CBC Olympic Coverage

Olympic coverage seems uneven to me. CBC traditionally have not been known for anything but hockey coverage. I love listening to Ron McLean, whose analogies only seem to arise from hockey, not a sport I follow! He has been a decent manager, despite his hockey focus. Most announcers have made great efforts to pronounce the wide variety of international names, as well they should (Mark Tewksbury being the exception!). Perhaps athletes interested in becoming announcers ought to be auditioned for the process. There is a wide variety of skills or lack thereof in those paid to do this.

The convenience of having CBC TV cover the Olympics means that we have the opportunity of hearing 'updates' at five minutes before the hour on radio. It is too bad that Matt Galloway does not seem to focus on the games as a whole, but on sensational topics. For example, he interviewed Mr. Katz, CBC sports, who was in the stadium when the Chinese track athlete, Liu Xiang, admitted to an injury and withdrew. Rather than asking for details or information we have to find out 'what was it like in the stadium?' Fairly predictable reactions from the Chinese in their win at all costs push to impress the world.

Then Mr. Galloway goes on to interview another Canadian athlete, whose husband convinced fellow OPP members to hijack an OPP vehicle in order to rig up a dramatic wedding proposal. Is this Olympic coverage? Is this a good use of airtime? I think not. I would prefer hearing a summary of the latest action, what we can expect today, and then a highlight or two about particular events.

TV footage has been difficult to watch with either directors or camera operators must cover sports with which they are unfamiliar. The extreme close ups of crying 'disappointed' athletes revolve around some sense I have of intruding on their moments. The close ups of the gymnasts, for example, while they hover waiting for a score, are painful in that the other cameras get in the way. I would love to see more crowd shots. The diving participants we must see showering as THEY await their scores. Broadcasters run out of things to say. The close ups of the beach volleyball women involve crotch shots that make me uncomfortable.