Greece is certainly the word for the next two week’s on Radio National’s Drive program as the ABC radio show has selected to adopt Greece as the country they will be giving their Olympics coverage to.
The show’s presenter, Waleed Aly, and his band of correspondents will – for the duration of the games – present up-to-date information and Olympic hopes for the Greek national team as they take on the world in London this week on the ABC radio show. They will also be on the hunt for stories pertaining to Greece that connect with the Olympics.
The idea was set up over a month ago for the drive-time program to cover the Olympic journey of a country other than Australia. Waleed told Neos Kosmos that although they were originally considering smaller countries from Africa and the Caribbean, they soon realised there may not be enough content for a daily update. So they asked the audience the big question: which country should they adopt? And yesterday it was finalised, Radio National is adopting Greece.
“There was one person who sent me a text message every day about Greece,” says Waleed of the persistent Greek fans.
When the suggestion for Greece first came to light, Waleed agreed that the country had a lot going for it.
“Obviously there’s the symbolic connection with Greece and the Olympics Games,” he begins on the reasons Greece was chosen.
“The fact that it’s a big enough team to have entrants in lots of events; and the fact that Greece has been at the centre of economic and political turmoil we thought it needs all the support and friends it can get at the moment through the difficult times. And the fact that there is a big Greek community in Australia means that it’s attractive for our audience who probably have an interest in Greece.”
The Drive program on Radio National is on air from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Monday to Friday. For more information on Radio National and to listen to the show visit www.abc.net.au/radionational/
