ATHLETES TO BOLSTER CBC OLYMPIC COVERAGE
The CBC is betting that a broadcast roster brimming with high-profile Olympic athletes will help attract viewers and keep them glued to its coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games this August.
The Olympic broadcaster this week announced the most athletes to be named to its broadcasting team, including Olympic gold medallists Clara Hughes, Hayley Wickenheiser and Donovan Bailey, among the 19 Olympians and one Paralympian providing their expertise. The group has won 18 Olympic medals.
“It has been a dream and a goal of mine for some time to be an analyst for CBC for cycling and I am thrilled that it has come true,” said Hughes, who has been doing research since learning in October 2007 that she got the job. “CBC has been making sure that people like me, virtual rookies for this, are not going in unprepared. After their training and seminars, I feel I’ve had the best coaching and preparation possible.”
Hughes, an Olympic medallist in both cycling and speed skating, will make her debut as an analyst for the track, road, and mountain bike events. Wickenheiser, who has competed in both winter and summer Olympics — women’s hockey and softball — will serve as the analyst for softball.
Hughes and Wickenheiser are unusual in this role in that they still are active athletes required to maintain their fitness, as is Kevin O’Brien, the analyst for the new Olympic sport of BMX racing.
“That’s going to be the tough part for me,” Hughes said. “I’m bringing my bike, my trainer, and I’m told I’ll have access to a treadmill and a weight room, so there will be plenty of opportunities to punish myself in training.”
As for other sports: Double Olympic gold medallist Bailey will be a special guest analyst along with three-time Olympian Rosey Edeh in athletics. Swimming boasts Olympic medallist analysts in Mark Tewksbury and Marianne Limpert, while rowing will use Barney Williams, who won silver in the men’s four at Athens in 2004.
Other ex-athletes on the CBC team include gymnast Lori Strong-Ballard; field hockey goaltender, Hari Kant; baseball infielder Warren Sawkiw; double Olympic diving medallist Anne Montminy; three-time Paralympian Rob Snoek; and former Canadian water polo head coach and two-time Olympian George Gross Jr.
There also is Olympic weightlifter Aldo Roy; former national soccer team captain Jason DeVos; canoeist Scott Logan; whitewater kayaker Claudia Kerckhoff-Van Wijk; Olympic synchro silver medallist Karen Clark Le Poole; and Olympic horse jumper Beth Underhill.
To check out Alison’s column, go to The Toronto Sun
