Invictus Games 2018: guide
Your guide to ABC TV programming of the Invictus Games 2018.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Programming, Top Stories
The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will take place at Sydney Olympic Park and on and around Sydney Harbour, from Saturday, 20th October – Saturday, 27th October and broadcast on ABC.
500 competitors who are wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel will take part in 11 adaptive sports: archery, athletics, indoor rowing, a driving challenge, powerlifting, road cycling, sailing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. The Games will also feature wheelchair tennis and a golf event for competitors and their families and friends.
The Games will be streamed live on ABC iview and on the ABC TV and iview social channels.
Key events:
- Opening Ceremony, Saturday 20 October 7.30pm.
- Invictus Games (daily highlights) Daily at 5.00pm from Sunday 21 October
- Invictus Games Today Sunday 21 October 7.40pm + Weeknights 8pm
- Closing Ceremony Saturday 27 October 7.30pm
ABC / iview
Australian Story
Monday 15 October 8pm
Australian Story presents the remarkable story of Special Forces Sniper Team Commander and Invictus Games competitor, Garry Robinson, who survived a Blackhawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010 in which a number of his friends were killed. This special episode follows his recovery, including the crucial role played by his family.
Fighting Spirit: Wheeling Diggers’ Invictus Games Dream
Tuesday 16 October 8.30pm
Fighting Spirit – Wheeling Diggers’ Invictus Games Dream follows the formation of the Australian Defence Force wheelchair rugby team, as they strive to wear the green and gold at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. Once again, these wounded warriors will put their bodies on the line in service of their country. Only this time, the battlefield is a stadium court, their armour of choice is a combat wheelchair and their enemy are amongst some of the most inspirational soldiers in the world. This story begins on day one of selections, 25 serving members and veterans from all over Australia gather in Sydney to stake their claim for one of 11 Australian jerseys up for grabs in the Wheeling Diggers’ wheelchair rugby team. The selection criteria is unlike any other sporting event, competitors are selected not just on performance but how the experience will benefit their ongoing recovery and rehabilitation.
Without Limits
Thursday 18 & 25 October 8.30pm
To celebrate the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, with the support of its patron HRH the Duke of Sussex, a team of Australian and British wounded veterans take on an epic 1000-km journey across Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region, in this two-part documentary. Starting in Broome, the wounded veterans set off along the rugged Gibb River Road in adapted 4x4s, bonding on the road and in bush camps, and pushing themselves on a grueling trek through the remote Wunnamurra Gorge. As they pull together they begin to share intimate stories of their injuries and discuss the difficulties and issues they face having left the Services. The trip is led by former Parachute Regiment officer, Martin Hewitt. Martin was shot in Afghanistan in 2007, subsequently lost the use of his right arm. In 2011 he joined HRH The Duke of Sussex and a team of British wounded veterans on an unsupported trek to the North Pole, as filmed in the BBC’s Harry’s Arctic Heroes. Before they depart for Australia, Martin arranges for the British veterans to meet with HRH The Duke of Sussex, who was seconded to the Australian Army in 2015 and spent time with NORFORCE in the Kimberley.
Invictus Games Sydney 2018 – Opening Ceremony
Saturday 20 October 7.30pm
Broadcast live from the forecourt of the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Opening Ceremony will celebrate the power of the human spirit by sharing personal stories of recovery, endurance, rehabilitation and overcoming adversity from the many rich and diverse cultures that make up the Invictus family. The ceremony will see the competitors, their families and friends welcomed, and the Games opened by its patron, HRH, The Duke of Sussex. The opening ceremony will be MC’ed by ABC’s Kumi Taguchi and Nate Byrne; ABC TV’s coverage of the opening ceremony will be anchored by Chris Bath, with co-host Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann and Dylan Alcott, with Curtis McGrath as military expert commentator.
Invictus Games Sydney 2018
Daily at 5.00pm from Sunday 21 October
Each night Amanda Shalala and Niav Owens will present a one-hour wrap up of the day’s competition from Sydney’s Olympic Park. Service men and woman from around the world will compete over eight days in a series of sporting disciplines and each night between 5-6PM we’ll see highlights of the sports as well as hear from some of the competitors who’ve taken the field of play that day.
You Can’t Ask That: Invictus Games
Daily at 6.50pm from Sunday 21 October
You Can’t Ask That, a proudly homegrown, award- winning ABC original format, puts misunderstood and marginalised Australians front and centre. During the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, ABC and ABC iview will screen a series of six You Can’t Ask That – Invictus Games mini-episodes featuring former and current members of the Australian Invictus Games team in this unique program. You Can’t Ask That – Invictus Games asks the hard questions and allows the competitors to answer in their own words with conviction, candour and humour.
Invictus Games Today
Sunday 21 October 7.40pm + Weeknights 8pm
Invictus Games Today will be a lively half hour entertainment program hosted by Chris Bath with co-host Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann, Dylan Alcott from triple j and former Invictus Games competitor Damien Thomlinson, as well as a rotating team of current Invictus Games Sydney 2018 competitors, military personnel, mental health professionals and sports experts, and some surprise familiar faces. Invictus Games Today will be broadcast live out of the Invictus Games precinct at Sydney Olympic Park. Invictus Games Today will capture – and help create – the spirit of the Games, delivering a nightly news segment, a roundup of results and achievements, plus features on the competitors and the family members and friends who support them. The program will be broadcast on ABC’s main television channel, on ABC iview and on ABC’s international television channel ABC Australia, throughout Asian and the Pacific.
Catalyst – Bionic Revolution
Tuesday 23 October 8.30pm
Catalyst presents a remarkable story about the inspiring topic of “bionic humans’. Dr Nikki Stamp meets three Australians whose lives are transformed by artificial body parts, and scientists whose cutting- edge work merging biology with technology reveal a world on the cusp of a bionic revolution. In country Victoria, a young girl is about to get her first artificial hand. In Melbourne, a woman is about to have an advanced cochlear ear switched on, and on the Gold Coast, a Paralympian is about to trial new bionic feet.
Gardening Australia
Friday 26 October 7:30pm
Gardening Australia presents the remarkable and inspiring story of former member of the Australian Army Special Air Service Regiment (SAS), Peter Rudland and how his love of gardening helped to rebuild his life. After 28 years in the military Peter Rudland retired with his young family to a large, lush property on the NSW/Queensland border. Peter survived a horrific helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010 that claimed the lives of three of his comrades and injured eight others. His injuries were extreme, but he’s been able to rebuild his body and life through a combination of sport and a love of plants. A member of the Australian team for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, he hopes to repeat his gold medal performance on the recumbent bike at last year’s Toronto Games and add to it a medal in the wheelchair rugby.
Invictus Games Sydney 2018 – Closing Ceremony
Saturday 27 October 7.30pm
The closing ceremony will be a celebration of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, broadcast from Sydney Olympic Park. ABC’s coverage will be anchored by Chris Bath with co-host Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann and Dylan Alcott, with Curtis McGrath as military expert and commentator. Grammy-nominated artist Aloe Blacc will perform as will Australian alternative rock band Birds of Tokyo, along with other performers to be announced soon.
ABC KIDS
Play School: Move Your Body
Daily at 9.00am from Monday 22 October
This Invictus Games-inspired series explores how important wellbeing is to good physical health. In this special series of Play School – Move Your Body, children can discover a range of physical activities that help build confidence and learn about various aids to physical movement, from wheelchairs to bikes! Children can explore all the different ways they can move their bodies. From specialised swimming, horse riding, dancing and soccer programs to a playground that caters to all age groups and abilities!
Giggle & Hoot
Monday October 22
Jimmy Giggle and the Owl Pals are super excited for the Gigglus Games – the most hootastic event in the Land of Giggle and Hoot! Hootogadget is especially excited and loves helping with her big wing! When Hootogadget was a mini owl she hatched from her egg with one little wing and one big wing. Hootogadget’s little wing doesn’t stop her from completing her missions, rainbow sliding, helping everyone do their 5 Steps to Bed and doing anything! Sometimes she just does things in her own way.
iview
Saturday 20th October
7.30pm -9pm, Opening Ceremony, Sydney Opera House
Sunday 21st October
9.30am – 12.30pm Road cycling time trial 11.30am – 4.50pm Sailing
1.30pm – 6pm Road cycling criterium (bike race)
Monday 22nd October
9am – 1.30pm Indoor rowing
4.30pm – 8.30pm Sitting volleyball (pool play 3)
Tuesday 23rd October
9.30am – 12pm Swimming heats
1.30pm – 6.15pm Powerlifting (session 1) 2pm – 4pm Sitting volleyball semi-finals 5.30pm – 9pm Sitting volleyball medal finals
Wednesday 24th October
9am – 12.30pm Powerlifting (session 2)
9am – 12.15pm Wheelchair rugby (pool play 1) 1.15pm – 4.25pm Wheelchair rugby (pool play 2) 1.30pm – 6.30pm Powerlifting (session 3)
5pm – 10pm Swimming finals
6.30pm – 9.40pm Wheelchair rugby (pool play 3)
Thursday 25th October
9am – 5.05pm Athletics (session 1)
2.30pm – 4.10pm Wheelchair rugby semi-finals
5.30pm – 8.55pm Wheelchair rugby celebrity match and medal finals
Friday 26th October
9am – 11.35am Wheelchair basketball (pool play 1) 10am – 3.05 pm Athletics (session 2)
1pm – 3.35pm Wheelchair basketball (pool play 2) 5pm – 9.05pm – Athletics (session 3)
5pm – 8.30pm Wheelchair basketball (pool play 3)
Saturday 27th October
9.30am – 11.40am Wheelchair basketball semi-finals 1pm – 3.40pm Wheelchair basketball medal finals 7.30pm – 9pm Closing ceremony, Sydney Olympic Park
For rolling coverage of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 follow ABC TV + iview on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.