Beijing, Are You Ready? OLYMPIC SPECIAL

  • Description
  • Gallery
  • TV Airing Schedule
  • Purchase DVD
  •   60-Minute HD Documentary (2008)
    By popular demand, we bring you a one-hour version of the 13-episode series, Beijing, Are You Ready? This "Best of" cut highlights athletes Olympic journeys, interviews creators of the Opening and Closing ceremonies and looks behind-the-scenes at highly-restricted Olympic venues. 
    The program includes rare footage of key people and highly-restricted locations, including Olympic construction sites. In addition to looking behind-the-scenes of the Olympic grounds, viewers will experience the multitude of ways China's capital city is preparing to host the first-ever Olympics in China.
     

  • Production for Beijing, Are You Ready? began in 2006. The following photos offer a glimpse into the content presented in this series on the 2008 Summer Olympics.
     
    ► March - April 2007 / Photos from the second production trip.
     

    The slogan for the 2008 Summer Olympics is clearly visible from the Great Wall. 
     
    Mary spends the day weaving through a sea of visitors on the steep stones of the Great Wall.

    The official Olympic countdown clock is in the center of Beijing, at Tiananmen Square.
    July 1st Elementary School celebrates the 500 day mark before the Olympics begin with a performance by the children.
     

    These two kids help "huanhuan" 
    --one of the five friendlies, or mascots-- 
    navigate through her fans. 

    Mary interviews swimmer Qian Hong, a gold medalist from the1992 Barcelona Olympics.



    Mary sees the progress on the Water Cube, one of the most popular projects under construction.
     Birds Nest Construction is coming along, and workers are now also focusing on building massive underground parking lots.

    A few apartments in the Olympic Village have been unveiled, but the rooftop gardens are still in-the-making.
     

    A visit to Aptos Origin's office reveals how this top sponsor acts as the nerve center during the Olympics. Media rely on them to quickly relay scores and athlete information.
     

    Qian Zhen Hua's not only a fencer -- he completes in the Pentathlon. That means he fences, shoots, rides horses, runs, and swims.
     
    Swimming is Qian's best sport, but he still trains daily.

    Mary interviews gymnast Teng Haibin, who won a gold medal in Athens 2004.
     

    A visit to Teng Haibin's home not only reveals his gold medal, but also his parents deep pride.

     Teng Haibin, age 22, has been training since he was five. He practices six days a week with the Chinese National Team.
    These athletes deal with both physical stressand the psychological pressure that comes with China’s high expectations for gymnasts in 2008.
     

    Zhang Nan hopes to top her gold medal from the World Championship Competition, but first she has to make the 2008 Olympic Team. 
         		  
    Zhang Nan's parents share their worries and hopes for their daughter.

    Dr. Chen teaches physical therapy at Hong Kong Polytech University. He moved to Beijing to help the athletes prepare for the 2008 Olympics.
     
    Dr. Chen and his apprentice work on an athlete's shoulder injury.

    Mary interviews martial artist Zhao Qing Jian. He will complete the Wushu competition held at the same time as the 2008 Olympics.
     
    Liu Xiao Lei performs Wushu at Beijing's Shi Chai Hai Sports School. She's hoping that Wushu will be accepted as an Olympic sport in the future.

    This soccer player awaits surgery at Peking University 3rd Hospital, where all Olympic athletes are treated for injuries from doctors that utilize western and eastern techniques.

    Mary gets her own taste of eastern remedies with a foot massage at Oriental TaiPan Massage & Spa, where she learns the importance of pressure points.


    Mary interviews Chen Weiya, president of the National Song and Dance Ensemble, and advisor for the Ceremonies.
     
    Member of the National Song and Dance Ensemble are working hard in hopes of participating in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics.
     

    Yves Pepin compares the Olympic ceremonies with his Eiffel Tower Millennium Celebration. He shares what it's like being part of an expert team which includes Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg.
     
    Mary meets pop singer Yeah!! and his producer, Sota Kawasaki, on their way to submit an Olympic theme song.

    Over 100 volunteer drivers for the 2008 Olympics gather at this award ceremony to pledge their commitment.    		  
    These taxi drivers attend mandatory Saturday morning English class in preparation for the Olympics. 
     


    New subway lines and stations are popping up around the city in preparation for the 2008 Olympics.
    On her rental bike, Mary pedals through some of the remaining hutongs—or small alleyways—to get a taste of old Beijing.
     
    .
    Mary gets more than a scarf at this store, she gets a lesson on how silk is made—from removing the silk worm from its cocoon to stretching and hanging the silk to dry.


    From the Ming dynasty through today,  Liu Li Chang street is the place to buy the “four treasures:  paper, ink, ink stone and paint brushes. 
     

    Old Pipe Street no longer sells tobacco, but shoppers won't be disappointed with the list of souvenirs available on this walking street.
     
    With water on-hand, Mary fishes for chicken in this bowl of chilies.

    The 12 main spices in Sichuan cooking are on display at Baoguobuyi restaurant.
    Mary joins these bakers at Haolilai Bakery and learns to make pastry with sweet beans.
     



    Executive Chef Vivi's Brazilian restaurant has become famous in BEijing after only 4 years -- using its romantic setting and fusion food to attract both Chinese and foreign customers.
     
    Chef Yang learns to make Baklava for the only Greek restaurant in Beijing -- Athena.

    Public toilets like these are new to the streets of Beijing – and more are being added in preparation for the Olympics.
     

    Largely inspired by the upcoming Olympics, 
    mass tree planting projects are underway throughout Beijing.

     

     Beijing continues to expand in rings around the Forbidden City, located at the very center. The city is growing so fast, its well into its 6th ring. 
     
    The high walls of the Forbidden City kept emperors isolated from the world outside for 500 years.

    ► November 2006 / Photos from the first production trip.
     


    Mary points to the National Stadium in progress, also nicknamed "Birds Nest"



    Mary and the crew explore the inside of 
    the "Birds Nest"


    An interview with Kang Wei, the GM of the National Swimming Center Project, in front of what is nicknamed "Water Cube"

    The construction site of the National Convention Center, which will be home to media from around the world


    Mary inside what will be the 
    National Indoor Stadium

    An interview with Sun Weide, Deputy Director of BOCOG's Media and Communications Department


    Mary at the Olympic Village, which will house over 16,000 people–including at least 10,000 athletes–in 2008.

    A meeting with Dennis Wei, Resident Manager of Lu Song Yuan Hotel–a typical 'cultural hotel'


    Mary gets her Western food fix –cappuccino and cheesecake–on the 2nd Floor of 'Sculpting in Time Cafe', located in the middle of the University district.    		  


    Mary gets lost in the night market stalls, which have been serving over 60 Chinese specialty snacks since 1984.


    This panel of foreign students living in 
    China shares some cultural tips.

    A visit to this Air Quality Monitoring Center explains how Beijing tracks the number of 
    good quality air days.
     

    A typical Saturday morning at the free Dongsi Olympic Community English Class, where students range in age from 6 to 88.
    Mary goes behind the stage at LaoShe Tea House to meet Peking Opera performer An Yanli, as she transforms into 'White Snake'.
  • Coverage
    Beijing, Are You Ready? has a coverage of over 80% in the U.S., including 96% of the top U.S. markets. It is airing in 44 states on over 418 stations, including PBS World and otherdigital channels.

    Air Dates and Times
    Stations will be added below as we become informed of their schedules, however, not all stations or times will be listed and details may change.  Please check your local listings.
    TV Programmers
    Please contact us to request an Online Media Kit which includes high-resolution photos.
    Viewers
    To request Beijing, Are You Ready? contact the TV Programmer at your local PBS station. 
     


  • Title: Beijing, Are You Ready?   OLYMPIC SPECIAL  
    Length: 60 minutes   Format: DVD
    Production Year: 2008
     
    Price for home use:     $30.00 plus shipping and handling.
     
    (The DVD price is for home-use. If you are ordering for a library, college, business, government agency or other institution, the price is $75.00 per DVD plus shipping and handling fees.)
     
    
Availability: In stock.
     
    SHIPPING & HANDLING Usually ships in 3-4 business days.


    Shipping and handling in the U.S. is $5.00 for the first DVD and $2.00 for each additional DVD. For international shipments, prices will vary.
 
     
    PAYMENT METHODS
    Cashier's Check / Money Order 
Send a Cashier's Check or Money Order for the correct amount (including shipping and handling) to the address below. Make the check payable to "D3 Productions, Inc." Please indicate the title of the DVD(s) and the number of copies in your order. We do not accept personal checks.
     
    Mail to:

    D3 Productions, Inc.

    7700 Edgewater Drive, Suite 248

    Oakland, CA 94621