A & E Network Provides Live Paralympic Coverage

By Joan Leotta

For most of the world, the Winter Olympics ended in February. However, the Olympic flame still burns brightly for thousands of athletes with disabilities hailing from 36 countries at the Winter Paralympics Games, held March 7—16. A & E Television Networks is demonstrating excellence in showcasing athletes with disabilities by offering eight one-hour coverage segments between March 9th and 16th—the most U.S. television coverage ever of the Paralympic Games.

Many have asked, "Why is A&E covering the Paralympics?" The answer is found in the network's mission statement: "We have chosen to contribute our unique resources toward enhancing education for all Americans." By featuring the Winter Paralympics Games, A&E walks the walk, and talks the talk, by reinvesting in a truly inclusive sense of national community that embraces and values people with disabilities.

The Games will be hosted by two of A&E's most well- known personalities, Harry Smith, who hosts the 'Biography' Series, and Joan Lunden, host of 'Behind Closed Doors". Smith and Lunden will share incredible stories of the Paralympics' world-class athletes with a worldwide audience. Mitt Romney, Salt Lake Olympic Committee President and CEO, states "We are very excited to have a powerful television partner like A&E bring such an exhilarating sporting event to the United States. The amount of programming scheduled will allow fans to follow the Paralympic Winter Games as never before." Additionally, 29 of the 36 participating countries have obtained the right air live and pre-recorded Game segments.

Coverage will begin with a segment displaying the pageantry of the opening ceremonies through the eyes of John Davis, gold medallist in alpine skiing at the Lillehammer Paralympic Winter Games in 1994 and the Nagano Paralympic Winter games in 1998. Davis is also a pioneer in the sport of off-road chariot racing, which essentially is mountain biking on three-wheels using one's hands only.

Hugh Arian, producer of the Salt Lake Paralympic Winter Games for Bud Sports Productions on A&E, notes that programs will include several of the athlete's personal stories, segments that the public has come to associate with Olympic television coverage. He adds, "We also plan to do a segment where Joan Lunden will take us "behind closed doors", skiing seated, skating on a sled, and other activities and then sharing with the non-disabled audiences the insight she has gained on what is necessary to perform these feats as an athlete with a disability. Smith, a great hockey fan, plans to take a close look at sled hockey."

A&E's broadcasting commitment includes providing closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. Fans are able to access real-time coverage by visiting the 2002 Paralympics Website. And for the first time, live competition results and in-depth historical results, dating back to the first Paralympic Games in 1976, will be available with the click of a mouse at http://www.paralympics2002.com.

"A&E is extremely excited to showcase on our network the competition and stories from the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Winter Games," said Allen Sabinson, Senior Vice President of Programming for A&E in a recent A&E press release. "Our coverage of the Paralympic Winter Games will include some of the incredible stories behind these world-class athletes striving for gold as they achieve lifetime goals at the pinnacle of their sport." Lloyd D. Ward, United States Olympic Committee (USOC) CEO, also adds, "The USOC is extremely pleased to partner with A&E so that sports fans throughout our country will have an opportunity to watch the world's Paralympians compete in Salt Lake City."

Corporate Sponsors include, Bud Sports Productions, a division of Anheuser-Busch, Inc., who will produce the highlights programs for A&E. The International Sports Broadcasting, LLC (ISB) is the official host broadcaster for the Salt Lake 2002 Paralympic Winter Games. This historical television partnership was negotiated with the help of U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee; the USOC's Entertainment Properties Division and the Copley Entertainment Group. Under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the USOC must authorize any marketing and television rights for the Paralympic Games in the United States.

If you are planning to travel to the Games in Salt Lake City check the website http://www.paralympics2002.com for ticket and accessibility information or call 1-800-Tickets (individual tickets).

Schedule
The following is a list of individuals who will be profiled each day on the telecasts:

March 9: Cross Country skier Anne-Mette Bredhal (Denmark) and Alpine skier Mary Ridell (Dove Creek, CO)
March 10: Alpine skiers Jim Lagerstrom and Greg Mannino, and Team USA Sledge Hockey Captain Joe Howard (Boston, MA)
March 11: Cross Country skier Robert Walsh (Hanover, NH), and Alpine skier Chris Waddell (Park City, Utah)
March 12: Cross Country Skiers Michael Crenshaw (Boulder, CO) and Willie Stewart (Redlands, CA), Alpine skier Muffy Davis (Sun Valley, Idaho), Canadian Ice Sledge Hockey Team
March 13: Cross-Country skier Beth Livingston (Bozeman, Montana)
March 14: Cross Country skier Brian McKeever (Canmore, Alberta, Canada), Alpine skier Sarah Billmeier (Fraser, CO), Alpine skier Jason Lalla (Bradford, NH)
March 15: Alpine skier Sarah Will (Vail, CO), U.S.A. Sledge Hockey Team Member Frances (Kip) St. Germaine (Sagamore, MA)
March 16: Cross-country skier Candace Cable (Truckee, California), Alpine skiers Clay Fox (a Junior at the University of Wyoming) and Monty Meier (Hastings, MN), and the youngest member of the U.S. Ice Sledge Hockey Team Josh Wirt (Brush Valley, PA).