Feature Writer Alena Roberts – NBC Steps Up and Decides to Give Air Time to the Paralympics
Now that the Olympics have ended, some may think that the excitement is over, but not yet. Every time there is an Olympics there is also a Paralympics. This year’s competition starts on August 29th, and for the first time, those of us who won’t be in London to enjoy the games will have more coverage on TV and online than ever before.
The Paralympics started in 1960 in Rome and has been a tradition ever since. Athletes who participate in the games are grouped into five categories, including: athletes with visual impairments, athletes with physical disabilities, and athletes with cerebral palsy. Some of the sports events that will be included in this year’s games are Goalball, Judo, Wheelchair Basketball, swimming, and cycling.
There will be a number of options for viewers to see coverage. The first is the US Paralympics YouTube channel which can be found at: www.YouTube.com/USParalympics. This site will feature daily highlights throughout the games as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
The second option will be the NBC Sports Network coverage. Four one hour specials will air on the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 11th of September. There will also be a 90 minute special after the conclusion of the games.
The third and final option will provide the most coverage. Paralympic.org has announced that it will have 580 hours of live Paralympics coverage on their website. There will also be over 1,000 hours of recorded coverage posted to the website.
To see the full details on how you can watch the Paralympics, visit this link: http://www2.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/August/14/USOC-announces-expanded-coverage-for-London-2012-Paralympic-Games.aspx
I hope that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the Paralympics this year and hopefully this is a sign that someday these games will receive the same amount of attention as the Olympics.