After the world has been captivated by the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games, the Olympic Channel is set to premiere its new “Five Rings Films” series looking back at a historic victory from 20 years ago.
“The Nagano Tapes” tells the story of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, when pro hockey players participated in the Games for the first time. It will premiere on the Olympics Channel streaming channel and mobile app on Feb. 28.
Czech Republic’s underdog hockey team defied the odds by winning a gold medal and blowing the world’s dream teams off the ice.
“The Nagano Tapes” is directed by Sundance award-winner Ondřej Hudeček and produced exclusively for the Olympic Channel by Frank Marshall and Mandalay Sports Media (MSM).
“As the world gathers together in PyeongChang for 17 days of peace, sport, culture and education, I am thrilled to be premiering our first film for the Olympic Channel,” Marshall said in a statement. “Athletes are at the heart of the Olympics, so The Nagano Tapes is the perfect story to launch our new series, as it tells the incredible story of how an underdog men’s ice hockey team overcame all odds to win gold. I hope this story and subsequent ones will inspire other athletes to follow their dreams.”
“Some of the world’s greatest moments in all of sports have unfolded during the Olympic Games creating a treasure trove of compelling stories for our Five Rings Films signature documentary series” Mark Parkman, General Manager of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel, added. “The fascinating tale of the men’s ice hockey tournament in Nagano is sure to inspire and entertain audiences around the world through its dramatic storytelling set against the backdrop of the Winter Olympic games.”
Marshall and MSM’s Mike Tollin are executive producers of the five-episode series, “Five Rings Films.”
The Olympic Channel is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.
The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games air Feb. 9-25 on NBC.