ESPN launches a new quiz show based on the Olympic motto. Hosted by Harsha Bhogle, the show promises a serious fun affair with as many as 108 schools participating from all over India.Game shows and more game shows and pots and pots of money to go with it - a delectable affair indeed. Amidst the sundry money-driven shows springing up on almost every channel and in the year of the game shows, ESPN, the sports channel, has dared to be different. It has announced one new show alright, but it ain’t a game show. It is a quiz show - a format which seems to have given way to the razzle and dazzle of KBC, SDCK and JKSK and the hype and hoopla surrounding them. ESPN School Quiz Olympiad is the name of the programme which is being aired on TV from December 26 every Tuesday to Friday at 6.00 pm and 11.00 pm. All 61 episodes have been shot at a lavish and specialised studio in NOIDA. Hosted by cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, the idea for the sports quiz was mooted by Joy Bhattacharya who has been an integral part of quiz programmes Mastermind India and Bournvita Quiz Contest. With 108 schools competing for the honours - a whopping Rs 8.5 Lakh to develop sporting facilities in the winning school and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be flown to a major international sporting event of their choice (European Cup finals, Wimbledon, Formula 1, Cricket or NBA) the competition was bound to be tough. Says Bhattacharya, “The competition was tough yes, but the kids amazed us with their speed and presence of mind. Forget unscrambling KDAEUNLTR to TENDULKAR, they unscrambled names like Amanda Coetzer and Matt Biondi in a jiffy! Some were so perceptive that they recognised Tendulkar by the stubble on his left cheek alone in another round.†To test the speed of recall and reaction, depth of knowledge in various sports, strength and the resolve to win of the students participating the quiz was based around the Olympic motto of Ciltius (Faster), Altius (Higher), Fortius Stronger). “The standard displayed by the students was awesome,†says Bhogle, adding, “We had a team of researchers always on the set helping to adjust the standard according to the level of response.†Bhogle who also hosts the highly popular show Stumped on ESPNSTARSports, believes that there is a huge difference in anchoring both the shows: “In Stumped I have to take care of the fact that the participants all have big reputations and that they have done a lot to be on the show. In the Olympiad, I have a chance to be myself. It is only the second quiz show I am hosting after Stumped and I hope that there are many more such Olympiads. Children have no reputations to protect and thus this is a more relaxed show. Also the range of emotions I witnessed here is something I would not see otherwise. There were many moments. One I remember very well - the tears rolling out from the side of a boy’s face as he covered it after his partner gave the wrong answer to a question he knew.†What is perhaps heartening for Bhogle and the sporting world of India is that the amount of knowledge the kids displayed in the show transcended cricket and its ugly side. “They did not seem the kind who would be bothered if they couldn’t see cricket. They would much rather switch to European and American sport. Their knowledge in that too is phenomenal. I think Indian cricket needs this attitude from the youngsters, it has become too arrogant,†says the commentator. Well, that spells a change from the cricket overkill on the sports channels. And what better way to do it than by letting school children sport questions on different sporting events with elan and enthusiasm. With no gimmicky questions and no multiple-choice rounds, the School Quiz Olympiad promises a gruelling test for the participants and interesting viewing for the audience.
