McAvaney, who has long been the passionate and authoritative voice of Channel 7’s Olympic coverage, has confirmed he will remain in Australia rather than travel to Japan in July for the Games.The decision should not come as a shock considering the worrying COVID-19 situation in Japan and expected stringent quarantine requirements. McAvaney is 67 and was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.“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,” McAvaney said.“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.”Seven is confident having McAvaney based in Australia, most likely Melbourne, will not detract from the network’s broadcast but will in fact be a boost for it.Seven’s Network Head of Sport, Lewis Martin, said McAvaney was likely to be more involved in the coverage being in Australia rather than in bubbles and hubs in Tokyo.“Bruce McAvaney returns for his 11th Olympic Games to lead our coverage as only he can and while he won’t be in Tokyo, his contribution will not be diminished,” Martin said.“In fact, the opposite, it actually gives him more scope across the entire Games.“Seven will have the largest Australian contingent on the ground in Tokyo, as well as more than 300 staff directly involved in our Australian-based Olympics broadcast operations. “Our Olympics coverage has always taken viewers to a new level of experience and Tokyo will be no different. “We are well down the track with production plans and new innovations for our coverage of Tokyo, which promises to be the most comprehensive and most viewed Olympic and Paralympic Games in history. “Technology has provided us with great flexibility that enables us to manage and deliver without any impact on the viewing experience.”According to an interview with AFP on Friday, Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said the Games might be held without spectators to ensure the safety of athletes and the public.“There might be a situation where we can’t allow any spectators to attend,” Hashimoto said.A recent surge of coronavirus cases has prompted a state of emergency in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.Channel 7 announced last month that its Olympics coverage would be anchored by Hamish McLachlan, Abbey Gelmi, Johanna Griggs, Luke Darcy, Matt Shirvington, Edwina Bartholomew, Lisa Sthalekar and Andy Maher. Among Seven’s contingent in Tokyo will be reporters Mel McLaughlin, Mark Beretta, Jason Richardson and Nathan Templeton.fiona.byrne@news.com.au
Powered by WPeMatico
