Game on: Nine Radio team prepares for Paris

Shane McInnes is packing his bags for Paris.

The 3AW presenter and sports broadcaster is getting ready to cover his fifth Olympics overall, his third on location … and his first for TV.

McInnes was on the ground for the London Games in 2012, and again for Rio in 2016. There, he worked 19 hours a day, crossing to network stations non-stop and filing hourly reports for news.

It was exhausting. But he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Now, in 2024, McInnes says getting to cover the Paris Games for Nine is a privilege.

“I’m thrilled to be calling alongside James Tomkins for the canoe sprint for and reporting and commentating around Paris for 3AW, 2GB and Nine Radio alongside some of the best in the business,” McInnes posted to social media. “Bring. It. On.”

Just a few weeks out from Paris, Nine has announced its full Olympic Games schedule, hosting line up and commentary team, bolstered by the likes of Cadel Evans, Andrew Gaze and Cate Campbell (pictured above).

As the official Olympic and Paralympic broadcaster, Nine has set up a state-of-the-art sports broadcasting centre within its 2GB offices in Sydney.

2GB’s Ray Hadley, who’s all set to commentate at his seventh Olympic Games, is tipping a gold haul in the pool for Australia, plus plenty of medal chances across other sports.

“Sydney hosted the best Games I’ve called at, but I expect Paris to be right up there,” says Hadley.

SEN’s chief sports caller Gerard Whateley will be the 9Network’s voice of athletics, taking on the high-profile role during a time of renaissance for our track and field team.

“I’m most looking forward to track and field in the iconic Stade De France, which will be the venue for Paris’ biggest sporting and entertainment events,” says Whateley.

“After the main stadium in Tokyo was largely empty, the athletes will this time compete in front of 80,000-strong crowds.”

Nine’s Head of Content Greg Byrnes has no doubt that we are about to experience a great time in radio.

The plan is to deliver old school theatre of the mind. Radio at its best, where listeners feel like they’ve got a front row seat for every sport at every venue.

As part of Nine’s coverage across radio, TV, digital streaming, podcasts and publishing, we’ll be able to hear the action across Nine Radio stations 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR.