Vancouver 2010: In-House Radio Network Provides Figure Skating Spectators with Live Commentary

For the first time at a Winter Games, fans can purchase closed-circuit radios to follow figure skating on an in-house radio network, dubbed Axel Radio. About 1,400 have been sold. The spectators receive expert analysis, detailed explanations of the complex scoring system, trivia, and humorous commentary.

According to the New York Times, similar radio broadcasts have been used for the Canadian and the United States figure skating championships. There, the audiences were mostly sophisticated fans. At the Olympics, however, Axel Radio is catering to more casual fans.

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