The BBC has revealed details of how it plans to cover this year’s Olympics in Tokyo, its last as the main host broadcaster.
With Covid-19 restrictions still in place, it will be using dock10’s virtual reality studio, based at MediaCityUK for its main presentation. This will feature a “stunning backdrop” of the host city.
“There will be something for everyone on the BBC for Tokyo 2020, with a huge range of content available across TV, radio and online, plus a world-class line-up of presenters and pundits,” said Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport.
“The anticipation for this year’s Olympics is higher than ever, and we’re proud to be showcasing the very best of the action.”
On BBC One, presenters include Gabby Logan, Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine, Jason Mohammad, Alex Scott and JJ Chalmers.
Dan Walker and Sam Quek will co-host a special edition of BBC Breakfast from 5am to 9am, with the best of the overnight action.
Jeanette Kwakye and Nihal Arthanayake will present an extra highlights show daily on BBC Two.
MediaCityUK-based BBC Radio 5 Live will introduce an Olympics schedule for all 17 days of the Games.
From Saturday 24 July, Mark Chapman and Rachel Burden will present Olympic Breakfast (6-9am) alongside Victoria Pendleton, Helen Richardson-Walsh, Daley Thompson, Christine Ohuruogu and Mark Hunter.
From 1am – 6am each day Dotun Adebayo will have the latest from the morning sessions in Tokyo in Up All Night, while from 11am – 2pm Kelly Cates will host the evening events.
JJ Chalmers and Eleanor Oldroyd will then anchor a daily highlights show in the evenings.
An Olympics Daily podcast will be available on BBC Sounds, as well as a new 3-part podcast, Olympic Mile, where Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller gets to know athletes as they prepare for this year’s Summer Olympics by walking a mile with them.
The BBC lost the television rights to the Olympics from 2022, which were sold to Eurosport’s parent company, Discovery. However, BBC Sport has agreed to sub-licence the next 5 Games.
