TORONTO – CBC Sports and Swimming Canada are proud to announce a multiplatform broadcast partnership connecting Canadians to six days of live coverage of the Olympic & Para-swimming Trials.

The Olympic & Para-swimming Trials, presented by RBC, run from April 5-10 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which played host to the unforgettable drama of the 2015 Pan Am Games. Adding to the excitement and connection to Rio 2016, iconic play-by-play announcer Steve Armitage and long-time analyst Byron MacDonald reunite for the event, calling all the action.

CBC Sports and Olympic Games Primetime host Scott Russell joins Armitage and MacDonald from the pool deck providing instant connection to the athletes as they achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Games. Three-time Paralympian and 17-time Paralympic medallist Stephanie Dixon will join the booth to provide analysis during the Para-swimming events.

“As Canada’s Olympic Network we strive to provide every opportunity for our audiences to watch Canadian athletes in action on their road to Rio, so we are excited to offer coverage of the Canadian Olympic & Para-swimming Trials through this partnership with Swimming Canada,” said Greg Stremlaw, executive director, CBC Sports, and general manager and chef de mission for CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of Rio 2016. “It is a special opportunity to watch athletes competing to fulfil their goal of reaching the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it is exciting events like this one that allows CBC Sports to maintain our strong commitment to ensuring Canadians know the athletes representing them on the world stage before they reach the top of the podium.”

CBCSports.ca will carry live coverage daily from April 5–10 with finals sessions from 7–9 p.m. ET and a pre-show at 6:45 p.m. ET. The six-day event concludes with the full team announcement for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the nominees to the Para-swimming national team for Rio. In addition, coverage from the Trials will be featured on that weekend’s edition of Road to the Olympic Games on Saturday and Sunday.

ICI Radio-Canada will also provide access to the event in French as they stream each night’s action starting at 7 p.m. ET. René Pothier and Jean-Marie de Koninck will also host a special two-hour TV broadcast on April 17 at 3 p.m. ET as part of their En route vers les Jeux olympiques program.

“We are extremely happy CBC Sports has committed to showcasing high-performance sports and athletes. When you hear Steve and Byron calling a race, it brings back memories of so many great races by Canadians in the past. And to have Scott Russell being the first to talk to our athletes on the pool deck is a perfect fit,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “Adding René and Jean-Marie’s voices gives the event true national reach, so Canadians can follow the action in the official language of their choice.”

CBC Sports, Swimming Canada and presenting sponsor RBC have also launched a 30-second video to promote the Trials

Trials tickets are on sale, but going fast. Tickets are available at https://swimmingcanada.tickit.ca/

CBC Sports Broadcast schedule: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/broadcast

ICI Radio-Canada Sports link: http://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports