A South Coast announcer has had a front row seat to some of the most exciting sporting events in the world. Brad Jay has just wrapped up work on his sixth Olympics.
The Ventura County man was an announcer at some of the competition venues. Speaking to KCLU News from Tokyo, Jay says it’s been strange not having spectators in Olympic venues but that the competition was still exciting.
"I mean it's just an amazing setup," said Jay. "The Japanese people have done such a great job of like preparing for it. Unbelievable venues."
"I mean you've got to feel for the people who don't get to come out here and be a part of it," Jay added. "Because the spectators are such a big part of the Olympic games. That's a big bummer."
Jay has been the stadium announcer over the last two decades for everything from dozens of X Games events to Olympic skiing. He was especially excited to be part of some new events at the Tokyo Olympics like surfing and BMX bike competition.
Jay says COVID-19 safety protocols definitely made it a different experience. He says after landing in Japan, they underwent seven hours of testing before even being allowed to leave the airport. After that, there was daily testing.
He says no one in the pod of people he worked with had the virus.
Jay did some of his announcing from the massive International Olympic Broadcast Center and part of it from one of the venues.
Jay lives in La Conchita with his wife Tara, who’s a DJ and has also worked some extreme sports events. He’s more familiar to many South Coast residents because of his night job. He’s the evening announcer on Santa Barbara classic rock station KTYD.
He takes his remote gear with him and does his six day a week show for the radio station on the road.
The announcer says despite the fact fans couldn't be on hand the world got to see the games like any other Olympics. He thinks the organizers did an amazing job to make it happen despite the pandemic.
Jay needs to keep his passport up to date. He’s already set to do the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and after that the 2024 summer games in Paris.
With Jay’s part in the Games done, he'll be arriving home from Japan on Tuesday. He says the 16 days in Japan was an unforgettable experience and he’s thrilled to be a part of sports history.
