Apolo Ohno Hosts Olympic Tribute on PBS's A CAPITAL FOURTH Tonight, 7/4

Today, July 4th, America's biggest Independence Day celebration kicks off our country's 236th birthday with a special salute to our Olympians and Paralympians as they prepare for the London games. Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will host the tribute to Team USA, honoring present and past athletes of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and featuring five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams conducting his "Olympic Fanfare and Theme."

Acclaimed British tenor Russell Watson will perform "Because We Believe" (written and performed by Andre Bocelli for the closing ceremony of the 2006 Olympic games in Turin, Italy) in celebration of the Olympic spirit and to welcome the athletes to his native England. With the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, more than a dozen competing Olympians will be cheered on by a crowd of hundreds of thousands, including:

Khatuna Lorig - Archery (and most recently credited as Jennifer Lawrence's teacher for the recurve bow for HUNGER GAMES);
Jennifer Gillom - Basketball (Olympic Gold medal winner and assistant coach to the U.S. Women's Team);
Sarah Robles - Weightlifting (and top ranked U.S. women's weightlifter in ALL weight classes and top U.S. finisher in men and women in 2011 World Championships);
Daryl Homer - Fencing (ranked #1 in the U.S.);
Rachel Dawson – Women's Field Hockey (Captain of the U.S. team);
Bobby Lea - Cycling (competing in his second Olympics);
Marti Malloy - Judo (Gold winner in the USO Judo National Championships);
Arielle Martin - BMX Cycling (and whose husband is currently serving in the Army);
Amanda Clark - Sailing (competing in her second Olympics);
David Wagner and Nick Taylor - Wheelchair Tennis (doubles partners who won gold medals at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and the 2008 games);
Corey Cogdell – Shooting (Bronze medal winner); and
Suzanne Stettinius – Modern Pentathlon (and whose father is a retired Navy Captain).

A CAPITOL FOURTH is the country's premier birthday party, celebrating our nation's independence as well as the many things that make America great, which, this year, includes our Olympians. The multi award-winning event will air live in HD from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS tonight, July 4 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. A CAPITOL FOURTH can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide.

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