Saturday July 19
6:30pm

Tonight on THE GREAT OUTDOORS, Olympic fever hits the team - Ernie travels to host country China to test the local culinary delights and discover the best shopping. At home, Tom, Jen and Andrew catch up with our Aussie Olympians across the country.

With the Olympic Games just weeks away, Ernie heads to the host city for an Olympic update. He meets up with some Olympic volunteers and Aussie expat Helena Gallagher for some bargaining tips at the Panjiayuan Market. Ernie tries out the local culinary delights and discovers the residents of Beijing are ready and excited to showcase China to the world.

Jennifer Hawkins meets 100m sprinter Josh Ross, who is picking up the baton as part of the 4x100m men’s relay in Beijing, on the Central Coast in NSW. Josh, who holds the fastest 100m time by an Australian, shares his training secrets with Jen, as well as his love for painting and creating electronic music compilations.

Jen also catches up with the daughter of two Olympians. Pole Vaulter Alana Boyd is continuing the track and field family tradition with her place in the pole vault team. Alana's father Ray Boyd is a former pole vaulter, while her mother Denise (nee Robertson) is a former sprinter. In the lead up to her Beijing preparation, Alana is training at the Boyd family home on the Sunshine Coast. Alana's selection for the Beijing Games marks the first time in our nation’s history that a child of two former Olympians will compete in an Australian Olympic team.

Tom Williams heads to Wagga Wagga to find out why this town has produced more elite athletes than any other town in Australia. He meets up with some of the city’s well known sporting heroes, including former Sydney Swans star Paul Kelly, rugby league legends the Mortimer Brothers and Equestrian Olympian Olivia Bunn to explore Wagga’s Sporting Hall of Fame and the many theories that abound as to the reasons for the city’s sporting successes.

Andrew Daddo visits the nation’s capital, Canberra, to catch up with the granddaddy of the Australian swim team, Adam Pine, who is about to compete in his third Olympics. Home to the Australian Institute of Sport where he trains, Adam and his family take Andrew to another of their favourite Canberra places, the National Zoo and Aquarium.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS is presented by ERNIE DINGO, TOM WILLIAMS, ANDREW DADDO and JENNIFER HAWKINS.