Seven West Media : unveils golden Olympic team

Wednesday, 14 April 2021

Seven unveils golden Olympic team

Biggest broadcast undertaking in Australian TV history

After a year when the world faced its toughest fight in a generation, nations that have been darkened by lockdowns, curfews and quarantines will soon be lit by the Olympic flame.

With just 100 days to go until Tokyo 2020 begins, and athletes from all corners of the globe prepare to reunite in Tokyo to prove the human spirit cannot be defeated, the Seven Network has assembled a world-class Olympic and Paralympic commentary team that will lead the country's biggest-ever broadcast and digital event.

For the first time in Australian free-to-air television history, there will be 45 dedicated Olympic channels across Seven and 7plusall live, free and in HD.

Australia's most loved and respected sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney returns for his 11th Olympic Games coverage, with Seven's team featuring some of Australia's greatest ever Olympians, who between them have racked up numerous Olympic and World Championship gold medals and 22 World Titles plus hundreds of Games both as competitors and broadcasters.

On Wednesday, Seven announced its coverage would be anchored by Hamish McLachlan, Abbey Gelmi, Johanna Griggs, Luke Darcy, Matt Shirvington, Edwina Bartholomew, Lisa Sthalekar and Andy Maher.

Leading Seven's contingent on the ground in Tokyo, Mel McLaughlin, Mark Beretta, Jason Richardson and Nathan Templeton will make sure audiences are kept up to date with all the latest news, colour and atmosphere of the Games.

Australia's cycling golden girl Anna Meares, who won six medals including two gold across four Olympic Games, is one of the exciting new additions to Seven's commentary team, along with former champion ironwoman Candice Warner.

They will be joined by fellow gold medallists Nick Green, Giaan Rooney, Scott McGrory, Russell Mark, Debbie Watson and Kerri Pottharst, while decorated Olympians Andrew Gaze, Rachael Sporn, Tamsyn Lewis-Manou and David Culbert also headline Seven's coverage.

Master broadcaster Basil Zempilas leads an impressive team of callers including rugby's leading commentator Greg Clark, basketball expert John Casey, and accomplished callers Brenton Speed and Matt Hill. Jason Richardson will be trackside at the athletics,

while Nathan Templeton will be poolside interviewing all the Olympic Games stars.

There are more big announcements on Seven's commentary line-up in coming weeks, including the biggest-ever Olympic Host Broadcasting Service of international callers and experts.

For pre-eminent broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, anticipation is building for what promises to be a remarkable Games across 17 days featuring the world's greatest athletes, new sports and in the perfect time zone:

"We've been waiting a long time for this. Like our Australian athletes, Seven's broadcast team have been deep in preparation for an unprecedented Games.

"We're anticipating milestone performances and a new crop of athletes who'll become household names.

"The Olympics remains the greatest event in international sport and it's exhilarating to be able to share the experience with all Australians, in our own time zone."

Exactly 16 days after the Flame is extinguished in Tokyo, a new one will be lit, signalling the start of the Paralympic Games. Johanna Griggs and Paralympic gold medallist Annabelle Williams will anchor Seven's unprecedented coverage across Seven and 7plusfeaturing up to 16 live streams.

Seven West Media Chief Revenue Officer and Director of Olympics, Kurt Burnette, said:

"Seven will set a new benchmark as the most comprehensive, innovative and technologically advanced Olympic and Paralympic experience spanning all platforms.

"Seven is the undisputed home of the Olympic Games with an unparalleled understanding of the event, since the very first television broadcast of the Games in Melbourne 1956," he said.

"Rarely do we see a moment as historically significant as Tokyo and Seven is setting a new benchmark for the Olympic and Paralympic experience live and free across all platforms - something never offered in Australia.

"We can't wait to deliver to Australians what will be the most-watched Olympic Games since Sydney 2000 and the biggest ever digital event."

Viewers will wake up to all the latest Olympic highlights, news and exclusive athlete interviews each day with Australia's #1 breakfast show Sunrise before Johanna Griggs, returning for her seventh Olympic Games coverage, steers Seven's morning broadcast alongside Luke Darcy.

Legendary Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington and Edwina Bartholomew, who will be covering her third Olympic Games for Seven, then take the reins each afternoon.

Following 7NEWS live at 6.00 every night of the Games, two of Australia's best sports broadcasters, Hamish McLachlan and Abbey Gelmi, will take audiences on a prime time golden rollercoaster of competition.

The Olympics will be essential late-night viewing with only a one-hour time difference on the East Coast and as the night kicks on, viewers will be welcomed to Tokyo Shinya with Andy Maher and Lisa Sthalekar, a show so mysterious, we can't reveal any more.

Hamish McLachlan said: "After a year that's challenged us like few before, Tokyo is poised to bring the world together again in the most powerful sign yet that the human spirit cannot be defeated. This Olympic Games will be bigger than sport. Simply being there and taking part will be a victory in itself.

"Australia has always had wonderful Olympic Games teams and when you look at our team for Tokyo, sport by sport, it will be another brilliant group of worthy individuals and teams that we will all marvel at when it's their time to perform. We have world champions, world #1s and major winners, everywhere.

"In terms of the broadcast, it's exciting and very humbling to be part of a Seven commentary team that includes Olympic legends like Anna Meares, the iconic Oarsome Foursome's Nick Green, Scott McGrory and Russell Mark. They are some of the men and women I grew up idolising and cheering for," he said.

"Tokyo will see some familiar faces competing as well as some new sports, through which will come a new fascination and new faces. As always, it will be the world's best against each other, at the world's biggest festival of sport. I can't wait for it to begin."

Abbey Gelmi, who embarks on her first Games broadcast, said: "Covering an Olympic Games is the ultimate privilege as a sports broadcaster and to be part of this team is something I've dreamed of.

"The pressure, drama and emotion at an Olympic Games is at a level nothing else can match, and Tokyo promises to be a Games unlike any we've seen before.

"The evening schedule is unbelievable, so to be side-by-side with Hame every night as we bring the stories of the Games into living rooms across Australia in prime time is beyond exciting. I cannot wait."

Seven's Head of Sport, Lewis Martin, added: "At Seven, we will unashamedly get behind our Australian team with the rest of the country, but we will never lose sight of the other nations competing. Their triumphs and feel-good stories deserve to be celebrated like never before.

"As always, we will bring unrivalled expertise to our Olympic coverage. You can trust Seven and our extraordinary team of commentators to take you inside every single event, to where the best action is happening at all times.

"Tokyo will be the greatest event you'll ever see. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony - and everything in between - the only place you can witness all of the history- making action live and free is Seven, Your Home of the Olympics."

Sunrise is the only place Australians will be able to see live competition and all the Olympic highlights every morning.

Kochie and Nat will be live to Mark Beretta at the centre of all the action in Tokyo, while a panel of some of our greatest ever Olympians and athletes' families will be cheering on as our Olympians go for Gold.

7NEWS, Australia's official Olympic news service, is the only network with unrestricted access to the Games and will have the biggest team on the ground in Tokyo.

7NEWS Chief Correspondent Chris Reason and sports anchor Mel McLaughlin will lead a team of reporters, including Ashlee Mullany, Alex Hart, Matthew Carmichael, Sharnelle

Vella, Rob Scott, Blake Johnson and Ryan Daniels, operating 24-hours a day from inside venues and alongside athletes, taking Australians into the inner sanctum.

And 7NEWS.com.auwill be the #1 online destination for Olympic news, updates and daily event schedules.

The website will feature a dedicated hub for results and medal tallies, plus all the latest breaking news, exclusive content, in-depth features and the greatest stories from the Games.

Mel McLaughlin said: "Having the privilege of working on an Olympic Games is the stuff of dreams in our line of work. I can't wait to do it all again.

"Nothing beats being there and although things will look more than a little different, there's no question Japan will deliver perhaps the best - and certainly most anticipated - Olympic Games ever. These Games are exactly what the world needs right now.

"Australia's team will be its biggest ever and it could be our most successful ever. Our team at Seven can't wait to bring you all the stories, the goosebumps and all the raw emotion that comes with an Olympic Games."

Australians will be able to keep up to date with all the latest news, the biggest and best moments, and exclusive content, on the 7Olympics social channels on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Olympic Games 23 July-8 August Paralympic Games 24 August-5 September Tokyo 2020 live and free on Seven and 7plus

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For further information, please contact:

Brittany Stack

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Nick Bowen

Publicist, Sport

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THE BROADCAST TEAM

Hamish McLachlan

Hamish is one of Australia's best and most experienced broadcasters, having hosted and commentated on a wide range of sports including the Olympic Games, AFL, horse racing, tennis and Commonwealth Games. He will co-host Seven's prime time coverage of Tokyo each night alongside Abbey Gelmi. Hamish boasts extraordinary Olympic Games knowledge and a passion and enthusiasm for all sporting disciplines.

Abbey Gelmi

Abbey has quickly become one of Seven's most versatile hosts, having presented across the network's AFL, cricket, horse racing and Brownlow Medal coverage with poise, grace and an infectious enthusiasm. As the granddaughter of Australian middle-distance great Herb Elliott, sport is in Abbey's blood. She is fulfilling a lifelong dream in joining Seven's hosting team for her very first Olympic Games coverage.

Social - Twitter: @abbey_gelmi; Instagram: abbeygelmi

Matt Shirvington

One of the greats of Australian track and field, Matt represented his country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 1998 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and seven World Championships. With 16 years' experience as a host and reporter, Matt has extensive experience in the sports media, while he also sits on the board of the NSW Institute of Sport. In Tokyo, he will bring his vast sports knowledge and warm personality to Seven's afternoon coverage as co-host with Edwina Bartholomew.

Social - Twitter: @mattshirvington; Instagram: mattshirvo

Edwina Bartholomew

The Sunrise presenter returns for her third Olympic Games coverage with Seven. Edwina will host the afternoon broadcast alongside Matt Shirvington each day of the Games. Social - Instagram: @edwina_b

Johanna Griggs

Joh represented Australia in swimming at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990, winning bronze in the 100m backstroke, before she went on to become one of the most popular television personalities on Australian screens. Joh has been part of Seven's coverage of almost all major sporting events, including the past six Olympic Games, tennis and horse racing, as well as hosting top-rating programs Better Homes and

Gardens and House Rules. Joh will also host Seven's coverage of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 alongside Paralympic gold medallist Annabelle Williams.

Social - Twitter: @JohGriggs7; Instagram: johgriggs7

Luke Darcy

A former AFL star with the Western Bulldogs, Luke is regarded as one of the best ruck- forwards of the modern era, winning the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association's MVP in 2002. Since his playing retirement, Luke has carved out a burgeoning career as a radio and TV personality, establishing himself as a key caller with Seven's AFL commentary team. He will co-host Seven's morning coverage of Tokyo 2020 each day alongside Johanna Griggs.

Lisa Sthalekar

The former Australian women's cricket captain carved out an impressive career as an all- rounder that saw her honoured as Australian Women's Cricketer of the Year in 2007 and 2008. Lisa has since made an impactful transition to the commentary box with her inside