‘These crowds have been loose’
SPORTING MCs have been the unsung heroes of the Commonwealth Games.
They’re the people who pop up when the action lulls and it’s their job to keep the mood up and make sure everyone’s having a good time even when the athletes aren’t doing their thing.
Emi Fallon from Great Big Events Sporting Presentation said the overall goal was to keep up the atmosphere and highlight the sport.
“They’re so important in terms of both educating the crowd and also keeping them interested,” she said.
“I think the key thing is, we’re trying to deliver an experience for the crowd and something that highlights the sport.
“We look at performers that are going to be something audiences haven’t seen before, and helps the audience feel free to be themselves. Then when the audience get into it they enjoy themselves more.”
MC and Sea FM radio host Dan Anstey has been on duty, hosting everything from lawn bowls to wrestling.
He knows it’s a big responsibility, but when the crowds are as lively as they have been, it makes his job a little easier.
“These crowds have been loose, so rowdy,” he said.
“I feel really lucky to be a part of people’s experience and I think the internationals have brought a great vibe.
“Shout outs to the loudest shouters: Scotland, India and especially Jamaica.”
In addition to MCs creating hype, running competitions, doing interviews and playing games with the crowd, there are other ways of keeping the audience entertained.
“We have a range of different enhancements, things that the audiences probably are familiar with like the kiss cam or different cameras to put the audience in the picture and get them involved,” Mrs Fallon said.
“We do little competitions that involve audience members. And we’ll have half time performances.
“It depends on the sport, we look to create an atmosphere appropriate to the sport and the event, and the GC is a beautiful location, people are there to have fun and we want to echo that in what we do.”