How To Call A Race

TV coverage legend stuart storey gives budding broadcasters some tips on how to commentate

- Stuart Storey

What follows is a process of coverage when in the stadium. Waiting for the race to begin. Let’s start at the top as an example: “The Olympic men’s or women’s 100 metres final”.

Remember that you as the commentator will say what the picture does not say.

What follows assumes that you have done your homework and have researched the work presented by the appointed statistician.

Mark Butler is the best statistician and has been a part of many major athletics championships over the years for the BBC and others and can be trusted to give you valuable backup.

Once you have taken on board the most relevant information in addition to what has been learned from your own experience including chats with athletes over the years, then you are ready to begin.

Here is a 10-step guide to calling a major event such as an Olympic 100m final.

1. Study the race line up and know your athletes. At a major international event it is important that you have practised the correct name pronunciations. There were 11 million BBC viewers watching the men’s Olympic 100m final from Sydney in 2000. No pressure then!

In the case of the 100m final the start list must be learned. Both men’s and women’s finals are over so quickly there is no time to look down at the information in front of you. The heats, quarter finals and semi-finals will have given you a good idea of what is likely to happen but assume nothing and the outcome may not come from the seeded centre lanes.