Paris 2024 set for record Paralympic
Paris 2024 will be the first Paralympics in history where the world’s eight billion people have the opportunity to watch the Games, according to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), with record audiences expected to enjoy the event.
Over the next 12 days, a record of more than 225 Media Rights Holder broadcasters, web streamers, digital, social and audio platforms will cover the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Many will offer more coverage than ever before, taking full advantage of more than 1,450 hours of live coverage that will be produced by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
For the first time in Games history, there will be live coverage from all 22 sports. This is an increase on the 19 sports shown during Tokyo 2020 and means live coverage for the first time for Para badminton, Para powerlifting and shooting Para sport.
As part of the IPC’s aim to deliver the broadest global coverage possible and engage a younger audience in Paralympic sport, truly innovative partnerships have been created with YouTube and TikTok to ensure widespread live and short-form content coverage.
As a result, the IPC expects Paris 2024 to surpass the cumulative audience of 4.1 billion people that tuned in for the Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
John Laski, Managing Director of IPC Global Media Rights, said: “We fully expect Paris 2024 will shatter every Paralympic Games broadcasting record there is – record number of rights holders, more hours of live coverage than ever before, and all 22 sports live for the first time in history.
“Our ambition for Paris 2024 has been for every person on this planet to have the opportunity to watch the Paralympic Games. The combination of a record number of rights holders, plus the welcome addition of YouTube and TikTok covering the event, ensures this ambition will become a reality whether that be through traditional TV, streaming, social platforms, digital content or radio.
“The driving force behind the increased coverage of and interest in the Paralympic Games is the quality of the sport and the performances of the athletes. Paralympic sport has never been better, more attractive or more competitive and we are confident that Paris 2024 will set new benchmarks for the quality of Para sport.”
Record-breaking European coverage
In the host country of the Games, France Televisions will provide continuous 24 hours a day coverage of Paris 2024, with a mixture of 300 hours of live and on-demand coverage.
UK broadcaster Channel 4 is planning its biggest ever broadcast with more than 1,300 hours of live sport airing for free across several platforms. All content will be broadcast with subtitles, live peak time sport on Channel 4 will have closed audio description, while live sport on More4 and Channel 4 Streaming on weekday afternoons will include BSL live signing.
Europe-wide, there will be more exposure than ever before. IPC agency partner IN front will provide several thousand hours of coverage in a record 46 European countries, including markets where the Games weren’t previously available: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Lithuania and Malta.
IN Front Productions will once again create European-focused multi-feeds and tailored digital content allowing broadcasters to engage with their local audiences in a more meaningful way.
Leading free-to-air channels such as ARD/ZDF in Germany, RAI in Italy, NOS in the Netherlands, NRK in Norway and SRG in Switzerland will provide extensive coverage across their linear and digital channels.
