Geneviève Tardif

Head of broadcast for the Olympic Games in Paris

Host, reporter and sports columnist at All morning for Radio-Canada, Geneviève Tardif will be anchor during the next Summer Olympic Games in Paris for ICI TÉLÉ. Sparkling and full of energy, the woman who is married to speed skating champion Charles Hamelin talks to us about this new challenge, her career and women in the world of sport.

YOU WILL BE AN ANTENNA CHIEF FOR RADIO-CANADA AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS. WHAT WILL YOUR MANDATE CONSIST OF?

I will be at the helm of a night show called good night Paris and which will be held from 22:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. I will be on the ground to present a daily review of the best moments of the day. In particular, I will do interviews with athletes and I will be in a different place each time in order to show the infrastructure or Parisian life.

YOU WERE A COMMENTATOR AT THE 2021 TOKYO SUMMER GAMES AND THE BEIJING WINTER GAMES. WAS THIS ANTENNA CHIEF POSITION NOT A NATURAL SUITE?

Yes, but I didn't think it would go so quickly. My career dream was to become a news anchor, but I didn't think I would achieve it in Paris!

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO GO INTO SPORTS JOURNALISM?

I have always loved sport. It was something that brought us together in my family. With my parents and my brother, we went to watch tennis, hockey or football matches and we experienced emotions together. We listened to the Olympics. But at the time, I wanted to become an actress. At eight years old, I took theater classes while doing athletics and soccer... My job as a sports journalist is a mix of my two passions: communication and sport.

IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS JOURNALISM, WOMEN ARE STILL TOO RARE. WAS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO MAKE A PLACE FOR YOURSELF?

I was looking for a lot of myself, younger. I was trying to be in the boy's club, because yes, there is one. But today, I trust myself. Since becoming a mother, I have taken responsibility for myself, I am more successful in saying what I want or refusing what is offered to me, and in sharing my vision. That makes all the difference.

ARE THERE ANY WOMEN JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE INSPIRED YOU?

Two women inspired me at two different times in my life: Marie-Claude Savard and Marie-Josée Turcotte. When I was eighteen, the first one was my idol. I contacted her and she invited me to spend a day
à Hi hello! to discover his profession. As for Marie-Josée Turcotte, she is the one advising me at the moment. She's my fairy! A few weeks ago, she gave me the suitcase she had with her during the last Olympics. I see it as a passing of the torch since she is retired.

YOU HOST THE PODCASTS THEY SHINE ET SPORTS, END! WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SHOW UP WOMEN IN SPORT?

While working in the media, I realized that it was often men's sports that were highlighted. However, I heard lots of stories of incredible women around me. I told myself that if these stories appealed to me, they would also appeal to the public. When I became a mother, I gave myself a mandate to highlight women so that my daughters would not experience the same situation later, so that they would have role models. The sports world is beautiful, but we have to make room for women!

DO YOU FEEL THAT THINGS ARE EVOLVING IN QUEBEC?

Yes, a lot in recent years. Women have more visibility in the world of sport, and companies are less reluctant to invest. Just look at the success of the new Women's Hockey League which filled the Bell Center or the women's March Madness in basketball which broke audience records. This is the start of something beautiful, even if there is still a lot to do.

WILL YOUR SPOUSE AND DAUGHTERS BE SEEING YOU AT THE OLYMPICS?

Yes, it’s in the plans! We rented a house in Champagne. Charles and my daughters will join me there at the end of the Olympics. We will spend a few days with family to rest… and drink champagne!