The Olympics comes on Kapinoy

January 25, 2014

The Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, Russia where the 2014 Winter Olympics will be held starting on Feb. 7

Olympia in Greece is where the Olympic torch is customarily lit to start its journey to the country where the next Olympiad is to be held. That torch, figuratively speaking, has come home to IBC-13 as your Kapinoy Network under the Media ng Bayan and Viva Sports has recently been appointed as the official broadcaster for the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and the Summer Olympics of 2016 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil — two of the biggest and most awaited sporting events in the world. IBC will be bringing these monumental sporting events to every corner of the archipelago and to all Pinoy sports aficionados through Viva Sports’ various broadcast platforms.

Bagging the rights to the Olympics by itself took an Olympian effort, according to coach Ronnie Nathanielsz, head of Viva Sports. “The representatives of Dentsu, the Olympics rights holder for Asia, made a presentation to IBC, INN and Pinoy Extreme offering the entire Olympic package and asked if we were interested to bid,” recalls coach Ronnie. It was an opportunity too difficult to pass up but coach Ronnie knew that these major events need careful planning, hence the need to tap all platforms of the Media ng Bayan group of companies. “It has to be the PCGG conglomerate, thus we made a pitch to the top brass with the stipulation that the broadcast rights should include all our platforms — IBC and Viva Sports, cable, mobile, Internet, live stream — and the management gave the green light.”

IBC chairman Eric Canoy, IBC CEO and president Boots Anson-Roa and IBC executive vice-president Lito Ocampo Cruz sees the Olympiad coverage as a boon to Philippine sports and an inspiration for the country’s aspiring athletes. “This is wonderful news for Filipino sports fans. Sports has proven to be very effective in uniting all Filipinos; that’s why we are excited to bring to them the biggest sporting event with the best athletes from all over the world,” he stresses.

Coach Ronnie also sees this as an opportunity to bring to our young people’s consciousness the Olympian ideals of Citius, Altius, Fortius — faster, higher, stronger. He ascribes the same principles to The Kapinoy Network’s efforts in getting the Olympics. “Acquiring the broadcast rights for the first time is a perfect example. We acted faster than the rest, appealed to a higher purpose than mere broadcasting —- we want to be there when the Philippines wins its first Olympic Gold — and in so doing made a stronger case to the IOC that we are the most ideal Olympic partner.”

IBC-13’s Olympic coverage begins this Feb. 7 with the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, which has 98 medal events in seven sports. This is the first time the Winter Games will be held in Russia and figure skater Michael Martinez from Muntinlupa will be the first homegrown Filipino competing. It marks the return of the Philippines to the Winter Games after a 22-year absence and the first time a Pinoy figure skater represents the country. Along with the 17-year-old figure skater are other Olympians with Filipino ties -— Gilmore Junio (long-track speed skater, Canada) and JR Celski (short-track speed skater, US) — performing in the biggest winter sports event.

The Kapinoy Network will also air this year’s Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China. There are 222 medal events in 28 sports that include three-on-three basketball, taekwondo, swimming, tennis, boxing, athletics, football and beach volleyball happening from Aug. 16 to 28. And the grand game of them all, the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics to be held from Aug. 5 to 21, 2016. The Rio Olympics marks the first time that the games will be held in South America and is expected to carry 314 medal events in 28 sports. Coverage of the games will include the Filipino’s favorite sports, led by basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, badminton and boxing.

Viva Sports on IBC cements its claim to being the No.1 provider of the latest and best sports events for the Filipino viewers no matter where they may be in the globe. The Olympics broadcast highlights what other sports offerings the network has in store for the enjoyment of the average viewers, including the FIBA Men’s World Cup 2014 in Spain; the Incheon (South Korea) Asian Games 2014, which is Asia’s biggest sporting event with 45 participating countries; SuperBowl XLVIII (48) which is America’s largest spectacle; the NBA in its 2014-2015 Season; ONE FC, which is on with Viva Sports on IBC; and, of course, the PBA which is entering its 40th year in October.

Truly said, sports is not only for those who play it, but more so for those who watch it. This is overall what the Viva Sports on IBC tagline is all about: Sports you watch, sports that matter.