Follow Your Team: Canadian Paralympic Committee Announces London 2012 Paralympic Games Coverage

Opening and Closing Ceremonies and daily highlight shows available across broadcast and digital platforms, including first-ever Paralympic Games with multiple live streams

OTTAWA, July 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Now it will be easier than ever to follow your Canadian Paralympic Team as they strive for gold in London August 29 to September 9, 2012!

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is pleased to announce its broadcast agreement with Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium and its partners to provide Canadian coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games - in addition to the live, up-to-the minute Team Canada results, photos, videos, schedules and news that will be available on www.paralympic.ca every day of the Games.

"We are extremely pleased with the broadcast coverage plan for the London 2012 Paralympic Games," said Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "The Consortium and its partners are providing more hours of coverage in Canada than any other previous Paralympic Summer Games broadcaster. It is important that these performances are available so Canadians across the country can watch and cheer some of Canada's best athletes!"

"We are very happy to share the stories of Paralympic athletes with Canadians during this all-important time for amateur sports," added Adam Ashton, President, Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. "We know the Canadian public will be eager to cheer on Team Canada as they take on the world in London."

Online Streaming
For the first time in history, Canadians can watch live multiple online streams of Paralympic Summer Games throughout the 12 days of competition. Five digital streams will offer a total of 580 hours of live coverage. Three feeds will offer daily uninterrupted coverage of swimming, wheelchair basketball, and athletics, while two additional channels will cover a range of sports and a will show a "best of" coverage from the day. All digital channels can be accessed from CTVParalympics.ca and RDSparalympiques.ca.

In addition to the live streaming, the Consortium's digital coverage also includes a comprehensive video on demand and Paralympic news library available online and via mobile platforms.

Television
Daily highlights will be broadcast from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST showcasing the day's performances, medal winners, athlete interviews and event features. Complete coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also be available on several networks including TSN2, Sportsnet One, RDS, and RDS2. A complete television broadcast schedule will be published in August.

Additionally, two of the features from the Consortium's Difference Makers series will feature Paralympians. Hosted by Rick Hansen (English) and Chantal Petitclerc (French), the series asks elite athletes to reveal inspiring stories of those who made a difference in their lives.

Website and Social Media
Supporting the online streaming and television broadcast initiatives will be athlete biographies, competition updates, results and photos on both Paralympic.ca and CTVParalympics.ca/RDSparalympiques.ca.

In addition, the CPC partnered with the Consortium earlier this year to create its London 2012 Paralympic Games promotional campaign, Super Athletes. The Super Athlete spots are a dramatic and edgy look at some of Canada's best Paralympians in short vignettes identified by the nickname of the featured athlete. Examples include: The Shark, The Heat, The Professor and The Pit Bull. To view the entire library of Super Athlete videos visit www.Paralympic.ca/superathletes.

Canadians can also stay connected through the CPC's Twitter and Facebook accounts @CDNParalympics and facebook.com/CDNParalympics.

The Team Canada Today Newsletter will be produced and available for download on the Canadian Paralympic Committee's website each and every day of the Games. Users can sign up for the newsletter distribution here: http://paralympic.ca/en/London-2012/2012-News.html.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

Follow Your Team:

www.paralympic.ca/london2012

www.facebook.com/CDNParalympics

www.twitter.com/CDNParalympics #London2012 #GoCanadaGo

www.youtube.com/CDNParalympics

SOURCE: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (CPC)

Mark Dottori
Director, Marketing and Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 242
Cell: 613-294-5961
[email protected]

Amy Doary
Communications Manager
Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]