NBC Sports to air more than 10 hours of coverage of the 2016 Paralympic Games, with nightly programming beginning at 7pm ET from Monday, August 24th on the Olympic Channel.
The programming will feature highlights from the 2016 Paralympic Games, where over 4,000 athletes from 159 countries competed, including 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, five-time Paralympic gold medallist Brad Snyder, two-time Paralympic medallist Chuck Aoki and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Roderick Townsend.
Mike Tirico and Ahmed Fareed will co-host coverage of the 2016 Paralympic Games Presented by Toyota on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.
The enhanced broadcasts will feature athlete interviews, including swimmer and triathlete Brad Snyder, triathlete Melissa Stockwell, track & field athlete Roderick Townsend, wheelchair basketball player Steve Serio and alpine skier Chris Young.
Marking one year out from when the Tokyo Paralympics will commence, eight-time Paralympic medallist Oksana Masters will appear on NBC News’ TODAY on Monday, August 24, to look ahead to next year’s Games.
In addition, 13-time Paralympic gold medallist Jessica Long and two-time Paralympic medallist Hunter Woodhall will participate in TikTok Lives in partnership with Team USA on Monday.
Monday 26th August
2016 Rio Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony (7pm ET): A 3.5-hour presentation of the Opening Ceremony held at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a special occasion that marked the beginning of the first Paralympic Games to take place in Latin America.
Tuesday 27th August
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball (7pm ET): After winning consecutive gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics, the United States finished fourth in London. In Rio, the U.S. went undefeated after beating defending Paralympic gold medallists Germany in the final. Becca Murray led the way for the U.S. throughout the tournament and contributed a game-high 33 points in the gold medal game.
Best of Swimming (8:30pm ET): In the pool in Rio, the U.S. won a total of 37 medals, including 14 gold medals. Brad Snyder won four medals, three of which were gold, and broke a 30-year-old world record in the men’s S11 100m freestyle.
The broadcast will feature insight from Snyder on his performance in Rio as well as why he chose to transition to triathlon in 2018.
Men’s Wheelchair Basketball (9:30pm ET): The U.S. men’s team ended a 28-year gold medal drought when they defeated Spain in the final to cap off an undefeated tournament. The U.S. outscored their opponents by a margin of 614 to 349 in Rio. It was the first time that Team USA won gold medals in both the women’s and men’s tournaments since 1988.
Co-captain Steve Serio will join the broadcast and discuss the 2016 Paralympics and look ahead to next summer’s Tokyo Paralympics.
Wednesday 28th August
Women’s Sitting Volleyball (7pm ET): On the penultimate night of competition, the U.S. and China faced off in the women’s sitting volleyball gold medal match for the third straight Games. After finishing runner-up in the first two match-ups, the U.S. won the team’s first-ever gold medal in Rio. Captain Heather Erickson was named tournament MVP.
Best of Track & Field (8pm ET): The only sport held on all 11 days of the 2016 Games, the U.S. team was led by Tatyana McFadden, who won six medals, including four gold medals.
During the broadcast, Ahmed Fareed will talk with Roderick Townsend, who won gold medals in the long jump and high jump in Rio.
Wheelchair Rugby (9pm ET): The U.S. wheelchair rugby team clashed with Australia in the gold medal match. Led by Chuck Aoki, the U.S. narrowly lost to Australia in a thrilling double-overtime match-up to earn the silver medal.