Sport Article

Paralympic Games Protected

by Mark James on
Paralympic Games Protected - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

The Government has confirmed that the summer and winter Paralympic Games have been added to the 'crown jewels' list of protected sports events. This ensures the Games will remain available for free-to-air television broadcasters in the future, reaching the widest possible audience, and not go behind a pay-wall.

Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association said:

The Paralympic Games is the most inspirational sporting event in the world and London 2012 clearly demonstrated the British public's passion for watching our incredible athletes represent ParalympicsGB.

We have been advocating for some time that the Paralympics Games should be treated in the same way as the Olympic Games and always be available on free to air television for the nation to enjoy. As we build towards Tokyo 2020 we are delighted this has now been added to the list of sporting 'crown jewels' as it marks a significant moment for a nation that is proud to be the home of Paralympic sport.

Paralympic Games

The Games, which were founded at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1948, have become the biggest global event in disability sport, and now enjoy record levels of media coverage and interest.

During the Athens 2004 Games, 10.6 million people watched at least 15 consecutive minutes of coverage. By Rio 2016, this had reached 31.6 million people - an increase of almost 200%. At London 2012, Channel 4 dedicated 500 hours of broadcast time across its platforms, with this increasing to 700 hours for Rio 2016.

The addition of the Paralympic Games marks a major step forward in improving the inclusivity of listed events. By delivering parity with the Olympic Games, it underlines the Government's commitment to improving the visibility of disability sports.

One of the Highlights

Ahead of the announcement Sports Minister Nigel Adams visited the English Institute of Sport High Performance Centre in Sheffield, where he met members of Team GB's Para Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball teams as preparations increase ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Nigel Adams said:

The Paralympic Games is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, as the country comes together to support our world-class Paralympic athletes. So it is only right that the event is available on free-to-air television for all to enjoy.

Adding the Games to the crown-jewels list of major sporting events guarantees it the platform it deserves every four years that will help inspire the sporting stars of the future.

I am proud that the UK is the birthplace of the Paralympic movement which has done so much in shifting attitudes and raising awareness on disability.

Paralympic Champion Baroness Grey-Thompson said:

Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, said:

Anyone who watched Ellie Simmonds exciting the crowds on her way to gold in London couldn't fail to see how inspirational the Paralympic movement has been and will continue to be. That's why it is so important that Paralympic sports are broadcast in homes across the nation, to convey the message that no-one should be held back because of their background.

Whether that's playing a sport they see championed on TV or pursuing their chosen career, our priority is to build a more inclusive society for disabled people. Which is why we are working on a national strategy for disabled people, building on the vital work that is underway.

The announcement on 24 January (2020), marks the first change to the listed events regime in more than twenty years. It follows a consultation process with the BBC, S4C, Ofcom and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and with Channel 4 as the current rights holder for the Paralympic Games, that includes Tokyo 2020 later this year.

It will see the Paralympic Games made a 'Group A event'. This ensures the event is given the same status as the Olympic Games, men's football World Cup, FA Cup Final, Grand National and Wimbledon finals.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has also consulted on adding the women's equivalents of men's events already on the list. The consultation has now closed and a final decision on any changes relating to this will be made in due course.

On the sporting outlook for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the start of a new decade, Nigel Adams added:

We know that memorable sporting performances have the power to bring the nation together and inspire greater participation. But as we all witnessed with London 2012, we also put on brilliant, unforgettable sporting events. The men's Cricket World Cup and women's Netball World Cup were just two of the incredible championships the UK hosted in 2019 alone.

As we embark on a new decade, this will continue with a busy roster of major sports events we have committed to delivering over the next few years, including UEFA Euro 2020, the UEFA Women's Euros and Rugby League World Cup in 2021, and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. These events will deliver jobs, inbound tourism, hotel bookings and much more - providing economic benefits to people across the country, and pumping hundreds of millions into our economy.

As we made clear in our election manifesto, we are determined to continue bringing the biggest and best sporting events to the UK over the next decade. These can only help to inspire participation and enhance the UK's global reputation.