Animal Planet’s answer to Olympics: ‘Puppy Games’

The games begin on Friday – the Puppy Games, that is.

After scoring big with “Puppy Bowl,” which aired concurrently with the Super Bowl, Animal Planet is expanding the franchise with “Puppy Games 2008,” a three-hour special that will air the same night as the Olympics’ opening ceremony.

More than 30 puppies representing different countries – most of them hailing from Washington, D.C., shelters – will “compete” in sports such as such as dog paddling, soccer and gymnastics.

Competitors include the pug and Shih Tzu for China, the dachshund for Germany, the Dalmatian for Croatia and the English bulldog.

Using five cameras simultaneously to capture multiple angles, the production team recorded 75 hours of tape, edited to three hours.

The games are not limited to canine performers, notes Animal Planet Media executive producer Melinda Toporoff: “The kitties are in the opening and closing ceremonies with all their dance routines.”