±«Óãtv

The ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv 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 ±«Óãtv’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 ±«Óãtv'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 ±«Óãtv'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 ±«Óãtv’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, ±«Óãtv Breakfast, World News, World Service, News Channel and ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live will carry coverage.

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

SB4