Channel 4 Outlines Paralympic Coverage

Channel 4 has outlined its plans for the most extensive coverage of the Paralympic Games that has ever been broadcast in the UK, with more than 150 hours of all-day coverage to be broadcast during the twelve days of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. 

Multiple channels and platforms will broadcast live sport on Channel 4, More4 and online at Channel4.com. 

In addition, Channel 4 will broadcast three further streams of uninterrupted coverage of a range of sports at the Paralympic Games on three dedicated channels on the Sky platform, in both standard and high definition – as well as online at Channel4.com.

Channel 4 has also announced the launch of dedicated Paralympics apps for both mobile and tablet devices – compatible with iOS and Android.  

The apps, which will be free to download, will enable users to review the latest Paralympic action with comprehensive catch up clips of events. 

Half of the presenters and reporters in the Channel 4 line-up will be disabled – including eight new faces drawn from a nationwide talent search, with Channel 4 confirming the on-air pairings that will front the all-day everyday coverage.

• That Paralympic Show host, Rick Edwards, will present the breakfast show with Daraine Mulvihill, who was discovered in Channel 4’s disabled presenting talent search.

• Former Olympian, Jonathan Edwards, will be joined by Kelly Cates, who brings her extensive sports broadcasting experience to the mid-morning coverage. Another talent search success, Arthur Williams, will present the afternoon action with seasoned sports presenter Georgie Bingham. 

• Former Paralympian and Channel 4 regular, Ade Adepitan, joins leading broadcaster, Clare Balding, to host Channel 4’s daily peak time coverage. The acclaimed Australian comedian and broadcaster, Adam Hills, will wrap up all the events of the day in a highlights show with a difference.

• Established Channel 4 news anchor, Jon Snow, will front the coverage of both the Opening and Closing ceremonies.

The presenting team will be joined by reporters discovered during Channel 4’s search for disabled talent in 2010; including former Paralympic swimmer Rachael Latham, sports reporter and wheelchair basketball player Jordan Jarret-Bryan, former carpenter Martin Dougan, researcher Liam Holt, sports journalist Alex Brooker, equestrian expert and sports broadcaster Diana Man.  

The reporting team will also include renowned broadcasters such as Sonja McLaughlan, Ned Boulting and Adam Darke.

Channel 4’s coverage in the lead up to the games includes the fourth series of the popular That Paralympic Show which, since launching in 2010 has had over 30 episodes aired on the channel.

Meanwhile, Channel 4 launched its revolutionary new graphical classification system it hopes will aid the viewing experience of this summer’s Paralympic Games.

‘Lexi Decoder’ (LEXI) will attempt to explain classification in Paralympic sport, with the aim of enabling viewers to better understand what they are watching.

LEXI is formed of colour coded graphics that illustrate disability types within sporting classes.

The classification system forms the structure for all Paralympic competition, separating athletes with similar levels of impairments into groups or classes, so they can compete in fair and equal competitions against one another.

The LEXI concept was originally created by Paralympic gold medal winning athlete, Giles Long, and Channel 4 has worked closely with him, as well as in consultation with the International Paralympic Committee, to develop a system that will be used across several sports during the Games this summer.

LEXI is made up of graphics which broadly illustrate disability types within sporting classes, with the type and level of impairment illustrated through the use of a colour palette – green denotes no impairment through to red denoting a severe impairment. 

And on a day of announcements for the broadcaster, Channel 4 also unveiled the latest installation on the ‘Big 4’ outside the corporation’s Horseferry Road headquarters – the design of which celebrates Channel 4’s involvement and commitment to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The installation, Monument to the Unintended Performer, has been created by disabled sculptor and artist Tony Heaton.  

The piece brings together three elements in addition to the Big 4: the first based on the classical Greek sculpture Discobulus, the discus thrower, evoking the spirit of the Olympics; the second element, a circle, representing the wheel of the international symbol of access; and lastly, the introduction of gold, silver and bronze considers hierarchy.