Brian Williams (sportscaster)

Brian Williams, OC (born July 18, 1946) is a Canadian sportscaster who is best known for his coverage of the Olympic Games.

Early life
Williams' father was a very successful doctor. His father's profession had Williams constantly relocating to such places as Invermere, British Columbia; New Haven, Connecticut; Edmonton, Alberta; Hamilton, Ontario (where he graduated from Westdale Secondary School); Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan and Grand Rapids, Michigan (where he graduated from Aquinas College with a B.A. in history & political science in 1969). After graduating, he spent a year as a teacher at a Grand Rapids school.

Broadcasting career
Williams was long associated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's sports coverage since joining the network in 1974, after radio employment at Toronto's CFRB and CHUM.

CBC
Williams served as the studio host for the CBC's coverage of the CFL, Formula 1 and horse racing and was the play-by-play announcer for the network's coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the principal studio anchor for CBC's Olympic Games coverage for the 1984 Winter, 1984 Summer, 1988 Summer, 1992 Winter, 1996 Summer, 1998 Winter, 2000 Summer, 2002 Winter, 2004 Summer and 2006 Winter Olympics. Williams also covered the 2002 FIFA World Cup for CBC.

Williams also worked with Peter Mansbridge during CBC 2000 Today, CBC's coverage of the millennium. He also co-hosts Don Cherry's Grapeline on Sportsnet Radio, along with Don Cherry.

CTV
On June 5, 2006, Williams announced plans to move in December 2006 to rival CTV, and its sports network TSN. However, on June 8, 2006, the CBC fired Williams, thereby causing him to join CTV/TSN effective immediately as on-site host of TSN's Canadian Football League coverage. (This position should not be confused with the "studio host" position that remains held by Dave Randorf.)

Williams was chosen to head the CTV broadcasting team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

On February 22, 2010, while providing coverage of the Winter Olympics, Williams did a skit with Brian Williams, the anchor of NBC Nightly News, at CTV's Olympic set. Some in the media dubbed this the new "Battle of the Brians," as NBC's Williams compared his own modest set to CTV's expensive Olympic studio.

Williams anchored CTV's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He criticized the International Olympic Committee for not properly honouring the Israeli delegates who were slain during the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Quirks
His unique voice and quirks such as frequently announcing the time, sometimes in several different time zones at once, has made him one of Canada's most distinctive broadcasters. He is a frequent subject of parody on Canadian comedy shows such as Royal Canadian Air Farce.

Honours
In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to sports broadcasting, notably that of amateur sports, and for his community involvement".

Multimedia

 * CBC archives - Williams hosting the opening of SkyDome in Toronto.
 * Grapeline archives - Williams co-hosts Grapeline with Don Cherry.

Websites

 * TSN profile
 * Speakers' Spotlight: Brian Williams
 * CTV PR: "Going For Gold. Brian Williams To Join CTV, TSN"
 * TSN PR (June 9): "Brian Williams Makes CTV/TSN Debut June 16 During CFL Season Opener"
 * Canadian Communications Foundation profile