Edmonton·FROM THE ARCHIVES

'I'm going to the Olympics!' Highlights from Mark Connolly's two decades at the Games

The Pyeongchang Olympics are set to begin and Mark Connolly is there covering them for CBC. Over his career as a play-by-play announcer he has had many memorable moments through both the winter and summer games.

‘You want to get them to feel what is going on in that moment for the athlete they’re watching’

From the archives: 'I’m going to the Olympics!’

7 years ago
Duration 2:07
Mark Connolly recalls getting the call to go to the 1996 Summer Olympics for the first time and other special moments from his two decades of covering the Games.

The Pyeongchang Olympics are set to begin and Mark Connolly is there covering them for CBC.

Over his career as a play-by-play announcer Connolly has had many memorable moments through both the winter and summer games.

When he first received the call to go to the Olympics in 1996 Connolly was overjoyed to the point he held the phone in his hand, stood up and shouted.

"Can anybody see this? I'm going to the Olympics," Connolly said. 'I was just beside myself."
Mark Connolly re-enacting getting the call to cover his first Olympics. (CBC)

For the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. Connolly began his streak of covering sliding sports in the winter games and cycling in the summer games.

One highlight for the Edmonton announcer was in the 2004 Olympics when Lori-Ann Muenzer won gold in cycling.

"I knew Lori-Ann because she was from Edmonton and she's a local athlete. I covered her career all the way through and to see her win that and she was such an underdog," said Connolly.

"I was just so happy for her to win."

Lori-Ann Muenzer on the podium after winning the gold medal in 2004. (CBC)

Connolly takes the responsibility of covering the Olympics seriously saying only by being at the games can you deliver the atmosphere to Canadians.

"You want to get them to feel what is going on in that moment for the athlete they're watching."

Mark Connolly is part of the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic coverage team, commentating on the sliding.

In the video, Mark Connolly re-lives some of his favourite moments from the last two decades of covering the Olympic Games with highlights of the events.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Zazula

Associate Producer

John Zazula is an associate producer at CBC and has been with the Corp. for more than 15 years. As a lifelong Edmontonian, John brings that experience to the job.