BBC Sport launch new BBC One Olympic magazine series, Inspire

BBC Sport today announce the launch of Inspire, a new BBC One Olympic magazine series and broadcast campaign encouraging sports participation across the country.

The launch of a new BBC One magazine series, Inspire: The Olympic Journey, will celebrate the biggest names, the rising stars and the unsung heroes of Olympic sport. Presented by Gabby Logan, the series will be accompanied by Get Inspired, a multi-platform, pan-BBC initiative to promote participation and help individuals get more involved in grass-root sporting activities. Alongside the series and campaign, Blue Peter has also unveiled a new Sports Badge encouraging sports participation in children.

Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, says: "London 2012 was a once-in-a-lifetime event that inspired the nation and provided the ideal opportunity for us to harness an unparalleled enthusiasm for sports. I'm delighted that Gabby Logan - one of our most popular presenters - will present Inspire: The Olympic Journey, continuing our ongoing commitment to Olympic and Commonwealth sports.

"The Get Inspired initiative will take advantage of the BBC's role as the nation's leading sports broadcaster, encouraging sports participation across the UK and providing viewers with tools to help get involved."

Inspire: The Olympic Journey is a monthly series - airing on Saturday afternoons - that will take an in-depth look at the stories behind the sports, tackling the big issues and discovering the inspiring figures behind our most promising and high-profile sports men and women. Featuring a variety of reporters, including Matthew Pinsent, and a range of contributors from across the sporting world, each episode will explore the characters behind the Olympics, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games.

Launching exactly one year after the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony (27 July), the first episode will air from the Commonwealth Games site in Glasgow. Accompanied by Sir Chris Hoy, Gabby will visit the Velodrome named in his honor and look back at his illustrious career. Gabby will meet some of the logistical and sporting teams preparing for Glasgow 2014, while Matthew will explore the true meaning of the Olympics Legacy.

Flagship children's program Blue Peter has today also unveiled its new Sports Badge, aimed at inspiring children to act out the sporting legacy. The special badge, which will be awarded to children who can prove they have been instrumental in creating their very own sporting legacy, will be available for a limited time only, from July until September this year.

Ewan Vinnicombe, Editor of Blue Peter, said: "It's the 50th anniversary year for the original Blue Peter badge so I'm delighted that we are launching a new badge to inspire our audience to enjoy sport with their friends. A brilliant legacy after an amazing year of sport in the UK."

Alongside the new BBC One series, BBC Sport announced the launch of Get Inspired, a new initiative encouraging sports participation. Working alongside sports bodies across the UK Get Inspired will use multiple broadcast platforms in order to encourage audiences to find out more about sports participation.

Inspire: The Olympic Journey and the Get Inspired initiative will support the BBC's increased commitment to Olympic and Commonwealth sports.

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