Jiang Heping is in charge of a 2,500-strong army that will put together China's greatest ever TV spectacle. Mr Jiang, 45, who trained at the Cardiff School of Journalism in Wales, says he's nervous but confident about the mammoth task he has undertaken.
How did you become CCTV 5's controller?
It was a great surprise when it happened [in2005]. I was the controller of CCTV 9, the English-language channel, when I got a call to say Mr Ma [Guoli], Channel 5's controller, had been appointed the chief operating officer at Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Company and could I fill the vacancy. I had no idea I would be appointed. I used to watch CCTV 9 all day, from morning until night. I never even watched CCTV 5.
You must have been delighted
It was unimaginable to me, and to most of my colleagues it was also a great surprise. I was completely unprepared. It was a great challenge and of course a great honour. We only started preparing for the Games after I started at Channel 5 and there were many, many planning and brainstorming sessions, from the grassroots staff to the top management levels. We were brainwashed into thinking of nothing but the Olympics coverage.