Legendary cycling commentator Phil Liggett announces retirement – The world’s most authoritative voice of cycling, Phil Liggett, has announced he has called his last Olympic Games during an interview with Eddie McGuire.
Known affectionately as the ‘Voice of Cycling’ Liggett has been a mainstay of Olympic cycling commentary, with Paris being his 17th Games.
Liggett – who turns 81-years-old the same day as the Closing Ceremony – called his final Olympic event Sunday in Paris with the Women’s Road Race. While he may have commentated on his final Games, retirement isn’t on the cards quite just yet.
LIVE AND FREE ON CHANNEL 9, 9GEM AND 9NOW – EVERY OLYMPIC EVENT STREAMED LIVE AND FREEWITH REPLAYS AND EVERY BIG AUSTRALIAN MOMENT ON 9NOW
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Legendary cycling commentator Phil Liggett announces retirement
About Nine’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 coverage
As we officially enter the Olympic month of July, Australia’s Home of the Olympics, the 9Network, today reveals its full schedule, as well as its hosting and superstar commentator and expert line-up for Paris 2024.
Nine’s coverage begins the week leading into the Opening Ceremony on Monday, July 21, with Today, A Current Affair and 9News broadcasting from Paris – and an Olympic special presentation Let The Games Begin, screening on Wednesday, July 24 on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Following the special, competition kicks off with the Men’s Rugby Sevens and the Men’s Football, both screening from 11.00pm AEST. The following night the Matildas start their Olympic medal campaign. The 9Network’s 24 hour coverage of the Olympic Games starts early on Saturday, July 27 with the Opening Ceremony beginning at 3am AEST and won’t stop until the Closing Ceremony on Monday, August 12.
The two week broadcast will come live from Nine’s state-of-the-art Trocadero studio opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
With 9Now streaming every moment of every event free and in full HD across more than 40 dedicated channels, viewers will experience 24/7 Olympics coverage across Channel 9HD and 9GemHD by Australia’s most accomplished television hosting team:
Channel 9
6.30am-11.00am AEST: Sarah Abo and Karl Stefanovic, as Australia wakes up
11.00am-12.00pm AEST: 9News bulletin
12.00pm-3.00pm AEST: Todd Woodbridge capturing the magic moments of the day
3.00pm-7.00pm AEST: Leila McKinnon and Dylan Alcott as live sport begins
6.00pm-7.00pm AEST: 9News state bulletins
7.00pm-1.00am AEST: Ally Langdon and James Bracey with all the prime-time action
1.00am-6.30am AEST: Eddie McGuire from Paris including competition Finals
9Gem
5.00pm-10.00pm AEST: Sylvia Jeffreys
10.00pm-3.00am AEST: Nick McArdle
3.00am-8.00am AEST: Sam McClure
8.00am-5.00pm AEST: Hosted long-form replays
A superstar expert and commentary team will reveal what it takes to perform on the world’s biggest sporting stage. The lineup includes Cate Campbell, Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney, Ellie Cole, Mat Thompson and Roz Kelly taking viewers poolside to be alongside every stroke of what is considered one of Australia’s strongest ever swim teams.
Track and Field events will be led by Gerard Whateley – who will be the 9Network’s voice of athletics – alongside Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, Olympic gold medalist pole vaulter Steve Hooker, Dave Culbert, Olympic four-time gold medalist sprinter Michael Johnson and Tony Jones.
As Team Australia competes through the two week event, viewers will feel they have a front row seat to every moment guided by renowned experts and commentators Cadel Evans, Andrew Gaze, Phil Liggett, Kerri Pottharst, James Tomkins, Sam Fricker, Scott McGrory, Kate Bates, Caroline Buchanan, Mitch Tomlinson, Ryan Williams, Nick Boserio, Georgie Parker, Richard Fox, Andy Raymond, Todd Woodbridge, Drew Mitchell, Sera Naiqama, Grace Gill, Emma Snowsill, Will McCloy, Brenton Speed, Peter Psaltis, Adam Papalia, Russell Mark, Sean Maloney, Annabelle Williams, Matt Hill, Will Davies, Mark Taylor, Sophie Smith, Shane McInnes, and Jenna O’Hea. Biographies and the sports they are commentating/giving expert analysis of can be found in the press kit attached.
Olympic medalist swimmer Cate Campbell – who made national headlines during last month’s Australian Swimming Trials – joins the 9Network as a swimming expert. She will also be a swimming expert for the 9Network’s Paralympics coverage.
“While I might have missed out on being part of the Australia Olympic team and competing in Paris, I am so excited to still be heading over the Games as part of the Channel 9 broadcast team,”
– said Cate.
“This will be the first Olympic Games I have watched since Athens 2004 and I can’t wait to cheer on our swimmers as they hit the pool. I hope Australia falls in love with our swimmers and I look forward to shining a spotlight on the incredible talent we have on the Olympic team.”
Highly regarded sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley will be the 9Network’s voice of athletics, taking on the high profile role during a time of renaissance for our track and field team.
“I’m most looking forward to Track and Field in the iconic Stade De France, which will be the venue for Paris’ biggest sporting and entertainment events,”
– said Gerard.
“After the main stadium in Tokyo was largely empty, the athletes will this time compete in front of 80,000-strong crowds. And while athletics has a galaxy of stars, the face of the sport will be determined by the races at these Olympic Games.”
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad will unite Australians like never before across an unrivalled platform of television, streaming, Stan Sport, digital publishing and audio, ensuring that viewers, listeners and readers feel like they are in the ultimate front-row seat to every sport and every venue.
