include: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt; Kosovan Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi; Afghani Taekwondo fighter Rohullah Nikpai; Iraqi rowers Hussein Hamza and Nozad Haider; British NBA star Luol Deng; and Indian female boxer MC Marykom.

The films that form the project have been collated through the BBC’s worldwide reporting network, with correspondents in each of the countries featured providing the relevant footage.

Viewers will be given a real insight into each of the athlete’s unique stories and very different personal circumstances while they all work towards the same goal of Olympic success: personal training regimes; coaches; diet; family; friends; their likes and dislikes and the sacrifices they all have to make.

Roger Mosey, the BBC’s director of London 2012, said: "There are some amazing tales already about the dedication of individuals from all across the world trying to get to London in 2012.

“We want to harness the BBC’s network of news bureaux and our range of platforms globally and nationally to ensure these inspiring stories are shared as widely as possible.”

The programme will be based on the BBC’s new Olympic portal where two new films will be uploaded each month. The site will also contain features such as Q&As and blogs as well as the athletes personal social media sites, where users will be able to interact with the athletes.

In addition, BBC Breakfast, World News, World Service, News Channel and BBC Radio 5 Live will carry coverage.

BBC Sport news reporter Matthew Pinsent will front the series and will be bringing regular updates and reports on each of the 25 athletes.