Baxenden sports commentator Andy savouring Rio Olympics

A BAXENDEN sports presenter has flown to Rio to commentate at the Olympics.

Live event host Andy Ashworth travelled to Brazil’s Olympic Games to work as a presenter and commentator at the Taekwondo event in the Carioca Arena Three on Wednesday, August 17.

The father-of-three has plenty of experience within the sport after hosting it at the London 2012 Olympics, at which Jade Jones became Britain’s first ever gold medallist in the event.

Andy said: “It is such an honour to be selected and be part of memorable moments in the sport. You get to know the athletes over the years and it can get very tense towards the end of competition, to be part of the celebration on winning gold is such a great feeling.

“Getting an arena to its feet for our National Anthem is a very emotional moment - categories.

Working on the Olympic test event in Rio earlier in the year, Andy revealed some of the challenges he faced as part of the sports presentation team.

He said: “Clearly the language barrier cannot be underestimated with the majority of people working on the event speaking very little English and I do not speak Portuguese! Cultural differences are also very apparent although my experience with Brazilians was very positive.”

Andy also commentated at the Taekwondo World Championships last year in Russia when British star Bianca Walkden became world champion. The Olympics continue until the closing ceremony on Sunday, August 21.