CBC has announced that veteran sportscaster Scott Russell will retire at the end of the summer after 40 years with the public broadcaster.
Russell will step away following the upcoming Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris, with his final broadcast to take place Sept. 8.
“CBC Sports has been home for my entire career in broadcasting. The places I’ve been, the friendships I’ve made, and the sport I’ve witnessed, leave me with a lifetime of memories. On top of that, I’ve been fortunate to work with the best people in the business,” said Russell, in a CBC announcement. “It’s time for the next chapter, and I’m excited to see what the future holds, including my appointment as Chancellor of Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.”
Russell has 16 Olympic Games under his belt, including six as host. Beginning July 27, he’ll take a final turn as host of CBC’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 afternoon show, Bell Paris Prime.
He started his career at CBC Charlottetown in 1985 as a reporter and moved on to sports a year later, followed by stops at CBC Montreal and then Toronto where he served as a network sports commentator and host of the weekly CBC Sports Presents. In addition to Olympic events, he’s led network coverage of six Pan Am Games, six Commonwealth Games, two FIFA World Cups and two FIFA Women’s World Cups. He was also a host and rink-side reporter for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada for 14 years.
“Scott’s genuine passion for sports and his vast knowledge of athletes past and present has helped to inspire and ignite the country around global sporting competitions for close to four decades,” said Barbara Williams, Executive Vice-President, CBC. “His contributions to CBC Sports’ coverage over the years, across all platforms, cannot be understated, and his authentic commitment to Canadian athletes and Canadian sport remains unwavering. ”
Russell has earned numerous accolades over the course of his career, including a Canadian Screen Award, Gemini Award, the George Gross Award for Outstanding Broadcasting from Sports Media Canada, a Medal of Distinction from Toronto Sports Hall of Honour and a CBC President’s Award in the Brand Champion category in recognition of his dedication to covering amateur athletics.
He’s also the author of three books, including Ice Time: A Canadian Hockey Journey and The Rink – Stories from Hockey’s Home Towns, which he co-wrote with fellow sportscaster Chris Cuthbert, and Open House: Canada and the Magic of Curling.
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