World-Class Athletes Trade Places on New Olympic Channel Series "Sports Swap"

Athletes Get in Olympic Day Spirit by Trying New Sports

MADRID – 19 June 2017 – What happens when two Olympic athletes swap sports? In advance of Olympic Day, celebrated worldwide on 23 June, the Olympic Channel presents Sports Swap where two world-class athletes try each other’s sports with surprising results. The first six episodes are now available exclusively on the Olympic Channel mobile app and at olympicchannel.com.

In each episode of Sports Swap, an Olympic athlete is given just one day to learn a new sport from a fellow Olympian, and then challenged to perform their new skills. From football and gymnastics to shooting and boxing, and archery and curling to BMX and equestrian, these Olympic athletes go outside of their comfort zones to try something new.

The first episode features Team USA footballer and three-time Olympic gold medallist Heather O’Reilly and Olympic gold medallist in rhythmic gymnastics Margarita Mamum of the Russian Federation trying each other’s sport for the first time in their lives.

"I have never used a ribbon in that way. It was completely new to me, completely foreign to me," said O’Reilly. "I’m such a competitor and perfectionist, and in something like this you just have to let all that go and just have fun and try to learn and do the best that you can."

In addition to learning new athletic skills, the athletes also picked up a few training and lifestyle tips that could be incorporated into their daily routines.

"I’d love to go boxing again," said Olympic shooter Amber Hill the who swapped sports with Team GB teammate Joe Joyce. "I’ve just got such a buzz off it, and maybe I’ll build it into my exercise regimen as well."

Sports Swap is an Olympic Channel Original Production and was produced in association with IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion. Additional episodes will be released in the coming weeks and months. Additional episodes will be released in the coming weeks and months.

The Olympic Channel is a ground-breaking global platform where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, and is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

Olympic Channel Episode Guide: Sports Swap

Episode 1 – Sports Swap: Football vs. Gymnastics with Heather O’Reilly (USA) and Margarita Mamun (RUS)

Episode 2 – Sports Swap: Table Tennis vs. Hockey with Britt Eerland (NED) and Blair Tarrant (NZL)

Episode 3 – Sports Swap: Boxing vs. Shooting with Joe Joyce (GBR) and Amber Hill (GBR)

Episode 4 – Sports Swap: Archery vs. Curling with Lisa Unruh (GER) and NIklas Edin (SWE)

Episode 5 – Sports Swap: BMX vs. Equestrian with Elke Vanhoof (BEL) and Daniel Bluman (COL)

Episode 6 – Sports Swap: Athletics vs. Track Cycling with Naomi Sedney (NED) and Elis Litglee (NED)

Schedule is subject to change.

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About the Olympic Channel

The Olympic Channel is a multi-platform destination where fans can discover, engage and share in the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Olympic Channel was launched in August 2016 in support of the IOC’s goal, set out in Olympic Agenda 2020, of providing a new way to engage younger generations, fans and new audiences with the Olympic Movement. Founding Partners supporting the Olympic Channel are Worldwide TOP Partners Bridgestone, Toyota and Alibaba. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

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Editor’s Note

A short promotional trailer for Sports Swap, can be watched and shared on Twitter and Facebook. Image Courtesy of olympicchannel.com.

Media Contact

Catherine Philbin

Communications Manager

Calle Torrelaguna 75 – 1st Floor

28027 Madrid, Spain

catherine.philbin@olympicchannel.com

+34 609 219 674

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