London Calling for Olympic walker Jamie Costin

Tuesdays at 10.35pm on RTÉ One

London Calling captures the ecstatic highs and crushing lows as Ireland's top athletes - across a range of disciplines - train, compete and try to qualify for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This brand new six-part series follows the medal hopefuls as the tension builds before big qualifying events and joining in the thrill of competition, as these athletes strive to reach London 2012.

Focusing not just on the sporting achievements of the participants, this observational documentary series also draws a clearer picture of these exceptional people and how they balance a world-class training regimes with living their everyday lives.

Drawn from urban and rural backgrounds, from across Ireland, the would-be Olympians compete in a wide range of disciplines - Boxing, Discus, Triathlon, Sprinting, Three Day Eventing, Walking, Long Distance Running, and Cycling - with a mix of first timers full of hunger and expectation to experienced Olympians who know how much sacrifice and pain lies ahead. While we would like all our athletes to win gold medals, inevitably for some, the path to London will end in disappointment.

Taking place against a backdrop of economic hardship, many of our sporting hopefuls struggle to finance their dream of representing the nation, while having to stay focused on the end game. As they train to be one of the world's best, London Calling also shines a light on the effect this level of dedication has on their personal and private lives.

Athletes featured in the series are:

Robert Heffernan, a race walker from Douglas, Cork, and three-time Olympian who could finally achieve his dream of a medal in the Olympics while his wife Marian Heffernan tries to qualify for her first in the Women's 4 x 400m.

Orla Barry who overcame the loss of both legs as a child to reach a major final as an 18 year old and who will be aiming for Gold in the Paralympic Discus.

Camilla Speirs the bright young star of Irish Three Day Eventing who trains her own horses.

Ciarán Ó Lionáird the young middle distance runner mixing it with the world's best as part of the Nike Oregon Project.

Michael McKillop a middle distance runner with Cerebral Palsy who is not only Paralympic 800m Champion but also regularly competes with able bodied athletes.

Kieran Behan who had to learn how to walk again as a teenager but is now only the second gymnast to represent Ireland at the Olympics.

Brian Gregan a 21-year-old 400m sprinter trying to make the breakthrough.

Aileen Morrison Ireland's leading female triathlete and ranked among the world's best.

Mark Kenneally a long-distance runner who is looking to qualify for the marathon while running a business full time.

Jamie Costin the Olympic walker as he makes his way back from a broken back while helping out on the family dairy farm.

Catherine Walsh already a five-time Paralympian, with two kids and a full time job who has managed to learn a new discipline and become a World Champion in tandem cycling.

Kenneth Egan as he hoped against hope that he would be able to catch a break to get back into the Olympic team after losing his place and National Championship crown.

Produced by Strike Films for RTÉ