Jonathan Mayne engages in this unusual occupation at Olympic Games, World Cups, International Regattas, in fact, anywhere and everywhere.
Mark Tronson asked Jonathan Mayne how he first came to be invited to be an Olympic canoe and rowing commentator for the 1984 Los Angeles Games; an event which established his international career.
Jonathan explained that his wife Jenny challenged him to write to the 10 Network (who had won the Australian rights to cover the LA Olympics), but he tossed the suggestion aside, responding that they wouldn't select someone like him.
Jenny remarked that that the 10 Network will never select him as commentator if he never writes the letter, so that spurred him on. He explained in the letter what terrific canoe and rowing teams Australia had, and therefore a specialist commentator was required.
He cited his commentating experience and that he himself had been Australian champion numerous times, and surprise, surprise, Jonathan Mayne got the job!
Mark Tronson then enquired what happened in Los Angeles and the answer had nothing to do with commentating.
Jonathan was getting on a Greyhound bus for the trip to the Olympic accommodation and a young lady grabbed his 10 Network lapel to ask who he was and he sat down beside her. Her name was Esther and she explained that she lived in Toronto Canada and was an Assyrian and was looking for a husband based on Scriptural grounds.
Jonathan Mayne responded that with a name like Esther and being Assyrian she must be straight out of the Old Testament and to his utter surprise this young lady pulled from her handbag a Bible and explained to him from the Scriptures how Jesus had transformed her life.
He didn't bargain for that experience, and began questioning his own life. By the time he got off the bus, his quandary was that he thought that he should have been the happy one, having achieved his aim of being an Olympic television commentator.
But instead he was miserable way deep inside and this young lady had what he wanted: a peace that passes understanding.
In the motel room he began reading the Gideon Bible (in the top drawer) and read the Old Testament book of Ruth three times before turning to the New Testament. This followed further encounters with Christian people and he asked Jesus Christ to forgive him his sins, and for Jesus Christ to became His Lord and Saviour. He became a follower of Jesus.
The changes this bought Jonathan Mayne in his life were astonishing. He had repented. He was washed clean. He had a new world view, his focus changed and began to see everything in a different light.
His career progressed from Los Angeles and has since been commentating all over the globe. In 2009 alone, he's been to Miami, Prague, Penang, Hong Kong, Macau …
Mark Tronson sought from Jonathan Mayne a message for young people.
"I've been Australian champion many times, been to the Olympics, travelled the world, even got taken to a church service in an aeroplane once. Being a Christian is never boring. If you know deep in your heart that God loves you and you're forgiven, it brings with it a whole new world in that God loves you just as you are.
"This is casting yourself and your sin upon Jesus. Imagine that the Grand Creator loves you, personally. He forgives sin. Coming to Jesus creates a whole new person and a whole new mind. Young people, it's there but for the asking," Jonathan Mayne responded.
This Australian Missionary News IPTV interview of Jonathan Mayne can be viewed
tv.bushorchestra.com or www.safeworlds.net