If you happen to be in countries other than the US, I suspect there's a good chance you will be seeing some Paralympic Coverage on your local television channels. However, if you're in the US, you will need to go to YouTube, USParalympics.org, or Paralympic.org. Or if you have cable TV, then NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will air one-hour highlight shows on September 4,5,6 and 11 at 7pm ET.
Finally on September 16, NBC will broadcast a 90-minute special from 2-3:30pm ET.
The London Paralympics run from August 29 - September 9. In London, at the same venues, playing most of the same sports.
While this is more coverage than we expected and more than has ever been provided in the US before, it is still very little when compared to the Able-Bodied Olympics.
USOC Press Release
If you still don't know what I'm talking about, the Paralympics are just like the Olympics, but way more exciting. Consider, if you will...Blind Sprinting or Long Jump, Amputee Soccer, Wheelchair Basketball or Racing, Archery without arms, Swimming without legs or arms. If you haven't seen (or done) these things, then you have no idea what you're missing.
Certainly you have all now considered Amputee Sprinting and are perhaps now reconsidering the idea of a Disabled Athlete. As cyclist, Greta Neimanas recently stated, "We compete to win, not for hugs."
You'll be able to see Oscar Pistorius race again and see how he performs against other amputee sprinters.
For us, we'll be watching Hubba's Training Partner compete in the 5000m, 800m, 400m and Marathon. She already has a gold medal in Basketball from Beijing (#12, white). Her former team mates are going for a 3-peat in Women's Wheelchair Basketball in London this year.
I hope you will take time to catch some of the events that are most interesting to you. If you do, please let me know what you think. Or better yet, let NBC know what you think. :-)
The opening ceremonies start in one week... 21:00 London time, Wednesday, August 29th.
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5 comments:
All good luck to hubbie's training partner!
I am friends with Christina....cool she is going to London in a new event :) Cant wait to watch The Games GO TEAM USA!!!
I'm hoping Australia has some coverage but I'm not convinced they will show much. I'll check out your links. Thanks
FYI - All Things Considered has run a story on the Paralympics for the last two days - yesterday they focused on the history of the games, today they spoke with the U.S. opening ceremony flagbearer.
Just watched the marathon and closing ceremony last night (in Australia on free-to-air government funded TV). I've enjoyed watching loads of different sports and the Australian team did very well, much better than our able-bodied team. The coverage wasn't nearly as much as the Olympic games, but it was on everyday for several hours. Inspiring and amazing athletes.
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