The 2008 Beijing Olympics
and Paralympics
on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV team Olympic impressions
Sue Barker
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Former World number three tennis player,
French Open champion and Wimbledon
semi-finalist, Sue made her Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport
television debut co-presenting the evening
highlights programme from Wimbledon 93
with Harry Carpenter.
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Since then she has
gained a wealth of experience presenting
world-class competitions, including coverage
of other major tennis tournaments, Summer
and Winter Olympics, Commonwealth
Games, the Grand National, the Derby and
World and European Skating Championships.
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Her credits also include hosting Sports
Personality Of The Year and A Question Of
Sport.
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Among her many accolades are the
1998 TRIC award for Sports Presenter/Reporter of the Year and the 2001 Royal
Television Society sports presenter award.
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"Winning a gold medal means you have
reached the pinnacle of your sport. For me
in tennis the ultimate goal was to win a grand
slam championship and we had four chances
every year, so I cannot imagine the pressure
competitors are under when their chance
only comes around every four years. An
Olympic gold and a World Cup winner's
medal must be the greatest prizes in sport.
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"My Olympic memories? Wow, I have so
many favourites, but I'll start with Mary
Peters winning in 1972; she was my heroine
because I admired not only how competitive
she was, but also because she won with such
style and grace.
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"Other favourites are the domination of
Mark Spitz, the home wins of Michael
Johnson and Cathy Freeman – the flashbulbs
going off throughout the race lit up the
stadium; also the duels between Coe and
Ovett, and of course Steve Redgrave's five
magnificent victories.
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"I have been to so many countries
throughout my tennis career but China isn't
one of them so this will be a new experience
for me. It was a surprise to me that Beijing
was nominated, but I hope that we leave
China with fond memories of the Games and
hope for the future.
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"I will be in the stadium for track and field
and I am looking forward to witnessing the
great rivalries there, especially watching Liu
Xiang going for gold in the 110m hurdles.
Elsewhere the table tennis and badminton
could be an entertaining watch too.
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"The opening and closing ceremonies I'm
sure will be spectacular as well.
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"As for any predictions for British medals, I
wouldn't dream of adding any more pressure
on the team, but I will be following closely
Paula Radcliffe, the cycling, the sailing and the
rowing teams. Good luck to them all.
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"With regard to London 2012, I worked on
one of the videos for the bid and was thrilled
to be a part of what promises so much to
young people, not only around London, but
the whole of the country. I will be working on
the Games and that will be the highlight of
my television career, I can't wait.
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"As for Team GB in 2012... what an
experience but also what an opportunity, I
will envy every one of them."
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