PIONEERING TELEVISION PRESENTER SAYS ‘SPORT IS IN MY BLOOD’
When she started out in 2003, Liliane Tannoury was the first woman to host sports TV in the Middle East
Liliane Tannoury’s passion for sports has helped shape not only her life, but her career. After studying sports broadcasting, a passion for volleyball, a sport in which she has served as a coach and referee, led her to Brazil, to continue her studies while learning more about the sport and how it is ingrained in Brazilian culture.
The Lebanese expatriate then became the first Arab woman to hold a position in sports broadcasting, a male-dominated industry, as a senior sports presenter and producer at Al Arabiya news channel.
“If you want to talk about something, you should believe in it first. Sports are in my blood and that is what I believed in and wanted to do since my childhood,” says Tannoury.
“The vibes in the sports field can’t be compared to anything. Covering events that talk about winning and competition is so satisfying for me and to many others.
“I was born into a family that is deeply into sports. It makes your life much different – healthy, alive and active.
“I was a captain in volleyball. I played the game and then became a trainer, referee and a commentator. All my brothers and sisters play volleyball but football is another home for me.”
After graduating from College Saint Joseph in Lebanon with a degree in sports journalism, she moved to South America and started her career as a reporter at a Brazilian media institute.
“It was a challenge to convince my family about the move but they understood my desire and passion to fulfill my dreams,” she says.
“I finished my higher education in communications in Sao Paulo and started my career in journalism. During my stay [in Brazil] I learnt a lot from cultural differences and managed to learn the language.”
Tannoury joined Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya in 2003 as a Dubai-based sports presenter, where she succeeded in proving herself among the men.
“Starting my career with Al Arabiya was not easy. It was nice but challenging,” she says
“I was the only woman working in the sports department along with 17 men. It was a big challenge for me to prove myself, as men think it is their field.
“Some men till now don’t believe in women working in sports journalism. I created my own path. It required extra effort but I managed to get the support of my colleagues and HOD [head of department] as they believed in me and that gave me a lot of confidence to push to go further.”
She says she was the first woman to host sports programmes in the region.
“I have covered most of the sports tournaments and events around the world – two Fifa World Cups, Gulf competitions, Asian competitions, the English Premier League and La Liga,” said Tannoury, who has interviewed some of the world’s most famous footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Gerard Pique, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
“My best interview was with Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a very nice guy, humble, smart and fit. It is challenging to arrange for an interview with the players as they have a very tight schedule between competitions and training,” she says.
“Most of the time I wait for five to six hours for them to arrive to finalise a 10-minute interview. It’s never easy but it is all worth it.”
Aside from football, Tannoury enjoys scuba diving and has an advance diving licence.
“My daily routine is full of sports. I hit the gym every day, I do Zumba and yoga, I also enjoy scuba, night and wreck diving,” she says.
“I believe in creativity in everything we do – nothing should stop us from pursuing our dreams.”