Bruce McAvaney
Encyclopedia
Bruce William McAvaney OAM
(born 22 June 1953 in Ferryden Park, South Australia
) is an Australian sports broadcaster with the Seven Network
, well-known for his commentary of Australian rules football
matches as well as covering every Summer Olympic Games from Moscow 1980
until Beijing 2008
.
accountant, McAvaney developed an early interest in sport and race calling.
After attending Woodville High School
(and failing Year 12)
he spent five years as a Telecom
clerk.
Then in 1976 during a day off work, McAvaney flew to Kilmore, Victoria
to bet on some races. There, he met Kevin Hillier, an Adelaide race caller, who suggested McAvaney help him out back in Adelaide. It was therefore through a chance meeting that McAvaney launched his career in the sports media, joining Adelaide radio station 5DN, calling horse races and later hosting a sports show.
covered the 1980 Moscow Olympics
for Seven,
and Bruce was chosen to host the Adelaide end of the telecast for the station.
In 1983 he moved to Melbourne
and joined Ten Melbourne to read sport news. The following year he was the secondary host and commentated track and field events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
for the Ten Network.
Between 1985 and 1988, McAvaney also called the Melbourne Cup
and hosted various major sporting telecasts for Ten, including the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
, the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome
and the 1988 Grand Prix athletics in Berlin
. McAvaney went on to co-host Ten's telecast of the 1988 Seoul Olympics
, a role which won him significant acclaim.
In 1989, McAvaney negotiated a two-year premature end to his contract with Ten, and returned to the Seven Network on the condition that he could cover the 1992 Olympics
.
Since his return to Seven, McAvaney has hosted and called a broad range of the network's sports coverage, including the Melbourne Cup
, World Athletics Championships, Motor Racing, the Australian Open
Tennis, Australian Masters
Golf and all Summer Olympic Games from Barcelona 1992
to Beijing 2008
. His extensive history covering Olympic Games has led to the nickname "Mr Olympics".
in June 2002 for service to sports broadcasting, and to the community through charitable and sporting organisations.
He moved his family from Melbourne back to his home town of Adelaide in 1999.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 22 June 1953 in Ferryden Park, South Australia
Ferryden Park, South Australia
Ferryden Park is a north-western suburb of Adelaide 9km from the central business district, in the state of South Australia, Australia. Situated in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield local government area, it is adjacent to Kilkenny, Angle Park, Woodville Gardens, Croydon Park, and Regency Park...
) is an Australian sports broadcaster with the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, well-known for his commentary of Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
matches as well as covering every Summer Olympic Games from Moscow 1980
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
until Beijing 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
Early years
The son of an AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
accountant, McAvaney developed an early interest in sport and race calling.
After attending Woodville High School
Woodville High School (Australia)
Woodville High School, is a secondary school in Woodville, a north western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It was opened at its current site in 1915, open to all ethnicities....
(and failing Year 12)
he spent five years as a Telecom
Telecom Australia
Telecom Australia was the trading name of the:* Australian Telecommunications Commission * Australian Telecommunications Corporation * Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation...
clerk.
Then in 1976 during a day off work, McAvaney flew to Kilmore, Victoria
Kilmore, Victoria
Kilmore is a town in the Australian state of Victoria. Located north of Melbourne, it is contentiously claimed as Victoria's oldest inland settled town...
to bet on some races. There, he met Kevin Hillier, an Adelaide race caller, who suggested McAvaney help him out back in Adelaide. It was therefore through a chance meeting that McAvaney launched his career in the sports media, joining Adelaide radio station 5DN, calling horse races and later hosting a sports show.
Television career
McAvaney made the jump to television in 1978, when he joined Adelaide station ADS-7 to read sport news and produce the weekly Racetrack program. His career received a boost when colleague Sandy RobertsSandy Roberts
Sandy Roberts is the weeknight sports presenter of Seven News Melbourne.Roberts grew up on a sheep farm in Lucindale, South Australia. After completing school he moved to Adelaide where he worked as a sports writer for the Adelaide Advertiser...
covered the 1980 Moscow Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
for Seven,
and Bruce was chosen to host the Adelaide end of the telecast for the station.
In 1983 he moved to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and joined Ten Melbourne to read sport news. The following year he was the secondary host and commentated track and field events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
for the Ten Network.
Between 1985 and 1988, McAvaney also called the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
and hosted various major sporting telecasts for Ten, including the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
, the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and the 1988 Grand Prix athletics in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. McAvaney went on to co-host Ten's telecast of the 1988 Seoul Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, a role which won him significant acclaim.
In 1989, McAvaney negotiated a two-year premature end to his contract with Ten, and returned to the Seven Network on the condition that he could cover the 1992 Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Since his return to Seven, McAvaney has hosted and called a broad range of the network's sports coverage, including the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, World Athletics Championships, Motor Racing, the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
Tennis, Australian Masters
Australian Masters
The Australian Masters, currently known as the JBWere Masters for sponsorship reasons, is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The tournament was founded in 1979, and was co-sanctioned by the European Tour for the first time in 2006, with a significant 20% increase in the prize...
Golf and all Summer Olympic Games from Barcelona 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
to Beijing 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. His extensive history covering Olympic Games has led to the nickname "Mr Olympics".
Awards
He was awarded an OAMOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in June 2002 for service to sports broadcasting, and to the community through charitable and sporting organisations.
Personal life
McAvaney's first marriage, to Merry, lasted from 1983 to 1991. He met his second wife Anne Johnson, a television journalist and producer, in 1993 while making the show Seasons. With her, he had two children, Sam and Alexandra.He moved his family from Melbourne back to his home town of Adelaide in 1999.