Paris 2024 Paralympic Watch Guide

The Paralympics are back. Three years after the COVID-induced strangeness of Tokyo, Paris 2024 is gearing up to showcase the Paralympics as they were meant to be: loud, energetic and full of spectacle. NBC is once again providing television coverage in the U.S. and continuing to devote more resources and broadcast hours to the games. In total, NBC will host more than 1,500 hours of live coverage.

“As support for the Paralympic Games continues to grow, we are expanding our coverage to match the interest and passion of American viewers. We will have more commentators on the ground, more cameras at the venues and more hours to watch than ever before,” said Molly Solomon, President, NBC Olympic Production.

In years past, the quality of a network’s engagement could be measured by the number of hours of live broadcast it devoted to television. This year, NBC will air a significant amount of live and delayed events on NBC, USA Network and CNBC, but the true gold medal experience is on its streaming platform. PeacockIf you want to be able to watch full events of your choice, get the app. Peacock will live stream all Paralympic events and you’ll be able to watch full replays of events on demand. Plans start at $7.99 per month with no long-term commitment.

In addition, YouTube has partnered with the International Paralympic Committee to offer 1,440 hours of live coverage of all 22 Paralympic events. The coverage will be free and available in 175 different countries. YouTube and the IPC will also offer multi-view coverage of the events, a documentary series following 12 Paralympic athletes and daily clips and highlights from the Paris Games. “In terms of coverage, Paris 2024 will be the most accessible Paralympic Games ever,” said Mike Peters, IPC CEO.

With all the events at your fingertips, the question is no longer “What can I see?” It’s now “What do I want to see?” Read on for our recommendations.

Wheelchair rugby

When: August 29 – September 2

Because: It’s the best. (Editor’s note: The author, a wheelchair rugby player, is very biased.) The hard hitting combined with high-level strategy and high-intensity action make for an enjoyable spectator sport. Team USA is a perennial medal favorite behind Chuck Aoki, who has become one of the faces of the Paralympics. But Americans haven’t won gold since 2008, and the 2024 competition is more open than ever. Australia, Japan, Great Britain, host country France and the United States all have teams that could compete for the top spot on the podium.

Hand cycling

When:From September 4th to 7th

Because:It’s fast and fun. Cyclists who have previewed the Paris road race course, which runs through narrow urban streets, a forest section, a significant climb and a short cobblestone section, call it one of the best they’ve ever seen. Look out for Team USA athletes Oksana Masters (H5) and Kate Brim (H2) who will be vying for gold in their classifications. In the H4 classification, Dutch handcyclist Jennette Jansen is looking to defend Tokyo road race gold at age 56, some 36 years after she made her Paralympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Wheelchair basketball

When: August 29 – September 8

Because:American exceptionalism. Team USA’s men’s and women’s teams are two of the most successful programs in wheelchair basketball history, and both feature a combination of veteran leadership combined with young talent that could put them at the top of the podium. The men are looking to make Paris a three-peat of gold medals, while the women are coming off a bronze at the Tokyo Games. If both are victorious, Team USA will make it four of four Olympic and Paralympic basketball golds at the Paris Games.

Swim

When: August 29 – September 7

BecauseThere is no better display of the cornucopia of disabilities present at the Paralympic Games. Spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, short stature, visual impairments, limb differences – they are all present in Paralympic swimming, and people with different types of disabilities often compete side by side. It’s a brutal competition and a fascinating lesson in the myriad ways a body can propel itself through the water.

Boccia

When: August 29 – September 5

Because:Like table tennis and badminton, boccia is one of those backyard games that’s familiar enough to make you think you could compete. But then you watch Paralympic-level competition and the athletes are so good it seems like a completely different sport. While many of the Paralympic Games are dominated by athletes with the greatest physical ability, boccia is one of the few events where power wheelchair users can really shine.

Goalball

When: August 29 – September 5

Because:In an unscientific sample of wheelchair users, goalball is near the top of the list of most-watched Paralympic sports. Goalball involves visually impaired athletes tossing a heavy ball with bells embedded in it back and forth. The opposing team throws their body across the court volleyball-style to keep the ball from going into their net. It’s the perfect combination of skill, power and spectacle to make you start screaming at your TV. The U.S. women’s team has the most successful goalball program in history and is coming off a silver medal in Tokyo.

Athletics

When:August 30 – September 8

Because: Peacock. Of course, any Paralympic TV coverage will include track events, and that’s where Team USA stars like Tatyana McFadden and Daniel Romanchuck will be battling it out for gold. But with Peacock’s all-event coverage, you can now watch equally riveting field events like the shot put, discus, and javelin. Do you have any idea how far a person in a wheelchair can throw a 16-pound metal ball while strapped into a high chair? Me neither, but I’m about to find out.

Photos courtesy of OIS photos.