RTÉ is set to screen more than 1500 hours of coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics across television, radio and online at RTE.ie this August, kicking off with the opening ceremony at 1pm on Friday 8th August and ending on the closing day on Sunday 24th August.
RTÉ television will provide up to 17 hours of coverage each day, bringing viewers Olympic action through the night and analysis on the main events with a particular focus on the Irish Olympians’ progress. Reporters Shane O’Donoghue and Marty Morrissey will be in Beijing while Katriona McFadden, Paul O’Flynn and Eamonn Falvey will provide updates on all the breaking stories.
RTÉ television and radio will also provide comprehensive analysis with some of Ireland’s biggest sporting stars and former Olympians. Sonia O’Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan and Jerry Kiernan will provide commentary on Athletics; Bernard Dunne, Katie Taylor, Michel Carruth and Andy Lee join Mick Dowling for boxing; Gary O’Toole and Earl McCarthy provide analysis for swimming while former Olympic rower Neville Maxwell and former Irish soccer International Kenny Cunningham will add their expertise in their respective sports.
RTÉ television’s commentary team will also include Jimmy Magee, George Hamilton, Ger Canning, Marty Morrissey, Shane O’Donoghue, Ryle Nugent, Stephen Alkin, John Kenny, Nick O’Hare and Robert Hall.
RTE’s new website, RTÉ.ie/Olympics will have six separate web-channels enabling users in the Republic of Ireland to view five additional events on RTÉ.ie as well as the RTÉ television coverage which will be streamed simultaneously live. The website will also contain an on-demand video/audio section of Irish-related Olympics clips, plus Olympics highlights (Ireland only), a comprehensive live results section, profiles of all Irish Olympians, news stories on Irish athletes, breaking stories from Beijing, photo galleries and features pieces from the RTÉ News Correspondent in Beijing, Margaret Ward.
‘Olympics Through the Night’, presented by Clare MacNamara, will begin with the main event each night (12.30 – 3.00am Irish time) and continue through to 7am broadcasting the live action as it unfolds from Beijing.
‘Olympics AM’, airing at 7.00am, will see Darragh Maloney and Joanne Cantwell or Michael Lyster and Tracy Piggott joined by some of Ireland’s top sportspeople and past Olympians for an analysis of the night’s action.
‘Olympics Today’, presented by Peter Collins from midday to 4pm, features regular Olympic News Reports and updates on the Irish as well as live action including the athletic finals.
Bill O’Herlihy presents ‘Today at the Olympics’ each evening at 7pm, providing a round-up of all of the action including discussion and analysis of the major issues of the day with RTÉ’s team of analysts.
