Ron Maclean Leaves Beijing

Ron MacLean is leaving his post as the main anchor for CBC's coverage of the Beijing Olympics following the death of his mother from pancreatic cancer on Wednesday night.

After signing off from Wednesday's edition of the Olympic Prime broadcast, MacLean was to return to his home in Oakville, Ont., to be with his family.

MacLean, 48, will stay in Canada for the remainder of the Games, which conclude Sunday.

"I'm probably in that bubble of denial that you get in when you're involved in television, but the truth of the matter is I gave her all I had all my life so there's no harm in not having been there for the final moments," MacLean said near the end of Wednesday's broadcast.

Scott Russell will take over hosting duties for Olympic Prime (6 p.m. to midnight ET), while Diana Swain will go solo on Olympic Morning (6 a.m. to noon ET). Ian Hanomansing will continue to host Pacific Prime (midnight to 3 a.m. ET).

"The ship's on its way, it's got a comfortable lead, and nobody better to steer [than Russell]," said MacLean.