controversial and difficult, probably not at that time quite as controversial as it has become. i think sometimes you do make a decision, and that was why, a bit like you being in the qatar opening ceremony, we use the news correspondents to give the proper context there. i think what was different this time was they went more into the sport production with that. and as i say, i think that s ok to a limited degree, it shouldn t be taken too far because news is a better vehicle. ayman, before i bring you back in, i should say we did ask if the bbc would like to take part in this live discussion. it points to us towards a statement which reads, just like previous tournaments, we haven t shown the opening ceremony on bbc one. full build up and coverage of the world cup has been available across the bbc, including the opening ceremony on iplayer. now, i d like to, ayman, with you, explore the broader point that you re trying
i think sometimes you do make a decision, and that was why, a bit like you being in the qatar opening ceremony, we use the news correspondents to give the proper context there. i think what was different this time was they went more into the sport production with that. and as i say, i think that s ok to a limited degree, it shouldn t be taken too far because news is a better vehicle. ayman, before i bring you back in, i should say we did ask if the bbc would like to take part in this live discussion. it points to us towards a statement which reads, just like previous tournaments, we haven t shown the opening ceremony on bbc one. full build up and coverage of the world cup has been available across the bbc, including the opening ceremony on iplayer. now, i d like to, ayman, with you, explore the broader point that you re trying to make here, which is that you feel qatar is being covered in a way that other countries would not be covered. help me understand that a bit better. so i thi
can you think of an example where it s gone about things like this at the beginning of a major international sporting event? i can t. well, i can a bit, actually. i think in beijing in 2008 for the summer olympics, we made a deliberate decision to put huw edwards onto the commentary and the presentation of the opening ceremony with carrie gracie, who was then a beijing correspondent as one of the expert commentators, precisely because china was controversial and difficult, probably not at that time quite as controversial as it has become. i think sometimes you do make a decision, and that was why, a bit like you being in the qatar opening ceremony, we use the news correspondents to give the proper context there. i think what was different this time was they went more into the sport production with that. and as i say, i think that s ok to a limited degree, it shouldn t be taken too far because news is a better vehicle. ayman, before i bring you back in, i should say we did ask if the bb
and a sport division, and i take the rather old fashioned view that news is good at covering news, sport is good at covering sport. it s actually rather better if they don t intermingle too much, though i think it s also appropriate, you can t start the tournament in qatar without at least some reference to the controversies that have gone on. but as someone who s worked for bbc news and bbc sport, you surely haven t. .. can you think of an example where it s gone about things like this at the beginning of a major international sporting event? i can t. well, i can a bit, actually. i think in beijing in 2008 for the summer olympics, we made a deliberate decision to put huw edwards onto the commentary and the presentation of the opening ceremony with carrie gracie, who was then a beijing correspondent as one of the expert commentators, precisely because china was controversial and difficult, probably not at that time quite as controversial as it has become. i think sometimes you do make
is good at covering sport. it s actually rather better if they don t intermingle too much, though i think it s also appropriate, you can t start the tournament in qatar without at least some reference to the controversies that have gone on. but as someone who s worked for bbc news and bbc sport, you surely haven t. .. can you think of an example where it s gone about things like this at the beginning of a major international sporting event? i can t. well, i can a bit, actually. i think in beijing in 2008 for the summer olympics, we made a deliberate decision to put huw edwards onto the commentary and the presentation of the opening ceremony with carrie gracie, who was then a beijing correspondent as one of the expert commentators, precisely because china was controversial and difficult, probably not at that time quite as controversial as it has become. i think sometimes you do make a decision, and that was why, a bit like you being in the qatar opening ceremony, we use the news corresp