Sports commentators from throughout the Asia-Pacific region will descend on Colombo at the end of March for a specialist training programme.
Three leading sports commentators with decades of major event experience will conduct the workshop which will be attended by up to 50 people. The workshop is part of regional training initiatives in Sport funded in large part by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).
The ABU’s Director of Sport, John Barton, said Sri Lanka had been chosen to host the training programme because of its great love of sport, especially cricket.
“We all remember with great fondness the World Cup victory by Sri Lanka in ’96, and how exciting and emotional the commentary was from commentators at Rupavahini.
“One of the highlights of the workshop will be a replay of the final over of that enthralling encounter with Australia,” Mr. Barton said.
He said the trainers were among the best in the live sports business. They are Alan Marks formerly with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and who has commentated at 9 Olympics and 9
Commonwealth Games, John Burgess from the United Kingdom and a 30 year veteran, who is known for his work at the Asian Games, and Les Murray known in Australia as ‘Mr. Football’. Mr. Murray is also a Fifa Commissioner.
The workshop will be held in the brand new auditorium at Olympic House, the new headquarters of Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee (NOC). It is also being sponsored by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC).
NOC President Mr. Hemasiri Fernando said he was delighted Olympic House had been chosen to host this important international sports programme especially given the role commentators had in coverage of the Olympic Games.
“We all have a stake in sports commentary. The commentators are a vital cog in a wheel that connects major events such as the Olympics with the audience, and gives them the ‘emotional high’ associated the performances of athletes and teams.
“The workshop will instill in the trainees essential knowledge that will allow them to expertly handle the challenges of live commentary,” Mr. Hemasiri said.
SLRC would be sending 15 trainees to the workshop. The SLRC Chairman, Professor Ariyarathne Athugala, said the training programme would broaden the understanding of the principles of commentary.
“The lessons learned would be of great benefit to the individual and their career as they would:
• Enhance knowledge
• Improve skills
• Encourage Initiative
• Promote discipline
• Recognise individuality
• Develop capabilities
The workshop will be held over two days 24-25 March.
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