Donald Smith: A familiar face among announcers in Paris

PARIS, France:

The track and field session of the Paris Olympic Games began yesterday at the Stade de France and for those Jamaicans in France and back home they were treated to a familiar face at the stadium announcers table who has made his own bit of history.

Track and field announcer Donald Smith has made it to the ultimate stage, the Olympic Games. While his rċsumċ already includes the World Championships in Oregon in 2022 as well as several international events, Smith said that he is aware of the potential significance of what he is doing holds.

“It’s an exciting feeling. I don’t think that it has sunk in yet. I have been trying to figure out the extent of this honour. I would definitely be the first track and field announcer from the Caribbean to announce at Olympic Games. Even further beyond that I may be the first black man to be in this role. It is an honour,” Smith told The Gleaner.

Smith has been the voice of major track and field events in Jamaica and has lent his voice to many major meets in his career. But while he always believed that the Olympic stage is where he would eventually end up, he was nonetheless surprised at how he got to Paris.

“When you are confident in your talent and when you know you have put in the work, the expectation to get to this point was always there. It was just a case of when. I was surprised when I got the call for Paris,” Smith said “I was thinking more of LA 2028 but nothing happens before its time and Paris just fell right into my lap.”

The stage may be bigger but what has not changed is Smith preparation which he has perfected and crafted for every meet knowing the responsibility that he holds.

“The preparation is still the same. Outside of that you know that French and English are the two official languages at the Olympics. So it is teamwork, team effort. So we decide how we do commentary for each race. There is some protocol which the International Olympic Committee demands, so we have to work with that. However, it is the same as in the World Championships: you get your notes, you get your stats done. Yes, the Olympics is a step up in terms of it being an event where most persons look forward to the many sporting disciplines, including athletics but preparation wise it is pretty much the same.

Smith was measured in his reaction to getting confirmation that he would be announcing the biggest meet of his career fully aware of what it will demand of him. But he is eager to share the signature style which has made him a mainstay in Jamaican track and field announcing to the world.

“It is a case of me not necessarily trying to fit into what exists because there are protocols that govern these championships. But the good thing is that you are not confined in a box. You are able to use what distinguishes you which in this case is my voice, my enthusiasm in terms of trying to get the crowd involved and trying not to take the spotlight away from the athletes because at the end of the day, they are the main ones (that are important),” Smith said.