After working 17 Olympics, retired broadcaster Russell will watch Milan Games as fan

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This article was published 31/01/2026 (246 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Normally, Scott Russell is in full preparation mode on the eve of an Olympic Games, going over the long list of plans, athlete stories, schedules and details for the assignment. 

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the pressure will be off for the longtime CBC broadcaster. 

After retiring in September 2024, shortly after covering the Paris Games — the 17th Olympics of his career — Russell has passed the baton for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games in Italy. 

“I’ll watch as a fan for the first time and be able to take it all in,” Russell said. “I’m sure there will be a little bit of wistful thinking about it, that I wish I was there.”

Russell joined CBC Charlottetown in 1985 as a reporter and covered his first Olympics three years later in Seoul. 

He served as an Olympic host on seven occasions, including the afternoon show at the Paris Games in 2024. That timeblock — noon to 6 p.m. Eastern Time — will be handled by broadcaster Andi Petrillo in Milan. 

Russell, meanwhile, has remained active in the sports world since his retirement.

In addition to his ceremonial position as chancellor at Nipissing University, Russell has also been involved with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and contributed to the Future of Sport in Canada Commission.

“I think that the transition was really softened by that, and it also invigorated me because those are the things that I had always been interested in,” Russell said in a recent interview. “I wasn’t only interested in wins and losses and being on the air on TV. 

“I was interested in where sport fits into the cultural landscape.”

Russell is also an honorary board member of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada and an advisory board member for the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University.

“There’s no question that I miss going on the air and telling stories about sport and being near the energy of those big events,” he said. “But this has sort of given me purpose and energized me a little bit.”

The CBC has the domestic broadcast rights to the Olympics through 2032. The network will provide 22 hours of live daily coverage throughout the Games. 

“We’re definitely going to miss Scott, and there’s no replacing him,” said CBC Sports executive director Chris Wilson. “But I’m pretty excited about the lineup of hosts throughout the day. 

“Our talent over in (Italy) and in the play-by-play and analyst roles is just incredible as well. So I think we’re in good hands.”

Ron MacLean, Perdita Felicien, Anastasia Bucsis and Craig McMorris will also serve as hosts along with Petrillo.

“I can’t wait to see how they tell the story, and I’ll be behind them 100 per cent,” Russell said. “I know they’ll be absolutely fantastic. 

“I’ll miss it for sure, but I am so happy and humbled to have been a part of the Olympic story in Canada.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2026.