Technical Glitch Exposes The BBC's Real Olympics Set – And It's Nothing Like What You See On TV

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If you’ve spent the last two weeks believing the BBC’s team of Olympics presenters are out in Tokyo, prepare to have your mind blown.

There was a technical glitch during Saturday’s edition of Olympic Breakfast that proved that the skyline of the Japanese capital – which can be seen as the hosts introduce and dissect all the action from the Games – isn’t actually real.

The blip exposed that the show’s real set is actually a huge green screen, which has scenes from Tokyo computer generated for viewers at home.

BBC Olympics studio is actually a giant green screen
BBC Olympics studio is actually a giant green screen
BBC

In actual fact, the majority of the BBC’s presentational team are based here in the UK, rather than out in Japan, due to the pandemic.

THE GLITCH IN THE MATRIX pic.twitter.com/Ueut6kzMxb

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) August 7, 2021

The likes Alex Scott, Clare Balding, Dan Walker and Sam Quek are all working from a hi-tech BBC Sport studio in Salford near Manchester.

If you follow Dan on Twitter, you might already know about the set, as he regularly tweets pictures and videos from the green studio.

We are in position for #OlympicBreakfast and we all sorts for you today @SamanthaQuek @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/TfBOw8jGvF

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 6, 2021

Morning all… I hope you’re ready for #OlympicBreakfast today

We have boxing from 6 with @galal_yafai going for gold@TomDaley1994 is diving for his 2nd #Tokyo2020 medal in 10m platform final from 7

And we have cycling after 8 with loads of other bits thrown in too 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/qmyn51W7jL

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 7, 2021

On Friday, he even tweeted how Sam Quek had to change one of her outfits because it was playing havoc with the virtual background.

Emergency change for @samquek
The white blouse was causing havoc with the virtual background 😂
She is now fully #TeamGB pic.twitter.com/lAjxLhiLvT

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 6, 2021

The virtual reality studio has been in operation at the BBC’s Dock10 studios in Salford since 2019, and has been used for a number of other sports productions, including Match of the Day and Football Focus.

A number of people have asked me if the BBC Olympic presenters are in Tokyo, or a green studio in Salford. Well... pic.twitter.com/lws3w6WGpE

— Duncan Newmarch (@DuncanNewmarch) August 1, 2021
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