Ok, we’re in Part 2 of our Videos of the Week and we devote this installment to the 2004 Games in Athens. Again as in Part 1, we’ll depend on videos from BBC, CBC, NBC and 7 Network.
Here’s a promo for Athens done by NBC. Notice the extremely attractive people posing as athletes.
In 2004, NBC had the rights to NASCAR so the network tried to tie that and the Olympics together in this promo starring Tony Stewart.
And here’s the beginning montage for NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremonies as narrated by James Earl Jones.
This is how 7 Network of Australia began its coverage, a montage of shots from the Sydney Games from 2000. I like this opening as well.
The CBC opened its coverage this way. This is pretty good.
This is a CBC feature on how Athens got the 2004 Games, then host Brian Williams gives us a brief history lesson on how the modern Olympics came to being, then Terry Leibel and Hockey Night in Canada Ron MacLean talk about the CBC coverage in these Games.
And during the Opening Ceremonies, the names of the cities that previously hosted the Games are read aloud as a runner goes through various finish lines.
I like this opening for BBC Sport’s Olympic Grandstand.
When NBC does gymnastics, the heartstrings are tugged, the emotions are at an all-time high. This is Al Trautwig doing an over-the-top introduction to the All Around competition.
Great Britain wins the 4 x 100 meter relay in track, just holding off the United States. This was called by the BBC. Mark Lewis-Francis holds off Maurice Greene in the anchor leg.
For comparison, here’s Tom Hammond’s call of the same race. I believe Lewis Johnson is also calling the race for NBC.
To middle distance running and here’s the men’s 800 meter race won in an upset by Russia’s Youriy Borzakovskiy over the favorite, Wilson Kipketer of Denmark. Again, Tom Hammond was on the call, this time with Marty Liquori.
We have two double gold medal wins in track. First, Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj wins the 1,500 meters. El Guerrouj holds off Bernard Lagat, then of Kenya in the final straightaway. Tom Hammond and Marty Liqouri have the call for NBC.
El Gerrouj came back a few days later and won the 5,000 meters, pulling an extremely rare 1,500-5,000 double gold. Again, Tom Hammond and Marty Liquori are on the call.
Great Britain’s Kelly Holmes came into 2004 injury-free, but was not considered a favorite in the women’s 800 meters race as Maria Muutola of Mozambique was the defending gold medalist and caught Kelly four years earlier in Sydney. Kelly outduels her in the final straightaway. Kelly’s reaction was priceless and the BBC had the call. The announcers were funny as well.
And a few days later, Kelly brimming with confidence comes in and blows away the field in the women’s 1,500 to take double gold and become Dame Kelly Holmes. Note in the last lap, Kelly bounces off a push and takes the race. The BBC again was there.
In swimming, Michael Phelps wins the 400 meter individual medley. Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines have the call.
This is Ian Thorpe beating Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and Phelps in the 200 meters freestyle. I believe this is from the BBC.
This is 7 Network’s call of Ian Thorpe winning the 400 meter freestyle over his countryman, Grant Hackett.
From NBC Olympic HD’s coverage, this is Craig Hummer and Dara Torres (yes, that Dara Torres) calling the 100 meter freestyle race that van den Hoogenband wins. No Americans in the final and Ian Thorpe won bronze racing out of Lane 8.
And that’s going to wrap up this segment. Coming up, some promos for 2008 coverage by the various TV partners.
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