Journalist, announcer and television presenter Léo Batista died this Sunday (19), aged 92. The confirmation was made by TV Globo, the broadcaster where he worked for 55 years.
Known for his striking voice linked to sports broadcasts, Batista had been hospitalized since the 6th at the Rios D’Or hospital, in Freguesia, west of Rio de Janeiro. He was facing pancreatic cancer.
Career
Born on July 22, 1932 in Cordeirópolis, in the interior of São Paulo, he was baptized as João Baptista Belinaso Neto. He began his career as a journalist, announcer and presenter in 1947. Throughout his professional career, he considered it appropriate to change his name to Léo Batista.
He worked at radio stations in Birigui, Campinas (SP), and at Difusora de Piracicaba (SP) before moving to Rio de Janeiro, in January 1952, to work at Globo radio as an announcer and news writer.
Despite being closely associated with sports journalism, one of the most striking news stories read by Léo Batista is part of Brazil’s political history. On August 24, 1954, it reported the suicide of President Getulio Vargas.
In November 1963, it also reported the assassination of American President John F. Kennedy.
After working at Globo radio, he worked at the now-defunct TV Rio, where he was in charge of Telejornal Pirelli for more than 13 years. He also had a brief stint on the former TV Excelsior, before arriving at TV Globo in 1969.
On the Rio channel, he participated in the main news programs and sports programs of the house, as an announcer and presenter. He created paintings and became one of the broadcaster’s best-known faces and voices.
Léo Batista’s last appearance on television was on December 26th, on the afternoon sports program. “Léo Batista worked with what he liked until practically the last days of his life,” said TV Globo in a statement.
Repercussion
“The biggest reference for all sports journalists in Brazil. Each goal with his narration was more exciting. A voice that echoed subtly in our ears,” he told Brazil Agency the announcer and commentator Rodrigo Campos, from TV Brasilbroadcaster of Brazilian Communication Company (EBC).
“We got used to hearing Léo Batista’s voice”, comments radio host Waldir Luiz, from National Radiobroadcaster of EBC.
“Léo Batista, without a doubt, was an icon of sports journalism. A person who has been in the profession for 70 years has to be respected, revered, applauded and loved by all of us who participate in the sports chronicle”, he said.
Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, a team that Léo Batista supported, published on social media a tribute to the speakerwho he called the owner of a remarkable and timeless voice, as well as “a milestone in the history of journalism, sport and Botafogo”.
“A declared fan and member since 1992, Léo has always extolled the Club’s name and gained an additional space in black and white hearts. In our house, the [estádio] Nilton Santos, saw the TV booth being named after him and was applauded by thousands of Botafoguenses in beautiful tributes. A relationship of love, recognition and loyalty”, writes the publication.
