Which is the world's fastest animal? The best swimmer? The strongest weight lifter? Did you know that the Mole Flea can accelerate faster than a space shuttle when jumping? Or that lizards start a race on four legs but switch to two legs for extra speed?

 

The animal kingdom's athletic champions are revealed in this spectacular version of the Olympics, to coincide with the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Animals from six different nations put forward their best species to compete against each other for gold, silver and bronze in a real Olympic stadium, and the competition is fierce.

 

Using impressive special effects this factual programme brings together science and entertainment in a way never seen before.

 

As the animal participants enter the arena they are scaled to unified human size to allow them to compete in human events against each other. The events are: 100 Metres Sprint; High Jump; Long Jump; Swimming; Weight Lifting and Shooting. Mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and bugs put their best species forward, each with it's own anthem and insignia.

 

Throughout the competition BBC commentators will provide facts and figures about the participating creatures, as if discussing human athletes, and an arena of animal fans will cheer the competitors on.

 

Animal Games gives you the opportunity to see what happens when a Tiger Beetle takes on a Cheetah in the 100m sprint, shows you who's the strongest out of the Great White Shark and the Nile Crocodile, who will be victorious in the High Jump, the Flea or the Maggot, and much more.

 

Produced by John Downer (Weird Nature), Animal Games will be available to buy on DVD from all good retailers or online at www.bbcshop.com from Monday 9 August, and will be shown on BBC ONE in August 2004 to tie in with the Olympic Games.

 

Title: Animal Games

Release date: 9 August 2004

DVD cat no: BBCDVD1556

DVD RRP: £4.99

Duration: 60 minutes Approx

Cert: E

BBC WORLDWIDE