(by Dave Stewart)
The former host of P.E.I.’s supper hour CBC news show says the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games are among the best he’s ever attended.
Bruce Rainnie, the anchor of CBC’s curling coverage at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, is pictured here with two-time world champion and six-time national curling champion Colleen Jones, at the Olympic Games curling venue in South Korea. – Submitted
Bruce Rainnie, who left Compass almost a year ago, has been hosting CBC’s coverage of the curling events at the Olympics these past two weeks. He said Thursday he can’t say enough about the venue, the transportation or the volunteers.
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This is the eighth time Rainnie has been part of the Olympic coverage. He’s done four summer Games, and this is his fourth Winter Olympics.
“It’s the coldest (Winter Games) I’ve ever been to. Sochi was warm; Salt Lake City wasn’t bad and Torino was pretty good, too – no gloves, no toque. There’s been a strong wind all the time that keeps things chilly.’’
But, in terms of broadcasting, he’ll leave with nothing but warm memories.
“In terms of what makes things good for a broadcaster, you want a couple of big things – reliable transportation to and from your venue and you want a really good venue with everything working and in both of those regards these people have knocked it out of the park.’’
Rainnie said the 2018 Olympics have also changed his outlook on one particular sport – mixed doubles curling – and not just because Canada’s John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes won gold.
“I began as a skeptic, but I became wildly enthusiastic about it after about 10 minutes. It’s really good and it’s a great test of a curler’s ability. Everything is on display – your ability to communicate, the throw, the sweep, the throw with touch, the throw with power, the call, the strategy, the ability to make really quick calls because it’s so darned fast. I love it. I think this thing is going to explode (in popularity).’’
It’s the only gold medal game Rainnie and his broadcast crew, which includes Mike Harris and Joan McCusker, will be calling involving Canada after Rachel Homan’s women’s team failed to make the playoffs and Kevin Koe’s men’s foursome lost in the semifinal to the U.S.
Both rinks were heavily favoured for gold, especially Homan, a rink Rainnie still considers the best in the world.