fromEnglish Grammar Today
Commentaries are reports on events such as a public ceremony or a football match. They are usually spoken while the events are being viewed. We use both the present simple and the present continuous. The present simple is used to make the commentary sound more immediate:
[a football commentary:swings the ballhere means ‘kicks the ball with a high pass’]
Chelsea are a goal down and need to score in the next ten minutes. It’s Terry now,passesto Bridge, Bridgeswingsthe ball over to the left andfindsMalouda.
The present continuous is used to describe actions which are slower:
The presidentisnowmakinghis way towards the palace andis wavingto the crowds.
The two golfersarenowplayingthe final stage of the match.