Gethin Jones has hinted he wants another sporting role after spending two weeks away from Morning Live. The Welsh host, who presents BBC’s Morning Live with Helen Skelton, has spent the last two weeks at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Team Wales’ chef de mission. As chef de mission, he was responsible for leading and supporting the Welsh delegation, acting as the public face of the team and representing Wales at official Commonwealth Games events.
Preparation and Emotional Investment
Jones had returned to university to prepare for the role, which he called a “dream come true”, and got a Master’s degree in Sports Directorship. The 48-year-old has now said he hopes his “really special” experience in Glasgow won’t be his last job in the world of sport.
“I spent the last two years investing so much time and effort into getting to know these athletes. I set up a separate social media account and followed 115 and more before selection [to follow] their day-to-day lives and see the sacrifices, determination, the setbacks, the comebacks,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
Emotional Impact and Future Hopes
Discussing the emotional impact of the role, he went on: "When I was watching them this week, I was really feeling it. I was feeling every punch, every stroke in the pool, whatever it might be, because I knew what they'd done to get there."
Elite sport is so marginal, it could go in so many different ways, good and bad. There's more failure than success too, and it's about being there for a disappointment as much as celebrating the highs of the success too. It's phenomenal.
Months of planning come to fruition as around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competed across 16 sports over 10 days in Glasgow. Wales won 31 medals, including nine gold, at the Games.
Jones, who returned home on Tuesday, said: "I hope tomorrow is not my last involvement with Welsh sport. I've learnt loads and hopefully feel like an offer a bit more in the future."
Background and Romance Speculation
The former Blue Peter presenter was also part of Team Wales at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, where he served as team attache.
Jones’ absence from Morning Live came after his co-host Skelton was once again forced to shut down speculation that the pair were dating, insisting the pair are “just best friends”. The pair have repeatedly found herself at the centre of romance speculation after they were photographed together outside the BBC studio last year.
The rumours intensified after the pair appeared side by side on the red carpet at ITV’s Pride of Britain Awards in October and later at a Royal Television Society event in Manchester.
Addressing the rumours with The Times, Skelton denied that they were dating. “We're not,” the TV star said. “We work together; he's one of my best friends.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant admitted the rumours have become so widespread that even people close to her have been fooled. “I've had my best friend congratulate me on our engagement,” she revealed.
