Track and Field Blogs - Patrick Vesely

2008 Beijing Paralympic

September 6 - 17

LIVE Coverage on Universal Sports

Universal Sports is proud to announce the multiplatform broadcast coverage of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. The groundbreaking U.S. broadcast will premiere September 6th on UniversalSports.com and October 8th on Universal Sports TV, followed by a special presentation of the events on NBC on October 18th.

This time in Beijing, a total of 4,000 athletes from more than 150 countries will be competing in 20 sports. Fans will get the chance to watch American 10-time Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder Erin Popovich dominate once again in women’s swimming. Jeff Glasbrenner and the rest of the U.S. Paralympic Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team will look to win the gold for the first time. Among the many more notable athletes, South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius and swimmer Natalie Du Toit will also compete to capture medals in the 2008 Paralympics.

Sept 6

Opening Ceremonies 8 - 11 a.m

Sept 7

Day 1 – Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m

Day 1 – Swimming - 5-9 a.m.

Sept 8

Day 2 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 2 – Swimming - 5-9:30 a.m.

Sept 9

Day 3 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 3 – Track & Field - 5-9:30 a.m.

Sept 10

Day 4 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 4 – Swimming - 5-8 a.m.

Sept 11

Day 5 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 5 – Swimming - 5-8:30 a.m.

Day 5 – Wheelchair Basketball - 8:30 -10:30 a.m.

Sept 12

Day 6 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 6 – Track & Field - 5-9:30 a.m.

Day 6 - Wheelchair Basketball (only if USA play) - 9:30-11 a.m.

Sept 13

Day 7 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 7 – Track & Field - 5-10 a.m.

Day 7 - Wheelchair Basketball (only if USA play) - 10-11 a.m.

Sept 14

Day 8 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 8 – Track & Field - 5-10:30 a.m.

Day 8 - Wheelchair Basketball (only if USA play) - 10:30 -11:30 a.m.

Sept 15

Day 9 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 9 – Swimming - 5-9 a.m.

Day 9 - Wheelchair Basketball (Championship) - 9:30 -11:30 a.m.

Sept 16

Day 10 - Highlight Shows 1 & 2 - 4 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Day 10 – Wheelchair Rugby (Championship) - 8-10 a.m.

Sept 17 Closing Ceremonies 8-11:30 a.m.

* All events available on-demand same day

TELEVISION COVERAGE: Universal Sports Television Network

October 8 – Beginning of Television Coverage – Check www.UniversalSports.com for exact times

Universal Sports, a joint venture between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic and lifestyle sports programming. Universal Sports delivers an immersive experience via exclusive live and on-demand coverage of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials as well as world-class competitions, interaction with top athletes and in-depth access to sports news and information year round.

Offering over 1,000 live events, with more than 7,000 hours of annual original event programming including an excess of 5,000 hours of archival programming, Universal Sports delivers the content sports fans want whenever, wherever they are. Whether in front of the television, online, on a mobile device or listening to satellite radio, Universal Sports provides fans comprehensive coverage of more than 60 sports disciplines. Currently Universal Sports holds exclusive long-term programming agreements across a number of key International Federations and National Governing Bodies including the International Rowing Federation (FISA), International Swimming Federation (FINA), International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), International Ski Federation (FIS), the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

Major championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports ranges from Track and Field, Skiing, Swimming, Gymnastics and Cycling, to Volleyball, Karate and Taekwondo. Along with event coverage, Universal Sports gives fans a complete value-added content offering, allowing them to interact with their favorite world-class champions, as well as become familiar with up-and-coming athletes through the site’s blogs and interviews. For more information, please visit www.UniversalSports.com.