By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

June 15 - NBC Sports are to form a new unit that will be responsible for the company's coverage of the London 2012 Olympics, they announced today.



The NBC Olympics Production Group includes Sam Flood, who today was named as the seventh Executive Producer in NBC Sports history, and Peter Diamond, who originally joined the network as an Olympic researcher for its coverage of the Moscow Games in 1980 and has worked on 14 Olympic Games, more than any broadcast-network executive in television history.

The Group will report to Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, and to Gary Zenkel, the President of NBC Olympics, on all business-related matters.

Flood is one of four members of the new Olympic Production Group who originally joined NBC as Olympic researchers.

He joined the company in 1986 and has now worked on nine Olympics, most recently served as producer for NBC's Olympic daytime coverage.

Flood, a 15-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Eclipse Award winner, replaces David Neal, who served in the role of Executive Producer since 2005 and has departed to begin his own production company.

"I want to thank and richly applaud David Neal for his long and productive career here at NBC Sports and Olympics," said Ebersol.

NBC is expected to be among Neal's first clients.

"For almost 30 years, NBC Sports has been my professional home. I've had an amazing time here and worked with the very best people - led by Dick Ebersol (pictured)," said Neal.

"Along with all the terrific experiences I've enjoyed, I've also had a growing desire to someday return home to Southern California and enter the entertainment side of our business.

"Following the successful Olympics in Beijing and Vancouver, now is the perfect time to pass the Olympic torch.

"I have no doubt that NBC Sports will enjoy continued success under Dick's visionary leadership."

The other members of the Olympics Production Group, which collectively have worked on 54 Olympic Games and won 74 Emmys, includes Bucky Gunts, head of production who has directed every Olympic primetime programme since 1996 and every Opening Ceremony since Salt Lake City in 2002.

He will work alongside Molly Solomon, the coordinating producer who has worked on eight Olympics, Mark Levy, the vice-president and creative director who is in charge of the on-look and image of all NBC Sports and Olympic programming, and Joe Gesue, the executive editor of NBC Sports and Olympics who oversees research, writing and editorial content for all sports and Olympic programmes.

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