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Johnson & Johnson, NBC Olympics and iVillage on Monday launched The Family Room presented by Johnson & Johnson, a multimedia experience which over the next five months will follow the journey of USATF stars Lauryn Williams and Reese Hoffa, along with six other athletes and their families, as they prepare to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which begin August 8.
The centerpiece of The Family Room site is a series of weekly webisodes offering viewers a compelling glimpse into the lives of Olympic hopefuls through both their own personal perspectives and those of the families surrounding and supporting them. The Family Room can be viewed at www.iVillage.com/familyroom.
The Family Room focuses on Lauryn Williams and Reese Hoffa (Track & Field); Tina Ellertson (Soccer); twin brothers Paul & Morgan Hamm (Gymnastics); Chellsie Memmel (Gymnastics) and siblings Steve & Katie Mocco (Wrestling & Judo).
The premiere webisode on March 2 introduces viewers to the unique family dynamics of the athletes featured in The Family Room while subsequent segments appearing every Sunday will feature a specific U.S. Olympic hopeful until the Olympic Games in Beijing. The five-to-seven-minute documentary-style shorts will include footage and interviews captured by NBC Olympics as well as compelling footage from the athletes and their families via handheld cameras.
In addition to the webisodes, The Family Room will feature a wealth of digital content through which the athletes, their families, and communities at home connect online:
* Profile pages on the iVillage Connect social networking platform that will feature blogs and personal photos from each athlete
* The Raising Future Champions community forum, where users can share their personal stories about memorable sports moments in their children's lives.
* A Share Your Shout Out graffiti wall, where visitors can express their U.S. team pride and support by typing in words of encouragement.
The Family Room will also feature information about products from the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and numerous links to NBCOlympics.com's complimentary coverage of the eight highlighted athletes, including how the athletes are faring in pre-Olympic competitions, news about their international rivals, previews of their events in Beijing, expert blogs, and robust photo and video galleries.
Throughout the duration of the program, viewers can expect to see vignettes and promos for The Family Room across numerous NBC Universal platforms, including Early Today, Today, MSNBC, USA Network, iVillage and various NBC affiliates across the country.
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