The BBC does a great job in covering the Olympics and having watched a lot of their coverage in 2012, once you see live, commercial-free action, it’s tough to go back to NBC, but this is not a post to criticize NBC.
Since 2008, BBC has produced some awesome promos for their coverage.
For 2014 in Sochi, BBC’s theme is “Nature. Who will conquer it?” It’s voiced by actor Charles Dance whom Game of Thrones fans will know as Tywin Lannister. Dance acts as the voice of Nature. It’s one minute and thirty seconds of pure awesomeness. It starts with “I am the dreadful menace. The one whose will is done. The haunting chill upon your neck. I am the Conundrum.” Take a look.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b9Ji7DvsjU&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
From the BBC’s Media Centre website, we get this description on the theme of the promo:
“Highly acclaimed actor and star of Game Of Thrones Charles Dance is the voice of ‘nature’ in a Winter Olympics Games trail to promote the BBC’s extensive coverage of Sochi 2014. Dance, in his role as ‘nature’, speaks a foreboding verse to set a challenge to the Winter Olympic athletes to overcome its extreme elements. The trail also sets the basis for the opening credits of all BBC’s Winter Olympics television coverage.”
I can’t get enough of it. I keep watching it over and over as you will I’m sure.
For some bonus videos, here’s BBC Sport’s 2010 Olympics trail:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFXTzdArAeo&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
And for good measure, this is BBC’s 2012 promo for its coverage of the London games. Elbow composed the music especially for the network:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9I7nuAsaSQ&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Finally, here’s BBC’s famous “Monkey” trailer for the 2008 Olympics in Communist China:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr5ZWYRaAyw&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
And there you have it. All of BBC’s Olympic trailers since 2008. I’m sure I’ll be doing the same thing for 2016 in Rio.
