• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 4, 2008

Johnson & Johnson is launching weekly Webisodes that follow athletes in their preparation for this summer's Olympic Games, to be housed on a micro-site at NBC's iVillage.

Called "The Family Room," the videos will follow eight athletes and provide a glimpse of the athletes' journeys to the Aug. 8 kickoff in Beijing. Videos will run five to seven minutes.

The premiere Webisode on March 2 introduces viewers to the individual family dynamics of the athletes. Future segments, appearing every Sunday, profile a U.S. Olympic hopeful. The documentary-style shorts will include footage and interviews shot by NBC coupled with footage from the athletes and their families via handheld cameras.

The micro-site will receive promotion on NBC Universal properties, such as the "Today" show, MSNBC and USA networks, and network affiliates.

The site also offers blogs from athletes and opportunities for user-generated content, where people can upload photos of their athletic children.

J&J plugs an assortment of its brands on the site, including OTC allergy medication Zyrtec and Band-Aid.

David Neal, executive producer at NBC Sports, said the J&J link looks to "introduce our viewers to the compelling stories of Olympic athletes and their path to the Games."