Barely two months after the closing ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, and with memories still fresh of the images of sporting greatness, the thrilling successes and achievements, the haunting failures and stunning disappointments, this debate focuses on the experiences of Olympic Beijing and looks ahead to the prospects for Olympic London in 2012.

Major broadcasters from around the world, sports federation leaders, and medal winning athletes will gather for this reflection and analysis of the world’s greatest sporting event. With the video participation of President Jacques Rogge, it will be led by the two heads of the IOC co-ordinating commissions for Beijing and London, and senior figures from the two organising committees, BOCOG and LOCOG.

The Games – its events and its schedules – are more widely viewed than ever before, and under more scrutiny than ever before.   The rapidly developing new media world of the 21st century offers more opportunities for the coverage and reporting of the Games.  Alongside the traditional programming of the TV networks, the internet and the mobile telephone are giving sports fans the chance for more individual choices of the events they watch.

This debate will offer Sportel visitors the opportunity to move from one Olympiad to the next, along with major stakeholders in the Olympic Games.

Moderators: Christian Quidet, former Director of Sport, France Televisions, and Jonathan Martin, former Director of Sport, BBC