Sports commentator Bruce McAvaney joins ABC’s Paris Olympic Games coverage

Legendary Australian commentator Bruce McAvaney OAM will headline the ABC’s radio coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games later this month.

McAvaney was a mainstay broadcaster on the Seven Network for decades, calling the AFL and headlining Seven’s Olympics coverage.

McAvaney has been involved in calling Olympics since Los Angeles in 1984 and is the voice behind iconic Australian winning moments like Cathy Freeman’s gold medal in the 400-metres at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Under a sub-licensing agreement struck between the ABC and rights holder Nine, the national broadcaster will broadcast the Games across its regional radio network, as well as ABC Adelaide, ABC Darwin, ABC Hobart and ABC Canberra.

McAvaney was at risk of missing out on calling the Games in Paris after he wasn’t included in the Channel Nine broadcast team.

However, after hearing about the ABC’s planned coverage, he said his wife had contacts in the industry to get him involved.

“My wife said to me, ‘Macca, did you know the ABC is going to be involved in the Olympics Games?’,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“I said ‘do you know anyone there Annie?’

“She made a phone call and … it sort of all happened so quickly.”

McAvaney said it would be a privilege to step back into the commentary booth in Paris.

“I did feel a little disconnection, you know, a sadness in a way that these opportunities I’ve had over the years were not going to continue,” he said.

“The ABC’s got such a history in its own right, it’s an iconic organisation with a sporting background that I sort of listened to as a kid.

“I’ve got this great affection for the ABC so to be able to join them at this point, for this moment, is going to be one of the highlights of my career.”

The experienced caller has backed Australia to make a big impact in Paris.

He is expecting more dominance in the swimming events, but also thinks Australia could dominate in the track and field as well.

“The Australian team, I think, has got a great opportunity to do something they haven’t done before and that’s get very close to 20 gold medals,” he said.

“It’s the biggest [athletics] team we’ve ever taken away.

“I think we’ll get the most medals we’ve ever had in the Olympics on track and field, except for Melbourne in 1956 when we got 12 medals.

“I can’t remember an athletics team from this country having so much potential and excitement surrounding it.”

The ABC will celebrate the Olympic Games with ad-free coverage on ABC Radio across various ABC capital city and regional stations from Friday, July 26.

ABC Sport’s commentary team will also feature former Olympians Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (athletics), Sarah Ryan (swimming), Simon Orchard (hockey), Brad McGee (cycling), former Davis Cup player John Alexander (tennis) and Matilda Amy Harrison (soccer) with the ABC’s respected broadcasters, Quentin Hull, Corbin Middlemas, Clint Wheeldon, Ben Cameron, Ned Hall, Declan Byrne, Lauren Bordin and Robin Chipperfield.