The Superhumans return to Channel 4

Wed,15 July 2015
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The Superhumans return to Channel 4 in the build up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Channel 4 will broadcast a host of major Para sports events this year as part of the build up to its coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympics next summer.

Coverage will include more than 30 hours of live events and highlights on TV and online between July and October, building upon the success of its broadcasts of the BAFTA winning London 2012 Paralympic Games and the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.

Programming will feature the very best Para sport athletes competing at the IPC Swimming World Championships; Anniversary Games IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final; National Paralympic Day 2015; Para Tri, the UK’s first mass-participation disability sport event; and the IPC Athletics World Championships from Doha.

Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Sport, Stephen Lyle, said: “With just over a year to go, the countdown to the next Paralympic Games has begun and these are some of the last major tournaments before the athletes take centre stage in Rio.”

“These competitions will give viewers an opportunity to re-acquaint themselves with the GB icons and international stars from the unforgettable London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

“Our coverage will also reaffirm Channel 4’s commitment to changing public perceptions of disability and disability sport.  Furthermore, these events will also be a great chance for our new disability production trainees to fine tune their skills before heading off to cover the big one in Rio.”

Channel 4’s coverage begins on 18th and 25th July with the IPC Swimming World Championships from Glasgow where more than 580 athletes from nearly 70 countries will compete. Presented by Rachael Latham with commentary from Giles Long, there will be two highlights shows on Channel 4 and daily live streaming of all sessions.

On 26th July Ade Adepitan and Jonathan Edwards will present three hours’ live athletics coverage when GB athletes including Richard Whitehead, David Weir and Hannah Cockroft and other international stars return to The Stadium in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final

This will be followed by a one-hour highlights show on 2nd  August marking National Paralympic Day featuring world class swimming from the Aquatics Centre where Ellie Simmonds is among the GB swimmers in action, as well as highlights of the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park . The show will be presented by Rachael Latham with analysis from Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Liz Johnson.

In September Channel 4 will also show highlights of the UK’s first-ever mass-participation disability event, Para Tri, being held at Dorney Lake, Windsor on 9th August. Illustrating the far-reaching effect of London 2012, Para Tri focuses on grass-roots participation, with races for both first-timers and elites. The one-hour show will include coverage of the elite race and the six mass-participation triathlons. Notable participants will include Paralympians David Weir, Sophie Christiansen, Stefanie Reid and Pete Hull.

And from 22nd to 31st October More4 will show live action each day from the IPC Athletics World Championships from Doha, Qatar where more than 1,000 athletes from around 90 countries will compete. There will also be daily live streaming of all sessions from the event - one of the last major competitions before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Ends

For further details contact Marion Bentley or Tim English at tenglish@channel4.co.uk or mbentley@channel.co.uk or call 020 7306 6984

Notes to Editors

As part of its 360° Diversity Charter Channel 4 has committed to ensuring that 10 per cent of its c. 300 strong production team for the Rio Paralympics will be people with disabilities. Twenty-four trainees with disabilities at entry level are being recruited as well as six assistant producer/producers roles at mid-level, with bespoke career development planning.