Michael Tomalarisis an Australian television reporter and presenter. He was previously host ofSBS Televisionsports programs including its Tour de France coverage.[1]He was also formerly a presenter forSBS World News.
Mike Tomalaris | |
|---|---|
| Born | Australia |
| Occupation(s) | TV anchor and sports reporter forSBS(1987–2021); Football commentator (1987–present); Cycling analyst (1992–present) |
| Employer | Special Broadcasting Service |
Career
editA print journalist by training, Tomalaris got his break in television in 1987 whenLes Murrayasked him to provide commentary for aNational Soccer Leaguematch.[citation needed]Tomalaris joinedSBSfull-time in 1992 and became a recognised commentator of matches involving the NSL,SocceroosandOlyroos.
He went on to work as a reporter/commentator for SBS at the 1992 and 1996UEFA European Football Championshipand the 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010FIFA World Cup,and was known for developing the network's Tour de France coverage. He was recognised by the Australian Sports Commission for "Most Outstanding Contribution to a Sport by an Individual" at its 2011 awards.[citation needed]
Through SBS he raised cycling's profile in Australia by covering the now defunctCommonwealth Bank Cycle Classicfrom 1992 and, in 1996, the start of theTour de Francein theNetherlands.
He covered every Tour de France for SBS until 2021, and was the network's main anchor of its international cycling coverage: theTour Down Under,theGiro d'Italia,theVuelta a EspañatheTour of CaliforniaandParis–Roubaix.SBS covered the Tour of Flanders live for the first time in 2011. On Sunday afternoons, Tomalaris hostedCycling Central– the only such program dedicated to the sport. SBS received three Logie nominations for "Best Sport Coverage", for its coverage of the Tour de France.[citation needed]
Tomalaris covered the2006 FIFA World Cup[2]and was part of the presentation team for SBS's complementary coverage of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and Beijing Olympics in 2008.
He was a member of the nightly SBS World News team for several years, sharing the duties withCraig Foster.As one of the hosts for the network's coverage of the2010 FIFA World Cup,he covered every FIFA World Cup for the network either as a reporter or presenter, from 1994 until his sacking in 2021.
In July 2011, SBS enjoyed record viewing numbers as a result ofCadel Evansbecoming the first Australian to win the Tour de France.[citation needed]In 2014, SBS was one of four free-to-air television networks in the world to broadcast every stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Tomalaris instigated and supported an annual charity bicycle ride, The Johnny Warren Jamberoo Classic, in honour of his former colleague and Socceroos captainJohnny Warren(1943–2004) to raise funds for Chris O'Brien's Lifehouse at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Tomalaris is a keen cyclist and is patron and member of the Sydney Uni Velo Club.[citation needed]
In 2021, Tomalaris was sacked from SBS. In an interview withThe Sydney Morning Herald,Tomalaris said of his dismissal: "It was a minor mistake and it wasn’t a hanging offence."[3]
References
edit- ^ "cyclingnews - the world centre of cycling".cyclingnews.Retrieved6 April2008.
- ^"Stephanie's journey from soccer mum to the face of World Cup".The Sydney Morning Herald.26 February 2006.
- ^Maddox, Garry (11 November 2021)."Mike Tomalaris says he was an 'emotional wreck' after forced resignation from SBS TV".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved24 December2023.