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GOING GLOBALThe Olympic Channel will start as an online digital platform. Building on the existing long-term relationship between broadcast partners and the IOC, the Olympic Channel is looking at the possibility of creating common tailored Olympic television offerings in certain territories.Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, said: ÒWe want to promote the Olympic Channel to fans all over the world. We are talking to our rights-holders in different countries and regions about how we can extend the programme and make it much more than just a Channel for the Olympic Movement.ÓThe Channel will also create a massive-scale platform, where Worldwide TOP Partners will be able to create their own content and narrative and associate their brand with the Olympic values, reaching wider audiences all year round.GOING LIVESince plans were announced to create the Olympic Channel, there has been significant progress as it builds towards its launch. This includes the creation of two corporate entities to operate the Channel Ð Olympic Channel Services (OCS) SA (Switzerland) and OCS SL (Spain), the appointment of a newly formed IOC Olympic Channel Commission by President Bach, and ongoing discussions with major digital and social media organisations.The Channel team has also met and had positive discussions with hundreds of stakeholders from across the sports world including National Olympic Committees, IFs, Worldwide TOP Partners and Rights Holding Broadcasters.Following several key management appointments, the Olympic Channel team consists of over 60 employees, comprising 20 different nationalities. Work on the building facility in Madrid to house the Olympic Channel is now complete. BRINGING THE ATHLETES TO THE FANSAs well as engaging fans, a key focus of the Olympic Channel will be the athletes. The Channel has been exploring ways of creating innovative partnerships with the International Federations (IFs) and other sports organisations for the greatest possible exposure of their sports and athletes.The Channel aims to become a platform for athletes through which they can share their stories, engage with their fans and increase their profiles Ð including on their own social media properties. Such stories will inspire viewers, attract new fans and increase interest in athletes and their sports in between each edition of the Olympic Games.When announcing the plans for the Olympic Channel, President Bach highlighted how the new platform would raise the profiles of athletes and their sports. ÒOlympic Agenda 2020 addresses the relevance of Olympic sports and its values by the proposal for the creation of an Olympic Channel,Ó he said. ÒWe must give our athletes and sports the worldwide media exposure they deserve also between Olympic Games. We must give the youth better access to athletes, sport, Olympic history, Olympic culture and Olympic values.ÓAbove leftThe control room in Madrid is a hub of activity ahead of the Olympic ChannelÕs launchOLYMPIC CHANNEL