The Paralympics are back. Three years after the COVID-induced weirdness in Tokyo, Paris 2024 is set to showcase the Paralympics as it’s supposed to be: loud, energetic and full of spectacle. NBC is again providing television coverage in the U.S., and it continues to devote more resources and broadcast hours to the games. In all, NBC will host more than 1,500 hours of live coverage.
“As support for the Paralympics continues to soar, we are growing our coverage to match the American viewer’s interest and passion. We’ll have more commentators on the ground, more cameras at the venues, and more hours to watch than ever before,” says Molly Solomon, the president of NBC Olympic Production.
In years past, the quality of the network’s commitment could be measured by how many live TV broadcast hours it was devoting. This year, NBC will be showing a significant number of events live and on tape-delay on NBC, USA Network and CNBC — but the real gold medal experience is on its streaming platform, Peacock. If you want to be able to see full events of your choice — get the app. Peacock will be airing every Paralympic event live and you can watch full event replays on demand. Plans start at $7.99 a month with no long-term commitment.
In addition, YouTube has partnered with the International Paralympic Committee to provide 1,440 hours of live coverage of all 22 Paralympic events. The coverage will be free and available in 175 different countries. YouTube and the IPC will also be providing multiview coverage of events, a documentary series that follows 12 Paralympic athletes, and daily clips and highlights from the Paris games. “In terms of coverage, Paris 2024 will be the most accessible Paralympic Games in history,” says Mike Peters, the chief executive officer of the IPC.
With every event at your fingertips, the question is no longer “What can I watch?” Now it’s, “What do I want to watch?” Read on for our recommendations.
Wheelchair Rugby
When: Aug. 29 — Sept. 02
Why: It’s the best. (Editor’s note: The author, a wheelchair rugby player, is highly biased.) Hard hits combined with high-level strategy and high-intensity action make for a spectator-friendly sport. Team USA is a perennial medal favorite behind Chuck Aoki, who has become one of the faces of the Paralympic Games. But the Americans haven’t won gold since 2008, and the 2024 competition is more wide open than it’s ever been. Australia, Japan, Great Britain, host-nation France and USA all have squads that could vie for the top of the podium.
Handcycling
When: Sept. 4-7
Why: It’s fast and fun. Riders who have previewed the Paris road race course — which traverses tight urban streets, a forest section, a significant climb and a short cobble-stone section — call it one of the best they’ve ever seen. Keep an eye out for Team USA athletes Oksana Masters (H5) and Kate Brim (H2) to vie for gold in their classifications. In the H4 classification, Dutch handcyclist Jennette Jansen looks to defend for Tokyo road race gold at age 56, some 36 years after she made her Paralympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Games.
Wheelchair Basketball
When: Aug. 29 — Sept. 8
Why: American exceptionalism. The Team USA men’s and women’s squads are two of the most successful programs in wheelchair basketball history and both feature a mix of veteran leadership combined with young talent that could put them atop the podium. The men are looking to make Paris a gold medal three-peat, while the women are coming off a bronze at the Tokyo games. If both come out on top, it will make Team USA four for four in Olympic and Paralympic basketball gold at the Paris games.
Swimming
When: Aug. 29 — Sept. 7
Why: There’s no better showcase of the cornucopia of disabilities present at the Paralympics. Spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, short stature, visual impairments, limb difference — they’re all present in Paralympic swimming, and people with different types of disability are often racing side by side. It makes for wild competition and a fascinating lesson in the myriad ways a body can propel itself through water.
Boccia
When: Aug. 29 — Sept. 5
Why: Like table tennis and badminton, Boccia one of those backyard games that’s familiar enough to give you thoughts that you might be able to compete. But then you watch Paralympic-level competition, and the athletes are so good, it looks like a completely different sport. Whereas a lot of the Paralympics are dominated by athletes with the most physical function, Boccia is one of the few events where power wheelchair users can really shine.
Goalball
When: Aug. 29 — Sept. 5
Why: In an unscientific sampling of wheelchair users, goalball is near the top of the Paralympic watchability list. Goalball features visually-impaired athletes flinging a heavy ball embedded with bells back and forth at each other. The opposing team throws their bodies across the volley-ball-style court to prevent the ball from going into their net. It’s just the right mix of skill, power and spectacle to make you start yelling at your TV. Team USA women have the most successful Goalball program in history and are coming off a silver medal in Tokyo.
Track and Field
When: Aug. 30 — Sept. 8
Why: Peacock. Sure, any television coverage of the Paralympics is going to include track events, and that’s where Team USA stars like Tatyana McFadden and Daniel Romanchuck are going to be battling for gold. But with Peacock’s all-event coverage, you can now check out equally enthralling field events like shot put and discus and javelin. Do you have any idea how far a wheelchair user can chuck a 16 pound metal ball while strapped into a tall seat? Me neither, but I’m about to find out.
Photos courtesy of OIS Photos.
Support New MobilityWait! Before you wander off to other parts of the internet, please consider supporting New Mobility. For more than three decades, New Mobility has published groundbreaking content for active wheelchair users. We share practical advice from wheelchair users across the country, review life-changing technology and demand equity in healthcare, travel and all facets of life. But none of this is cheap, easy or profitable. Your support helps us give wheelchair users the resources to build a fulfilling life. |