On the eve of the one-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium announced today its initial broadcast team for its presentation of the next Olympic Games. Led by veteran sports and Olympic host Brian Williams, the team is poised to bring Canadians the greatest Summer Games experience ever. The list also includes some of the most impressive Canadian Olympians of all time, such as Catriona Le May Doan, Nathalie Lambert, Marnie McBean, and Kyle Shewfelt. Alexandre Bilodeau, the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal on home soil also joins the RDS team as Collaborator for the Opening Ceremonies. The Olympians announced thus far as part of the Consortium’s broadcast team have an impressive 18 Olympic medals among them.

In addition to Williams, RDS’ Chantal Machabée, V’s Jean Pagé, TSN’s Darren Dutchyshen, and Rogers Sportsnet’s Brad Fay host the prime time slots on their respective channels. With the best broadcasters and athlete commentators in the country, the Consortium team is positioned to bring Canadians the dynamic storytelling that anchored its coverage of Vancouver 2010, on the world’s grandest stage for amateur sports. Viewers can also expect the return of the Consortium’s hugely-popular and dynamic features “Superbodies”, “How Tough Are These Sports”, and “Rick Hansen’s Difference Makers”, all of which are currently in production.

“At the Consortium, we have both the responsibility and the privilege to share the stories of London 2012 with all Canadians,” said Adam Ashton, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. “Our diverse and experienced broadcast team are prepared to deliver the extraordinary stories of the world’s best, with the care and accuracy they deserve.”

To date, the broadcast team confirmed for London 2012 is:

CTV Hosts

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME – Brian Williams
OLYMPIC DAYTIME – James Duthie, Jennifer Hedger
OLYMPIC MORNING – Dave Randorf, Catriona Le May Doan

RDS Hosts

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME – Chantal Machabée
OLYMPIC DAYTIME – Alain Crête
OLYMPIC MORNING – Claude Mailhot

RDS Collaborator – Opening Ceremonies
Alexandre Bilodeau

RDS Special Reporter
Nathalie Lambert

V Hosts

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME – Jean Pagé
OLYMPIC DAYTIME – Frédéric Plante
OLYMPIC MORNING – Yanick Bouchard

Rogers Sportsnet Hosts

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME – Brad Fay
OLYMPIC DAYTIME – Daren Millard
OLYMPIC MORNING – Don Taylor

TSN Hosts

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME – Darren Dutchyshen
OLYMPIC DAYTIME – Michael Landsberg
OLYMPIC MORNING – Jay Onrait, Dan O’Toole

Play-By-Play Announcers and Analysts – English Broadcast Team

Athletics
Gord Miller (play-by-play)
Dave Moorcroft (analyst)
Michael Smith (analyst)

Canoe/Kayak/Rowing
Rob Faulds (play-by-play)
Larry Cain (analyst)
Barney Williams (analyst)
Marnie McBean (studio analyst, rowing)

Gymnastics
Rod Black (play-by-play)
Kyle Shewfelt (analyst)

Swimming/Diving
Rod Smith (play-by-play)
Joanne Malar (analyst)
Blythe Hartley (analyst)

Play-By-Play Announcers and Analysts – French Broadcast Team

Athletics
Pierre Houde (play-by-play)
Richard Garneau (analyst)
Jean-Paul Baert (analyst)
Bruny Surin (analyst)

Canoe/Kayak/Rowing
David Arsenault (play-by-play)
Maxime Boilard (analyst, canoe/kayak)
Daniel Aucoin (analyst, rowing)

Diving
Félix Séguin (play-by-play)
Annie Pelletier (analyst)

Gymnastics
Claudine Douville (play-by-play)
Bernard Petiot (analyst)

Swimming
Denis Casavant (play-by-play)
Yannick Lupien (analyst)

Synchronized Swimming
Claudine Douville (play-by-play)
Marie-Pierre Gagné (analyst)

Water Polo
Michel Y. Lacroix (play-by-play)
Ann Dow (analyst)

More broadcaster names will be announced in the coming months.