By Monique Butterworth
Pictures: David Woolley
The barbecue kings of the Seven Network’s Olympic commentary team fired up the gas, chilled the beers, and shared their thoughts on the perfect barbie, and the Games.
Facing a diet of Chinese delights in Beijing, the barbecue “kings” of the Seven Network’s Olympic commentary team — Tom Williams, former swimmer Daniel Kowalski and basketball great Andrew Gaze — fired up the gas, chilled the beers, and shared their thoughts on the Games, our chances… and what makes the perfect barbie.
How excited are you about Beijing?
Daniel: The last few weeks have been filled with research and getting my head around everything, but now it’s “real” and I’m getting very excited. There’s a lot of work ahead.
Tom: I’m very excited. This is my second time working at an Olympics. My first was the Torino Winter Olympics in Italy in 2006.
Andrew: I’m really looking forward to it. The Olympics have been such a huge part of my life when I was playing. It’s always an exciting time.
Have you been to Beijing before?
Daniel: I was in Beijing 14 years ago. It wasn’t my most pleasant trip — I lost a lot of weight because I didn’t eat. Obviously a lot has changed since I was last in Beijing, and China is a proud nation that really wants to do something special.
Tom: I’ve been to Beijing once before. We were there filming for The Great Outdoors for 7-8 days.
Andrew: In the last 10 years, I’ve spent a lot of time in China. I go two or three times a year, so it’ll be fascinating to see how they present the Games.
What will the atmosphere be like?
Daniel: With all the different nations and fans, it’s an amazing buzz. It’s interesting for me to be on the “other side of the fence” and not use the atmosphere to psyche myself up for a race, but just to blend in.
Tom: It’s going to be pumped. It’s going to come together like the Olympics always does. The Olympics never lets anyone down.
Andrew: There is a consistency that is generated by the Olympic Games. Throughout my time, I had one games in Asia [Seoul, 1988] but just look at the diversity — Seoul, Atlanta [1996], Barcelona [1992], Los Angeles [1984] and Sydney [2000]. Despite the difference in the environments in which they’re held, there is that common atmosphere that surrounds the Olympic Games. It’s one of excitement, tremendous expectation and great unity among everyone. It’s the greatest atmosphere in the world. It’s a real privilege to be a part of that.
How do you think Beijing will compare to Sydney?
Daniel: I don’t think anything will ever compare to Sydney, which is unfortunate for other host cities. Sydney was such an amazing experience. It’s hard to believe it was eight years ago.
Tom: It’s hard to compare. Sydney was awesome, but Beijing will be a completely different experience.
Andrew: It’s always difficult to compare. Every nation puts their own tweak to it, and it reflects the period of what the world’s going through. There’s always a lot of hoopla prior to every Olympics about certain elements about the host city, but I think it will be spectacular. China’s got tremendous resources, great imagination and significant culture.
What are you doing at the Games?
Daniel: I will be doing the pool deck interviews. As the swimmers jump out of the pool I’ll be there while they’re trying to catch their breath! Luckily I have experienced what that is like, and I’ll be trying to get something out of them that people may not know.
Tom: I’ve got a few jobs. I’m going to be pretty busy. I’ll be reporting for Andrew Daddo’s show Yum Cha and I’m commentating on the BMX and whitewater slalom.
Andrew: I’ll be primarily doing the basketball.
How hectic will your schedule be?
Daniel: I’m surprised at how hectic it is. I’m working from day 1-14. As well as the swimming, I’ll also be doing the open water swimming and triathlon. They’ll be long, jam-packed days, but it’s a great opportunity — one I didn’t think I’d get — so I am grateful for it.
Tom: It’s going to be pretty hectic for me.
Andrew: Basketball goes from day one right through until the end.
What will you do in your down time?
Daniel: I will have a lot of friends there from all over the world, so my down time will probably include a few quiet ales.
Tom: I don’t think I’ll have a lot of down time. I think I’ll just try to catch some events.
Andrew: I will try to get as much as I can from the experience. I love watching a lot of the other sports. I try to identify opportunities where Australians will do well. I hope to spend time at the swimming and rowing. It’s always great to be there and see an Australian achieve something special. Being in the audience, hearing that anthem, is a great moment.
Are there any sights or tourist attractions on your must-see/do list?
Daniel: I’m not much of a tourist type, so I probably won’t do a lot of that. I’m not much of a shopper either, so any spare time will probably be taken up with sleep!
Tom: Beijing is such an interesting city. The Forbidden City is beautiful to visit. It’s huge and there’s so much history going on.
Andrew: I’ve seen a fair bit because I go there so regularly, but I have some friends there that always manage to take me somewhere different. There’s plenty to see.
What are your favourite events at the Olympics, and why?
Daniel: I like all the sports but if I had to pick two outside of swimming it would be cycling and women’s basketball. I have a good friend who is riding/competing, and I’m really interested in the women’s basketball. We’ve gotten so close before and I’d really like to see them win.
Tom: Apart from what I’m covering, Australia’s rowing team are incredible. There’s got to be a bunch of medals coming there. They really are a great bunch of athletes. I have a history with rowing so I have a fondness for those guys and girls. I’m also interested to see the cycling (road race). The Australians did so well in the Tour de France, so to see Cadel Evans win the road race would be wicked. Beijing is pretty flat and he’s really fast on the flat!
Andrew: I like them all. There is always great stories that emerge from the Games. And not just our Australian athletes. You find yourself intrigued or attached to incredible performances.
Daniel and Andrew, having competed at the Olympics, is it tougher to be a spectator or commentator?
Daniel: No, because there is no curfew or rules and regulations! I can relax and enjoy it more without the stress of competing. I didn’t like the stress involved with competing. I hated it. I much rather having the stress of asking the questions correctly than standing on that block and waiting for the starter’s instructions.
Andrew: You really become envious of the athletes. Having gone through that experience and seeing the guys out there, you know how great it is, what a privilege it is. You really want to get out there and get among it. Sometimes it is tough sitting on the sidelines purely being an observer. Being a commentator is good because you’re on the fringes, closer than the average spectator … but nothing beats actually being out there. It is a time of great envy.
What are some of your fondest memories of the Olympic Games?
Daniel: I really didn’t enjoy competing. I was too stressed. But I really enjoyed being in the Olympic Village. It’s an amazing experience. As a kid growing up, I loved everything to do with the Olympics, so to walk into that village and see my idols from all different sports was incredible. I remember clearly at Atlanta in 1996, Muhammad Ali walked into the dining hall and everyone got up and gave him a standing ovation.
Tom: Sydney is my fondest memory. I wasn’t working in this business then. I had a bunch of friends rowing in the eights and they won silver. So we celebrated that, the opening and closing ceremonies … there were so many great parties going on. No disrespect to any of the sports, but it was like, “Oh yeah, there’s an athletics carnival going on, isn’t there?” The Winter Olympics was great too. I love watching the winter events.
Andrew: Each Games was something special. I had the opportunity to go to five Olympic Games and they were all significant. Along the way, there were some tremendous moments. From a performance perspective — in Seoul, Atlanta and Sydney — we didn’t win a medal but we played off for a medal. So they were great achievements from a team perspective. My first Games and my first Opening Ceremony were special. The enormity of it all hits home. Sydney, of course, was special being in my own country and being the Australian team captain and flag bearer.
Who are your tips for Aussie gold?
Daniel: Grant Hackett and Leisel Jones immediately come to mind. But then you’ve got Libby Lenton and Jessica Schipper as well. The swimming is probably where I am most comfortable saying, “Yeah, I hope we can win gold.”
Tom: There’s no doubt we could easily go gold and silver in the men’s BMX. Jarrod Graves and Luke Madill are red hot. They were in the US competing right up until Beijing and they’re blitzing it!
Andrew: In the basketball, our boys have a good opportunity and our girls are realistic gold-medal contenders. It’s exciting times. The girls won gold at the World Championships [in Brazil in 2006]. The men will do it tough but they’ve got a team that could really cause some problems.
What sports are our biggest chance of bringing home medals?
Daniel: Swimming is our biggest chance. They’ve proven themselves in the past, and they go in there with a really good chance to meet the expectations already set.
Tom: Our favourite sport is always the swimming and especially our women are looking red-hot. I’m sure all eyes will be on them. I’d love to see Grant Hackett finish up on top and win gold. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Grant but he seems like a damn nice guy.
Andrew: Outside of basketball, our swimmers are fantastic. There will be a few good medal opportunities there.
Here we are enjoying a great Aussie barbecue — what are your sure-fire tips or recipe for success when you’re throwing a barbie?
Daniel: Get everyone else to cater and you supply the alcohol!
Tom: You’ve got to get the barbecue temperature right. I’ve got a gas Weber. It’s the best barbecue you can buy! It’s great. I have not cooked anything incorrectly so far and it’s been five months.
Andrew: Whatever you do, don’t let me cook! That’s a sure-fire way to bugger things up.
How important is the great Aussie barbecue to you?
Daniel: I spent the last year overseas and not having a traditional barbecue you realise how great they are. It’s not just the food and drink, it’s the sitting around and useless banter. It was those little things that made me realise I missed it!
Tom: I’m a big barbecue man. It’s bloody important. I take advice from everyone. Especially when you’re learning, you’ve got to try and perfect your own thing. My mates give great advice!
Andrew: It’s all about gathering friends and family and having a great time.
How often do you have a barbie?
Daniel: In the summer, at least 2-3 times a week. It’s so much easier to throw something on the barbecue than it is to cook it inside.
Tom: I have a barbie five times a week.
Andrew: I barbecue often. My friends all think I’ve manufactured my reputation as a bad cook so I can get out of the job of cooking. I don’t mind doing it. I’ve just had some bad instances where I’ve buggered up everyone’s meat.
Do you have a signature dish you’re known for at your barbecues?
Daniel: I do a really good broccoli salad. Every barbecue, you can guarantee I will always bring one along.
Tom: I like to do a beef fillet. Put some slits in it and add garlic. Season it up. And whack it on a foil tray and depending on how much it weighs determines how long you cook it for. Once it’s done, you wrap it in foil and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then just carve up that baby into big steaks! I like to drink wine with that. You can’t guzzle too many cans when you’re beefing it up. You can get back on the cans later.
Andrew: I’m good at supervising, making sure everything is OK and being the lackey. Whoever puts on the apron and does the cooking, I’m there to do whatever is required to assist.
Any barbecue disasters you want to talk about?
Daniel: New Year’s Eve, going into 2007. Instead of turning the hot plate down, I turned it up, and when I threw all the meat on it just all burnt on one side. So we didn’t get any protein that New Year’s Eve.
Tom: Well, you’ve got to be careful with the gas, don’t you?
Andrew: I’ve had plenty. I’m not good at cleaning so I believe the cooking grease from all the barbecues before just add flavour. On this one occasion, there was just too much on there and it all went into the food and everything got burnt. We had to throw it all away. We laugh now but at the time, it didn’t go down well.
Is there anything that you don’t think belongs on a barbecue?
Daniel: I will probably get shot for this, but I don’t think beetroot belongs anywhere within a barbecue. I’m not a beetroot person.
Tom: Yeah, definitely tofu. That’s not right.
Andrew: This won’t go down well with most people, but for me, I’m not big on fish being on the barbecue. It stuffs up everything! You put fish on there and it just infiltrates its way into all the other food. I think it should be banned.
Make it today: Lamb burgers with tomato and mint salad
And for all the delicious recipes you can try out on your barbie, see this week’s 60th anniversary issue of Woman’s Day (on sale August 11).
Your say: Is sportsmanship still alive and well at the Olympics? Have your say below…
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