ABC: 2012 Paralympic Games

ABC has announced its broadcast plans for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, starting from August 30th.

Adam Hills, Stephanie Brantz & Heath Francis will commentate the Opening and Closing Ceremonies *Live. There will be *Live coverage hosted by Karen Tighe each morning, plus highlights in early evenings.

Interestingly, Lawrence Mooney, Adam Zwar and Sam Pang will join Stephanie Brantz for a whopping 4 hour evening coverage on ABC2.

It ends on September 10th.

*All Live coverage is East Coast only.

To mark the 50 day countdown to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, ABC TV today revealed its comprehensive broadcast team, and exclusive coverage schedule beginning August 30.

Featuring over 100 hours of coverage, ABC1 and ABC2 will capture all the inspiring highlights from the 11 days of competition, including the spectacular Opening Ceremony (August 30) and Closing Ceremony (Sept 10) starring British band, Coldplay. Both ceremonies will be hosted on ABC1 by Adam Hills and sports presenter, Stephanie Brantz.

ABC1 will then kick off the broadcast with live Games coverage every morning – hosted by Karen Tighe, and then return each night to Stephanie Brantz for her Nightly Highlights show.

Joining Tighe and Brantz throughout the coverage will be an array of ABC sports reporters including Amanda Shalala, Clint Wheeldon, Gerry Collins (swimming), Peter Wilkins (cycling and wheelchair rugby), Quentin Hull (athletics), Peter Walsh (wheelchair basketball) and Darren Boyd.

Also providing special expert commentary will be former Australian Paralympians – Troy Sachs (wheelchair basketball), Heath Francis (athletics), Amy Winters (athletics) and Katrina Webb (athletics).

ABC2 will then carry on all the excitement of the day’s competition with a nightly Evening Show hosted by Stephanie Brantz, and entertainers Lawrence Mooney, Adam Zwar and Sam Pang. Each day the ABC2 broadcast team will be joined in their Olympic Park studio by Australian Paralympians who will discuss all the action and competition, and take a look at the lighter side of Paralympic sport.

Opening Ceremony – ABC1
Thursday, August 30 at 5:20am AEST
Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, Adam Hills and Beijing Triple Gold medallist, Heath Francis.

Daily Highlights on ABC1
Thursday, August 30 to Monday, September 10
4am to 8:30am AEST – ABC1 Morning Show. Hosted by Karen Tighe
6pm to 7pm AEST – ABC1 Nightly Highlights Show. Hosted by Stephanie Brantz.

Daily Highlights on ABC2
Thursday, August 30 to Sunday, September 9
7pm to 11pm AEST – ABC2 Evening Show. Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, Lawrence Mooney, Adam Zwar and Sam Pang.

Closing Ceremony – ABC1
Monday, September 10 at 5:20am AEST
Hosted by Stephanie Brantz, Adam Hills and Beijing Triple Gold medallist, Heath Francis.