Olympics on CBC commentators explained

The following is a list of commentators[1] to be featured in CBC Television's Olympic Games coverage.

Hosts

YearPrime-Time HostDaytime Host(s)Late-Night Host(s)Cable Host(s)
1960 SummerDoug Smith[2]
1964 SummerTed Reynolds[3]
1968 SummerLloyd Robertson[4] [5]
1972 Summer
1976 SummerLloyd Robertson[6] [7]
Ernie Afaganis[8]
1984 SummerBrian Williams[9] John Wells
1988 SummerRon MacLean
1992 Winter
1992 Summer
1996 Summer
1998 WinterDave Randorf (on TSN)
2000 Summer
2002 Winter
2004 Summer
2006 Winter
2008 SummerRon MacLeanScott Russell
Diana Swain
Ian Hanomansing
2014 WinterScott Russell
Diana Swain
David Amber
Andrew Chang
Andi Petrillo
2016 SummerScott RussellRon MacLean
Andi Petrillo
David Amber
Scott Russell
2018 WinterAndi Petrillo
Alexandre Despatie
Craig McMorris
Kelly VanderBeek
2020 SummerAndi Petrillo (Morning)
Perdita Felicien
Andrew Chang
Alexandre Despatie
Heather Hiscox
2022 WinterHarnarayan Singh, P. J. Stock, Hailey Salvian (CBC/TSN/SNET (Hockey Show))
2024 SummerHost: Andi Petrillo
Panelists: Perdita Felicien, Craig McMorris, Waneek Horn-Miller
Anastasia Bucsis and Rob Pizzo (Morning)
Scott Russell and Julie Stewart-Binks (Daytime)

Ted Reynolds joined the CBC in 1956 and covered numerous sports and events, notably the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and Grey Cup. He provided commentary for 23 sports and 10 Olympiads.

CBC's 1968 Summer Olympic host Lloyd Robertson was praised by The Globe and Mail writer Leslie Millin for his cool demeanour in the face of many technical glitches including "strange breaks, noises, lapses and unscheduled fade-outs." Millin applauded Robertson, normally a newscaster, for "working with the grace and agility of a man hired to stamp grapes in a Sicilian winery."[10]

Brian Williams[11] was the principal studio anchor for CBC's Olympic Games coverage for the 1984 Winter, 1984 Summer, 1988 Winter, 1988 Summer, 1992 Winter, 1996 Summer, 1998 Winter, 2000 Summer, 2002 Winter, 2004 Summer and 2006 Winter Olympics.

Terry Leibel became the first woman to co-host CBC Sports Olympic coverage during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. She also covered the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Games and the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. She earned Gemini Award nominations for her work in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics and won a 2003 Gemini Award becoming the first female sports broadcaster to do so.[12] She was also the first woman to do play-by-play for the Olympics, handling cycling, equestrian and white-water events for NBC Sports during the Summer Games in Barcelona in 1992.

Scott Russell was the network's top broadcaster for gymnastics and has covered them at the Olympic Games of 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008*, 2012, 2016, and 2020 (delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic until 2021), the 1994 Commonwealth Games and the 1999 Pan American Games. (* - He was the host for the second half of the 2008 Summer Olympics, since the previous host, Ron MacLean's.[13] mother died).

Dave Randorf hosted TSN's coverage of the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, and 2010 Winter Olympics. Working for Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, Randorf co-hosted the CTV Olympic Morning block during the 2012 Summer Olympics.[14]

Alexandre Despatie joined the broadcast team for Canada's French-language television coverage of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver during a brief break from training for the 2012 Games. He co-anchored the coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies alongside legendary Quebec hockey commentators Richard Garneau and Pierre Houde, narrated numerous athlete profiles, and took viewers on a tour of Granville Island, where many francophone musicians performed during the Olympics.

Kelly VanderBeek worked as an analyst/host during the Vancouver Olympics and London Olympics for CTV, continuing with the Sochi Olympics with CBC. She hosted the Raising an Olympian features and was a part of the PrimeTime Panel discussing hot topics from the day in sport. She has also worked as a guest host for Sportsnet, CBC, and Sportscene. In 2018, Vanderbeek provided daily CBC Olympic Overnight Show co-host duties, alongside Craig McMorris at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.[15]

Craig McMorris has worked as an analyst for the CBC since 2014, providing snowboarding commentary at the 2014 Winter Olympics, 2018 Winter Olympics, and the 2022 Winter Olympics. He served as cultural content for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and he also worked as a commentator for the CBC at the 2020 Summer Olympics, covering skateboarding in its Olympic debut.[16]

Andi Petrillo anchored CBC's coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. On October 24, 2015, CBC Sports launched a new show, Road to the Olympic Games, which Petrillo co-hosted with veteran sportscaster Scott Russell. CBC owns the Olympic rights in Canada until the 2032 Games, and the show features elite high-performance athletes. Andrew Chang was also a part of CBC's broadcast team for the 2014 Winter Olympics.[17] [18]

In 2018, Perdita Felicien joined the CBC TV network broadcasting the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea and later the Tokyo Olympics (2021).

By event

Winter Olympics

1992

SportPlay-by-playColour commentator
Alpine skiing
Biathlon
Cross country skiing
Figure skatingChris CuthbertPaul Martini and Barbara Underhill
Men's hockeyDon WittmanJim Peplinski
Ski jumping
Speed skatingSteve Armitage

Steve Armitage reported on and hosted Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts for the Vancouver Canucks for nearly 30 years,[19] the Canadian Football League and Grey Cup for 30 years, the Olympics including speed skating, swimming and diving, and the World Cup. Armitage was laid off by the CBC in August 2014 due to cuts to sports programming and the loss of hockey coverage to Rogers Media.[20] He did, however, return to work for CBC at the 2018 and 2022 Olympics to call events such as long track speed skating. Armitage announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2022 Winter Olympics.[21]

1998

SportPlay-by-playColour commentator
Alpine skiingScott Oake[22] Kerrin Lee Gartner
BiathlonScott Russell[23] Jack Sasseville
Cross country skiing
CurlingDon Wittman[24] Don Duguid[25]
Figure skatingChris CuthbertPaul Martini
Barbara Underhill
Sandra Bezic
Men's hockeyBob Cole[26]
Mark Lee
Harry Neale
John Garrett
Women's hockeyMark LeeKylie Richardson
Ski jumpingBrenda IrvingRon Richards
Speed skatingSteve Armitage[27] Cathy Allinger[28]
LugeMark ConnollyChris Wightman

Bob Cole's work during CBC's broadcasts of the Olympic ice hockey have also become memorable among legions of Canadians. His call on the final shot of the shootout in the semi-final game of the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano between Canada and the Czech Republic represented Canada's then-ongoing failure at the games and haunted fans for the next four years. With Canada scoreless in the shootout and Brendan Shanahan representing their last chance, Cole said in a panicked voice as Shanahan skated in towards Czech goalie Dominik Hasek, "He's gotta score, that's all!" But Shanahan was stopped by Hasek, prompting Cole to dejectedly say "No, he can't do it."[29]

At the gold medal game of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City between Canada and the United States, Cole's animated call of Joe Sakic's second goal of the game is also one of his more memorable moments. Also, when Jarome Iginla scored Canada's fourth goal of the game, with four minutes remaining in the third period, Cole was so excited when the goal was scored he yelled out "GORE!" (a hybrid of "goal" and "score"), and then proceeded to call out "Goal, Canada! Goal! Wow! A lot of Canadian fans here! The place goes crazy here in Salt Lake City, and I guess coast to coast in Canada, and all around the world!" When Sakic scored Canada's fifth goal with 1:20 remaining, Cole yelled out "Scores! Joe Sakic scores! And that makes it 5–2 Canada! Surely, that's gotta be it!" As the final seconds of the game ticked away, and as the crowd broke out in perfect unison singing "O Canada", Cole said, "Now after 50 years, it's time for Canada to stand up and cheer. Stand up and cheer everybody! The Olympics Salt Lake City, 2002, men's ice hockey, gold medal: Canada!"[30] [31]

With an average Canadian audience of 10.6 million viewers, that game was the most-watched CBC Sports program, beating the previous record of 4.957 million viewers for Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals (the final game of the 1972 Summit Series between an NHL all-star team and the Soviet Union, which had been the most-watched sports program Canadian television history, was simulcast on CBC and CTV while Cole called the game on CBC Radio), in which the New York Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years, beating the Vancouver Canucks, another moment Cole himself called: "Here comes the faceoff and blare it Manhattan! The New York Rangers have done it here on a hot June night in New York! The Rangers are Stanley Cup Champions!"[32]

Harry Neale began working as a broadcaster full-time in 1986, where he was teamed with play-by-play man Bob Cole on CBC. Together, the pair broadcast 20 Stanley Cup Finals, the 1998, 2002, 2006 Winter Olympics, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, and 2004 World Cup of Hockey for CBC. At the gold medal game of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City between Canada and the United States, after Joe Sakic scored Canada's fifth goal with 1:20 remaining, he replied to his partner, Bob Cole's call as, "That's more than enough. Take a look at the Canadian bench. If you doubt by what I say, that's more than enough."

Sandra Bezic served as a commentator for NBC during the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympic games, the World Figure Skating Championships during the early 1990s, and numerous other skating events broadcast by NBC and CBC over the years.

Don Duguid also provided curling commentary for NBC at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin with Don Chevrier, and with Andrew Catalon and Colleen Jones at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

2002

SportPlay-by-playColour commentator
Alpine skiingScott OakeKerrin Lee-Gartner
Bobsleigh
Skeleton
Mark ConnollyDavid MacEachern[33] [34]
Cross country skiing
Biathlon
Scott RussellJack Sasseville[35]
CurlingDon WittmanMike Harris[36] and Joan McCusker
Figure skatingChris Cuthbert[37] Paul Martini[38] and Barbara Underhill
Freestyle skiingVic RauterAnna Fraser-Sproule
Men's hockeyBob Cole[39]
Chris Cuthbert
Mark Lee
Harry Neale
Greg Millen[40]
Women's hockeyMark Lee[41] Margot Page
LugeMark ConnollyChris Wightman
Ski jumpingRon Richards
SnowboardingBrenda IrvingRob Stevens
Speed skatingSteve ArmitageNeal Marshall[42]

2006

SportPlay-by-playColour commentatorReporter
Alpine skiingScott OakeKerrin Lee-GartnerMark Kelley
BiathlonScott RussellJack Sasseville
Bobsleigh
Skeleton
Mark ConnollyDave MacEachern
Cross country skiingScott RussellJack SassevilleMark Kelley
CurlingDon WittmanMike Harris and Joan McCuskerBruce Rainnie
(semis & finals)
Figure skatingMark LeePaul Martini and Barbara Underhill
Freestyle skiingBrenda IrvingVeronica BrennerMark Kelley
Men's hockeyBob Cole
Jim Hughson
Harry Neale
Greg Millen
Elliotte Friedman
Women's hockeyBruce RainnieKylie RichardsonElliotte Friedman
LugeMark ConnollyChris Wightman
Short trackSteve ArmitageCatriona Le May Doan
Ski jumpingScott RussellJohn Heilig
SnowboardingBrenda IrvingTara TeiganMark Kelley
Speed skatingSteve ArmitageCatriona Le May Doan

Since joining CBC Sports, Bruce Rainnie has broadcast four Olympic games (2000, 2002, 2004, & 2006). In 2006, he called the gold medal performance of the Canadian Women's Hockey team. Also in 2006, Rainnie was first on the scene to interview Brad Gushue after his rink won gold in Men's Curling. In 2007, Rainnie replaced the retiring Don Wittman as CBC's lead curling commentator.[43]

A six-time medalist at the Canadian Championships, Brian Stemmle currently works as a television colour commentator for Rogers Sportsnet. He worked for CBC during the Olympics in 2006 and was the lead commentator for Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler.

2014[44]

SportPlay-by-playColour commentatorReporter
Alpine skiingScott OakeKerrin Lee-Gartner
BiathonJack SassevilleBeckie Scott
Bobsleigh
Skeleton
Mark ConnollyHelen Upperton[45]
Cross country skiingKarin LarsenJack Sasseville
CurlingBruce RainnieMike Harris and Joan McCuskerColleen Jones
Figure skatingBrenda IrvingKurt Browning and Carol Lane
Freestyle skiingMitch PeacockJeff Bean
Jennifer Heil (moguls)
Men's hockeyJim HughsonCraig Simpson and Glenn HealyElliotte Friedman
Women's hockeyMark LeeCassie Campbell-PascallJennifer Botterill
LugeMark ConnollyJeff Christie
Short trackSteve ArmitageKristina Groves
Ski jumpingScott OakeRob Keith
SnowboardingRob SnoekCraig McMorris
Speed skatingSteve ArmitageKristina Groves

At the 2006 Torino Olympics, Colleen Jones did CBC segments about curling. Jones provided curling commentary for NBC's coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She served as the sideline reporter for the curling events at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

Craig McMorris has worked as an analyst for the CBC since 2014, providing snowboarding commentary at the 2014 Winter Olympics, 2018 Winter Olympics, and the 2022 Winter Olympics. He served as cultural content for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and he also worked as a commentator for the CBC at the 2020 Summer Olympics, covering skateboarding in its Olympic debut.[46]

2018[47]

See also: List of 2018 Winter Olympics broadcasters.

SportPlay-by-play announcerColour commentatorReporter
Alpine skiingDoug DirksTodd Brooker
Kerrin Lee-Gartner
Brian Stemmle
BiathlonNigel ReedJustin Wadsworth
BobsleighMark ConnollyHelen UppertonKarina LeBlanc
SkeletonJon Montgomery
Cross country skiingNigel ReedBeckie Scott and Justin Wadsworth
CurlingBruce RainnieMike Harris and Joan McCuskerColleen Jones
Figure skatingBrenda IrvingKurt Browning and Carol LanePaul Martini
Freestyle skiingMatt CullenMike Atkinson (slopestyle)
Deidra Dionne (aerials)
Jennifer Heil (moguls)
Ashleigh McIvor (ski cross)
TJ Schiller (halfpipe)
Men's hockeyChris CuthbertRay Ferraro
Craig Button
P.J. Stock
Alexei Yashin
Rob Pizzo and Cheryl Pounder
Women's hockeyMark LeeCassie Campbell-PascallRob Pizzo and Cheryl Pounder
LugeMark ConnollyJeff ChristieKarina LeBlanc
Short trackMitch PeacockMichael GildayCharlsie Agro
Ski jumpingSigna ButlerRob Keith
SnowboardingRob SnoekAdam Higgins
Craig McMorris
Speed skatingSteve ArmitageKristina GrovesCharlsie Agro

Todd Brooker has been a ski commentator on television for a number of years, and has worked for most of the major networks in North America. He has covered alpine skiing for numerous Winter Olympics for U.S. television, and currently provides commentary and analysis on CBC in Canada during the World Cup ski season. Brooker covered alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics for NBC in the United States.

Cheryl Pounder was a colour commentator for the CBC coverage of the women's hockey tournament at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Winter Olympics. She also served as a colour commentator for the TSN's coverage of IIHF World Women's Championship hockey tournaments[48] [49] [50] and succeeded Ray Ferraro as NHL 24 color commentator.[51]

2022[52]

See also: List of 2022 Winter Olympics broadcasters.

SportPlay-by-play announcerColour commentatorReporter
Alpine skiingMatt CullenBrian StemmleKelly VanderBeek
BiathlonKarin LarsenRoddy Ward
BobsleighMark LeeHelen UppertonMarivel Taruc
LugeArianne Jones
SkeletonCassie Hawrysh
Cross-country skiingNigel ReedBeckie Scott
CurlingBruce RainnieMike Harris and Joanne Courtney[53] Colleen Jones
Figure skatingBrenda IrvingKurt Browning
Carol Lane
Kaetlyn Osmond
Meagan Duhamel
Tessa Virtue
Scott Moir
Elladj Baldé
Freestyle skiingClaire Hanna (Aerials)
Signa Butler (Big Air, Moguls, Halfpipe)
Mike Atkinson (Slopestyle)
Peter Ruttgaizer (Ski cross)
Deidra Dionne (Aerials)
Mike Atkinson (Moguls and Halfpipe)
Alex Beaulieu-Marchand (Big Air and Slopestyle)
Kelsey Serwa (Ski cross)
Alison Chiasson
Men's HockeyChris CuthbertMike JohnsonRob Pizzo
James Duthie (host)
Women's HockeyBryan MudrykCheryl PounderKenzie Lalonde
Kate Beirness (host)
Nordic combinedLance WinnRob Keith
Ski jumping
SnowboardingRob Snoek (Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle)
Peter Ruttgaizer (PGS and SBX)
Craig McMorris (Big Air, Halfpipe, Slopestyle)
Adam Higgins (PGS and SBX)
Alison Chiasson (Halfpipe and Slopestyle)
Speed skatingSteve ArmitageKristina GrovesAnastasia Bucsis
Short track speed skatingMitch PeacockMichael GildayRoseline Filion

Anastasia Bucsis has been CBC's Long Track speed skating analyst since 2018. She has also hosted digital shows for CBC during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as well as the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.[54]

Summer Olympics

1960

For the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, the CBC produced a total of 17 hours of radio and TV coverage. CBC Television broadcast same-day highlights each night. The half-hour package featured was provided by CBS Sports, which had the broadcast rights in the United States. CBS sportscasters Bud Palmer, Gil Stratton, and Bob Richards provided commentary. CBS sent videotapes of each day's events by jet to Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City, where a mobile transmission unit there beamed the pictures to the CBC and CBS networks. On radio, Ward Cornell and Thom Benson gave listeners 15-minute reports every evening except Sunday on the CBC's Trans-Canada Network and Doug Smith gave half-hour evening wrap-ups on the CBC's Dominion Network.

1964

The CBC Television broadcasters for the 1964 Summer games were Ted Reynolds, Dave Cruikshank, Bob McDevitt, Steve Douglas,[55] and Lloyd Robertson. Ward Cornell, Al Hamel, Bob Moir, Don Goodwin, and Bill Good were the broadcasters for CBC Radio.

1972

During the Munich massacre crisis at the 1972 Summer Olympics, Don Wittman and Bob Moir crawled through a hole in a fence to access the Olympic Village and give live reports, while posing as medical staff on the 1972 Canadian Olympic team.[56] [57] Wittman and Moir were away from the Israeli Olympic team building, and could see the nine hostages sitting in a circle, guarded by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. They filed radio reports to the CBC, and remained on location all day until the hostages were loaded onto a bus.[58]

In a 1994 interview, Moir discussed the decision to sneak into the Olympic Village by saying,

1976

SportPlay-by-play
Basketball
Boxing
Cycling
Canoeing
DivingIrene MacDonald[59]
Gymnastics
Rowing
Swimming
Track and field
VolleyballVic Lindal
Equestrian
Field Hockey
SoccerGraham Leggat[60]
Weightlifting
WrestlingBrian Williams[61]

Vic Lindal was a colour commentator in the Sport of Volleyball at four Olympic Games; Montreal, Quebec in 1976 with CBC, Los Angeles, USA in 1984 with CBC, Seoul, Korea in 1988 with CBC, and Barcelona in 1992 with CTV.

Graham Leggat began a second career as an analyst on soccer telecasts for the CBC at the 1976 Summer Olympics and at the World Cup.

Bob Moir was the executive producer for coverage of the 1976 Summer Olympics hosted in Montreal. He envisioned expanded coverage of the Olympics, despite criticism of CBC Sports for spending money from taxpayers to do so. He toured Canada to explain the project and boasted that, "the biggest team in Montreal will be the CBC team ... it will be bigger than the [1976] Canadian Olympic team".[62] His crew for the English-language coverage of the Olympics included 245 people who produced 169 hours of content, compared to 14 hours of content at the 1972 Olympics.

The 1976 Summer Olympics gave CBC Sports hosts their first chance to speak with athletes immediately following events, when Moir had a studio constructed for live televised interviews. When multiple events were held simultaneously, Moir had 20 videotape machines in use to record an event to air at a later time. When Poland played Russia for the gold medal in volleyball, Olympic coverage was extended to show the game to its conclusion, which delayed airing of The National news program by 35 minutes. During the Olympics, Moir had a telephone hotline to CBC director of operations Gordon Craig to discuss airtime, and later commented that he felt a "sense of power" when the news was delayed.

In reference to audience measurement ratings in Canada, Moir felt that "the Montreal Olympics was the impetus for what you see today". He also felt that the model used to cover the 1976 Summer Olympics set the standard used by CBC Sports for future live coverage of the Olympics, and stated that the CBC has not lost money covering an Olympics since 1976.

1984

SportPlay-by-playColour commentator
BasketballBrian Heaney
BoxingVic RauterPeter Wylie
CyclingGordon SingletonGreg Rokosh
CanoeingJohn Wood
DivingIrene MacDonald
GymnasticsErnie AfaganisKeith Russell
Kathy Stoesz
Kaarina Dillabough
Rowing
SwimmingTed ReynoldsByron MacDonald
Mary Ann Reeves
Tennis
Track and fieldDon WittmanGeoff Gowan
VolleyballVic Lindal
EquestrianTerry Leibel
Field HockeyJudy McCrae
SoccerGraham Leggat
WeightliftingAldo Roy
WrestlingOle Sorensen

Byron MacDonald has also acted as a commentator for swimming events; he was a two-time recipient of the Gemini Award for Best Sports Play-by-Play or Analyst in recognition of his swimming analysis on CBC at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.[63]

During the 2016 Summer Olympics, MacDonald attracted criticism for remarks on a hot mic that a swimmer in the women's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay (which was implied to be a member of the Chinese team) had "dropped the ball", and that she "went out like stink, [and] died like a pig." MacDonald and the CBC later apologized for the remark, stating that he meant it as a description of her performance, and did not mean for it to be a personal attack.[64]

1988

SportPlay-by-playColour commentator
Baseball (demonstration sport)
BasketballRon Lancaster[65]
Boxing
Canoeing
DivingIrene MacDonald
EquestrianGail Greenough
GymnasticsElfi Schlegel[66]
Rowing
SwimmingSteve ArmitageAlex Baumann[67]
Synchronized swimmingChris CuthbertSharon Hambrook
TennisRobert Bettauer[68]
Track and fieldDon Wittman[69]
VolleyballVic Lindal

CBC Television signed Ron Lancaster as a colour commentator on CFL broadcasts in 1980. He was part of a trio that included Don Wittman doing the play-by-play and former Argonaut head coach Leo Cahill doing colour commentary (Cahill left after the 1985 season). He was with the CBC from 1981 to 1990 and was a member of the CBC team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea as the play-by-play broadcaster for basketball.

2008[70]

SportPlay-by-PlayColour commentatorReporter
AthleticsMark Lee
Elliotte Friedman
Michael Smith
David Moorcroft
Scott Oake
Synchronized SwimmingKarin LarsenKaren Clark Le Poole
SwimmingByron McDonaldScott Oake
DivingAnne Montminy
BasketballPaul Romanuk
BaseballJim Van HorneWarren Sawkiw
SoftballHayley Wickenheiser
FootballNigel ReedJason DeVosErin Paul
WeightliftingNigel ReedAldo Roy
GymnasticsBrenda Irving[71] [72] [73] Lori Strong-Ballard
RowingBarney Williams
Canoeing
(flatwater)
Scott Logan
Canoeing
(slalom)
Claudia Kerckhoff-Van Wijk
VolleyballDoug DirksCharles Parkinson
Erminia Russo
BoxingVic RauterRuss Anber
CyclingMark ConnollyClara Hughes[74]
(Track, Road Mountain)
Kevin O'Brien
(BMX)
Water PoloRob Snoek
George Gross Jr.
Field HockeyRob SnoekHari Kant
TennisKarin Larsen
TriathlonBarrie Shepley
WrestlingChris Wilson
SailingPeter RuschFionia Kidd
EquestrianNancy WetmoreBeth Underhill
(Show Jumping)
Cara Whitham
(Dressage)
Erin Paul
JudoJeff Marek[75]
TaekwondoNigel ReedTino Dossantos

Jim Van Horne has broadcast from five Olympic games, including 1988 in Calgary, covering alpine skiing, 2000 in Sydney covering tennis, 2008 in Beijing, assigned to baseball and softball, and 2010 Vancouver, mentoring the commentators from APTN, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, and worked in 2018 Pyeongchang on the worldwide live stream.

Karin Larsen's career in the media began in 1988 as a sports researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and since she began working as a sportscaster, she has been an announcer for six Olympic Games and four Paralympic Games, notably broadcasting the play-by-play for her own sister's silver medal performance in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Larsen also announced for synchronised swimming for CBC Sports at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.[76]

During his career, Scott Oake has covered a total of 12 Olympic games for the CBC, including the 2008 Beijing Games where he did play-by-play for flatwater canoeing and rowing events.[77] Oake has covered downhill skiing at every Winter Olympics from Calgary in 1988 to Sochi in 2014.

After his retirement from competitive sport Rob Snoek moved into broadcasting as a play-by-play announcer for Ontario Hockey League games, first for the Oshawa Generals on CKDO,[78] and later for Peterborough Petes games on CJMB-FM.[79] He first joined the CBC's Olympic team in 2002, covering a variety of both main Olympic and Paralympic events.[80]

For the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, Mark Lee covered the track and field events for CBC.[81]

For the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, David Moorcroft provided track and field analysis for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He commentated for Channel 4 at the 2011 World Athletics Championships. During the 2012 London Olympics he again served as a track and field analyst for Canadian television, this time for the CTV-led Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.[82] In 2016, he performed the same role for CBC/Radio-Canada's coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.[83]

In May 2008, Anne Montminy did commentary for the CBC Television Network at the 2008 Beijing Olympics covering diving competitions.[84]

Michael Smith works for CBC Television Sports and CTV Television as a color commentator for track and field events; in this capacity, he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Sports Analyst at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards as a commentator for CBC Television's coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics.[85]

2016[86]

See also: List of 2016 Summer Olympics broadcasters.

Sport Play-by-Play Announcer Reporter
AthleticsMark LeeMichael Smith and David MoorcroftScott Oake
BasketballMatt Devlin (Men)
Bruce Rainnie (Women)
Jack Armstrong (Men)
Chantal Vallée (Women)
Beach VolleyballRob SnoekMark Heese
CyclingMark Connolly (Track)
Mitch Peacock (BMX)
Doug Dirks (Mountain Biking)
Richard Wooles (Track)
Kevin O'Brien (BMX)
Lesley Tomlinson (Mountain Biking)
CanoeingDoug DirksKaren Furneaux
DivingElliotte Friedman
Mark Lee (Synchronized Diving)
Blythe HartleyAndrew Chang
David Amber
EquestrianBruce RainnieIan Allison
FootballNigel ReedClare Rustad
GymnasticsBrenda IrvingKyle ShewfeltAndrew Chang
RowingDoug DirksBarney WilliamsKarin Larsen
Rugby sevensMitch PeacockAndrea Burk
SwimmingElliotte FriedmanByron McDonaldAndrew Chang
David Amber
TennisRob Faulds
TriathlonBrenda Irving
VolleyballCharles ParkinsonEmily Cordonier and Paul Duerden

Matt Devlin previously served as the play-by-play man for NBC Sports' coverage of Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[87]

During the 2012 London Olympics, Kyle Shewfelt served as a gymnastics analyst for the CTV Television Network-led Canadian Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.[88]

In 2016, Elliotte Friedman was a commentator during CBC's coverage of diving and swimming events at the 2016 Summer Olympics to replace Steve Armitage (who was unable to attend the Games due to his diagnosis with chronic heart failure).[89]

Chantal Vallée has contributed as a colour commentator for basketball on prominent Canadian broadcasting channels, including CBC,[90] CTV, Sportsnet, TSN, and RDS. Her extensive coverage encompasses significant sporting events such as the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.[91] and the 2019 NBA play-offs.

Clare Rustad has served as a soccer analyst on CBC, TSN and Sportsnet for events including the Pan Am Games, the FIFA Women's World Cup, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[92]

2020[93]

See also: List of 2020 Summer Olympics broadcasters.

!Sport!Play-by-play announcers!Colour commentator!Reporter
AthleticsMark LeeMichael Smith and David MoorcroftDevin Heroux
Rob Snoek
BasketballDan ShulmanMeghan McPeak
Peter Ruttgaizer (3x3)Michael Linklater (3x3)
Beach VolleyballClaire HannaMark Heese
CanoeingMatt Cullen (Slalom)
Steve Armitage (Sprint)
Josh Hastings (Slalom)
Karen Furneaux (Sprint)
CyclingMark ConnollyLesley Tomlinson (Road & Mountain Bike)
Richard Wooles (Road & Track)
DivingMitch PeacockBlythe Hartley
EquestrianBruce RainnieDeanna Phelan
Field HockeyVictor FindlayScott Sandison
FootballNigel ReedClare Rustad
GolfDoug Dirks
Gymnastics (Artistic & Trampoline)Brenda IrvingKyle Shewfelt
JudoKarin LarsenJosh Hagen
KarateDouglas GelevanChris de Sousa Costa
MarathonsScott RussellKrista DuChene
Marathon SwimmingSigna ButlerLisa Bentley
Race WalksMatt Cullen
RowingSteve ArmitageAdam Kreek
Rugby SevensNigel ReedAndrea Burk and Phil Mackenzie
SoftballLance WinnAlison Bradley
Sport ClimbingBrenda IrvingKimanda Jarzebiak
SwimmingRob SnoekByron MacDonaldSummer Mortimer
TennisBruce RainnieRobert Bettauer
TriathlonSigna ButlerBarrie Shepley
VolleyballRob SnoekPaul Duerden
Water PoloSigna ButlerGeorge Cross Jr.
WrestlingKarin LarsenCarol Huynh

Dan Shulman previously worked for CTV in its coverage of the 1994 Winter Olympics from Lillehammer, Norway, covering hockey, and the 1994 World Championships of Basketball.[94]

2024[95]

See also: List of 2024 Summer Olympics broadcasters.

!Sport!Play-by-play announcers!Colour commentator!Reporter
AthleticsMark LeeMichael Smith and David MoorcroftDevin Heroux
BasketballDan ShulmanMeghan McPeakNabil Karim
Daniella Ponticelli (3x3)Michael Linklater (3x3)
Beach VolleyballClaire HannaMark HeeseOmar Dabaghi-Pacheco
BreakingMark StrongAdrian BernardKelly VanderBeek
CanoeingElliotte Friedman (Sprint)Andrea Proske (Sprint)Kwabena Oduro
CyclingMark ConnollyCurt Harnett (Road)
Barrie Shepley (Road & Track)
Michael Roy
DivingAlexandre DespatieJennifer AbelAntoni Nerestant
FootballSigna ButlerClare RustadChristine Roger
Gymnastics (Artistic & Trampoline)Brenda IrvingKyle ShewfeltChristine Gauthier
JudoJosh Hagen
MarathonsBrenda IrvingKrista DuChene
Race WalksMatt CullenLisa Bentley
RowingElliotte FriedmanAndrea ProskeKwabena Oduro
SkateboardingAlexandre Despatie (Street)
Rob Pizzo (Race)
Craig McMorris (Street and Race)Kelly VanderBeek
SwimmingRob SnoekByron MacDonaldDevin Heroux
Roseline Filion
TennisBruce RainnieSharon FichmanAntoine Deshaies
TriathlonMatt CullenLisa Bentley and Barrie Shepley
VolleyballSigna Butler
Matt Cullen
Dallas SooniasAlexandre Gascon
Water PoloMatt CullenWaneek Horn-Miller
WrestlingMatt CullenCarol HuynhOlivier Pellerin

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CBC Progam Guide: Personalities A-Z. CBC.ca. May 21, 2024. Welcome to the CBC Personalities A-Z page. Below, you will find an alphabetized list of CBC on-air personalities. To search for a personality by last name, simply click on the appropriate letter in the alphabet line provided..
  2. News: March 23, 1960. Hf Gazette, Wednesday, On And Off. - Page 4. The Montreal Gazette. May 22, 2024.
  3. News: October 8, 1964. Tv Highlights For Next Week. On Cbc Network. - Page 6. Sherbrooke Telegram Observer. May 22, 2024.
  4. News: November 29, 1968. Rev Cup Full Day Promised. By V. Color Executive Tive At Cup .... The Calgary Herald. May 22, 2024.
  5. News: October 11, 1968. The Phoenix - Page 19. The Phoenix. May 22, 2024.
  6. News: July 16, 1976. Best At In The House. - Page 92. The Calgary Herald. May 22, 2024.
  7. News: Irwin. Joan. July 30, 1976. Ird-Cleaning Allows Taste Tests. - Page 24. The Montreal Gazette. May 22, 2024.
  8. News: Irwin. Joan. July 31, 1976. James Coverage: Cbc Pulls Ahead In Stretch. - Page 43. The Montreal Gazette. May 22, 2024.
  9. News: July 27, 1984. Metworks Offer Extensive Olympics Coverage. - Page 24. The Leader-Post. May 23, 2024.
  10. News: Archived copy . CBC News . 2009-05-01 . 2008-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080617225524/http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/clips/7330/ . live .
  11. News: Queen's Plate brews up intrigue . The Star . Toronto . Dave . Perkins . June 20, 2008 . April 26, 2010.
  12. Web site: CBC Sports broadcaster Terry Leibel retires . CBC Sports . February 27, 2008.
  13. http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/08/20/olympics-ron-maclean.html olympics-ron-maclean
  14. Web site: Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium Announces Broadcast Details for London 2012 Opening Ceremony, Friday.
  15. Web site: Kelly VanderBeek. CBC.
  16. Web site: The Experts: Craig McMorris . CBC Sports . 2 August 2019.
  17. News: Takeuchi. Craig. 2014-08-26. Andrew Chang to host CBC News Vancouver. The Georgia Straight. 2021-06-11.
  18. News: Andrew Chang leaving CBC Montreal anchor chair . The Gazette . Montreal . 23 May 2014 . 16 June 2022.
  19. Web site: Baluja. Tamara. CBC lays off veteran sportscasters Steve Armitage and Mark Lee. j-source.ca.
  20. Web site: CBC lays off veteran sportscasters Steve Armitage and Mark Lee amid budget cuts - Toronto Star. . 13 August 2014 . 22 September 2016.
  21. News: Longtime broadcaster Armitage announces retirement. TSN. 18 February 2022. 18 February 2022.
  22. News: Allemang. John. February 20, 1998. Television: CBC stomps all over CBS at Olympics. Globe & Mail . May 27, 2024.
  23. News: Examiner. Barrie. January 20, 2014. Hardwood president will cover cross-country skiing, biathlon on CBC. Simcoe.com. May 27, 2024.
  24. Book: Russell, Scott. 25 June 2010. Open House: Canada and the Magic of Curling. Doubleday Canada. 978-0-385-67320-4.
  25. News: Hall of Famer DON DUGUID. Canada Sports Hall of Fame. May 27, 2024.
  26. News: McLaren. Ian. Revisiting Canada's stunning loss to the Czech Republic in Nagano. The Score. May 27, 2024.
  27. News: November 7, 2017. CBC's Steve Armitage to receive Sports Media Canada award for career achievement. Yahoo! News. May 27, 2024.
  28. News: Riley Roche. Lisa. February 5, 1998. Kearns skating oval won't rival Nagano's. Deseret News. May 27, 2024.
  29. News: Top 100 Goalies: No. 5 – Dominik Hasek. Matt. Larkin. November 9, 2018. April 29, 2024. The Hockey News.
  30. News: Bob Cole is now getting the send-off he deserves. Tim. Wharnsby. December 20, 2018. CBC News. April 29, 2024.
  31. News: A look at hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole's most iconic calls. April 25, 2024. April 29, 2024. Times Colonist. Victoria. The Canadian Press.
  32. News: Lucky Loonie Stunt Pays Off. February 26, 2002. Shawn. Ohler. Calgary Herald. A1. A record-busting average of 8.7 million Canadians watched on television as the men's hockey team snatched gold from the United States in Salt Lake City...The audience actually peaked at 10.6 million, the CBC said Monday...CBC says that prior to Sunday, its highest-rated sports show was Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, which attracted an average of 4.97 million viewers..
  33. Web site: 2011 Hall of Fame Inductee: David MacEachern. April 13, 2011. olympic.ca. May 27, 2024.
  34. Web site: MacEachern, David "Eli" - Bobsleigh. 19 January 2022. The PEI Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. May 27, 2024.
  35. Web site: Jack Sasseville - Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and .... Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum. May 27, 2024.
  36. Web site: Mike HARRIS. Olympics.com. May 27, 2024.
  37. News: Paris. Matthew. April 6, 2024. Remembering the 2002 Winter Olympics Scandal. The Sports Column. May 27, 2024.
  38. News: Beard. Lanford. February 17, 2022. Winter Olympics Rewind: Looking Back on 2002 'Skategate' Scandal That Transformed Figure Skating. People. May 27, 2024.
  39. News: Laskaris. Adam. April 25, 2024. Legendary Hockey Night in Canada announcer Bob Cole has passed away. Daily Hive . May 27, 2024.
  40. News: Hockey Analyst - Greg Millen, CBC. Hockey Canada. May 27, 2024.
  41. News: Weese. Lukas. "A MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO IN REAL TIME" . Sportsnet.ca. May 27, 2024.
  42. News: Neal Marshall. BC Sports Hall of Fame. May 27, 2024.
  43. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071201.TRUTH01/TPStory/TPSports/Television/ globeandmail.com: Rainnie slides into Wittman's curling shoes
  44. http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/10/cbc-unveils-broadcast-coverage-of-sochi-2014-olympic-games/ CBC unveils broadcast coverage of Sochi 2014 Olympic Games
  45. Web site: Helen Upperton bio . . 2018-02-18.
  46. Web site: The Experts: Craig McMorris . CBC Sports . 2 August 2019.
  47. Web site: CBC ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR ROSTER OF EXPERT COMMENTATORS AND ANALYSTS FOR ITS COVERAGE OF THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES. 2021-08-16. The Sport Information Resource Centre. en-US.
  48. News: Fitz-Gerald . Sean . How Canadian Olympic champion Cheryl Pounder is building her profile at TSN . The New York Times . 2023-09-30 . en.
  49. Web site: IIHF - New talent in the broadcast booth . 2023-09-30 . IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation . en.
  50. Web site: Release . Media . 2021-08-11 . Complete coverage of the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship begins Aug. 20 on TSN - TSN.ca . 2023-09-30 . TSN . en.
  51. Web site: TSN ca Staff . 2023-08-17 . Cheryl Pounder to replace Ray Ferraro as NHL 24 colour commentator . 2023-09-30 . TSN . en-CA.
  52. Web site: January 11, 2022. CBC'S OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES BEIJING 2022 BROADCAST TEAM. January 11, 2022. CBC Media Centre.
  53. News: Courtney joins TSN broadcast team as an analyst at Scotties. TSN . February 17, 2023 . 2023-02-21.
  54. Web site: Anastasia Bucsis. CBC Media Centre. 19 Apr 2022.
  55. http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/clips/7327/
  56. News: Wittman: The don of TV sportscasters is a class act beyond words. Keyser. Tom. November 18, 1995. Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. 47 .
  57. News: Witness to terror. King. Randall. March 16, 2001. Winnipeg Sun. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 25.
  58. News: Munich massacre changed the way we view Games. Rud. Jeff. August 27, 1994. Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. 11.
  59. Web site: Hall of Famer IRENE MACDONALD. Canada Sports Hall of FAme. May 27, 2024.
  60. News: Frampton. Ken. August 31, 2015. Graham Leggat, host of TSN Soccer Saturday passes away at 81. kenframpton.ca. May 27, 2024.
  61. News: Dowbiggin. Bruce. July 25, 212. Canada's Mr. Olympic TV. The Globe and Mail. May 27, 2024.
  62. News: CBC air apparent to big ABC. Smith. Beverley. June 28, 2001. The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. May 1, 2022.
  63. Web site: Byron MacDonald Analyst Swimming. August 11, 2016. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  64. Web site: CBC apologizes after Olympic commentator says Chinese swimmer 'went out like stink, died like a pig'. National Post. August 11, 2016.
  65. News: August 1, 2000. Ron Lancaster - NUVO Magazine. NUVO Magazine. May 27, 2024.
  66. News: July 4, 1992. NBC USING FLORIDIANS AT OLYMPICS. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. May 27, 2024.
  67. Web site: Alex Baumann - ISHOF. International Swimming Hall of Fame. May 27, 2024.
  68. News: Dheensaw. Cleve. August 7, 2016. Victorians play key roles in providing Olympics play-by-play. Time Colonist. May 27, 2024.
  69. News: January 19, 2008. 'Voice of football in Canada', CBC broadcater Whittman dies. ESPN. May 27, 2024.
  70. Web site: July 15, 2008. CBC announces complete HD Olympic coverage. February 9, 2016. CBC Sports.
  71. Web site: Hall of Fame event highlights Cambridge sports builders. 13 April 2016 .
  72. Web site: Pioneering female sportscaster joins Hall of Fame . 9 May 2016 .
  73. Web site: Seven to be inducted into Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame . 6 April 2016 .
  74. CBC Television, Olympic Prime, August 20, 2008
  75. News: Houston . William . TSN goes whole hog on CFL football . The Globe and Mail . June 25, 2008.
  76. Web site: CBC Unveils Broadcast Team for Beijing 2008: The Olympic Games . 2012-08-17 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105130/http://www.aimforthegames.ca/newsshow.asp?int_id=80040 . dead .
  77. News: After Hours . 11 August 2010 . CBC News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081020235658/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockeynightincanada/afterhours/ . October 20, 2008 . mdy-all .
  78. Brian McNair, "Say it ain't so: no Generals on the radio this season". Oshawa This Week, September 16, 2010.
  79. Mike Davies, "Rob Snoek replaced as Petes radio play-by-play announcer". Peterborough Examiner, June 19, 2019.
  80. Alison Korn, "Athletes to bolster CBC's coverage". Toronto Sun, June 27, 2008.
  81. Web site: Journalist | Alumni Services . Cualumni.carleton.ca . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130205215813/http://cualumni.carleton.ca/grads/lee-mark/ . February 5, 2013.
  82. Web site: CTV announces first names of London 2012 broadcast team. Canadian Sport Centre Calgary. 11 August 2012. 26 July 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20130119113921/http://www.canadiansportcentre.com/news/newsletter-archives/47-july-26-2011/364-ctv-announces-first-names-of-london-2012-broadcast-team. 19 January 2013.
  83. Web site: David Moorcroft: Analyst, Athletics. CBC Media Centre: Bios. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2016. August 2016.
  84. CBC Television, Olympic Morning, August 18, 2008
  85. Brent Furdyk, "2022 Canadian Screen Award Nominees Announced, ‘Sort Of’ & ‘Scarborough’ Lead The Pack" . ET Canada, February 15, 2022.
  86. Web site: CBC ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR ROSTER OF EXPERT COMMENTATORS AND ANALYSTS FOR ITS COVERAGE OF THE RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES. 2021-08-16. The Sport Information Resource Centre. en-US.
  87. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mediumwell/blog/2008/07/your_nbc_olympics_lineup.html Medium Well: Your NBC Olympics lineup
  88. Web site: CTV announces first names of London 2012 broadcast team. Canadian Sport Centre Calgary. 11 August 2012. 26 July 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20130119113921/http://www.canadiansportcentre.com/news/newsletter-archives/47-july-26-2011/364-ctv-announces-first-names-of-london-2012-broadcast-team. 19 January 2013.
  89. Web site: Andrew . Bucholtz . Famed CBC announcer Steve Armitage will miss Rio Olympics over heart problems . Awful Announcing . July 27, 2016 . 12 August 2016.
  90. Web site: Chantal Vallee joins Windsor Morning . cbc.
  91. News: CBC Olympic broadcast team boasts plenty of expertise . CBC .
  92. Web site: Dr. Clare Rustad bio . CBC Media Centre . 6 August 2021.
  93. News: CBC'S TOKYO 2020 BROADCAST TEAM - CBC Media Centre. en. 2021-04-15.
  94. Web site: Dan Shulman Bio . Sportsnet.ca . 20 September 2019 . 1 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170701095744/http://media.sportsnet.ca/talent-bios/dshulman/ . dead .
  95. News: CBC REVEALS OLYMPIC BROADCAST TEAM AHEAD OF PARIS 2024 - CBC Media Centre. en. 2024-07-20.