Coverage of the Beijing Winter Paralympics begins on Friday, March 4, live and free on Seven and 7Plus.
Kicking off the festivities is the Opening Ceremony from 11.00 pm AEDT at Beijing’s Bird Nest Stadium, which played host to the recent Winter Olympics, as well as the 2008 summer games.
Johanna Griggs will host Seven’s Paralympics coverage, while 7NEWS’ Matt Carmichael will take Australians into the heart of all the action live from Beijing.
Australia is sending a team of nine to compete, including six alpine skiers, two sighted guides and one snowboarder. Leading the team into the stadium will be alpine skiers, Mitchell Gourley and Melissa Perrine.
Gourley said of the honour: “It’s really special. You don’t set out with the goal to be a flagbearer, you set out to be the fastest skier you can be. That’s always been my goal and been Mel’s goal too – to lead by example and push the envelope in terms of what we can do, how professional we can be and how far we can push the sport.
“These kinds of things are lovely when they happen and I think the enormity of it will probably hit on the day. I think the enormity of these whole Games and wrapping up such a big period of my life is all kind of hitting me at the moment,” he added.
Seven West Media chief revenue officer and director of Olympics, Kurt Burnette, said: “The Paralympic Winter Games is among sport’s greatest events, and we can’t wait to bring fans all the unmissable action over the next 12 days as Australia competes against the very best in the world.
“We are extremely proud to be the Home of the Paralympics across the screens of Seven, and we will once again deliver an exciting, inspiring and unforgettable two weeks of winter action with nine incredible Aussie athletes ready to give it their all for a Paralympic medal.
“Seven’s exclusive coverage of the Winter Olympics reached 12.5 million people and attracted new and younger audiences to Seven. This helped secure Seven’s biggest ratings survey year start since 2018, and we look forward to introducing even more viewers to the incredible Paralympic Winter Games.”
More than 700 will be in Beijing for the 13th edition of the Games, excluding athletes from Russia and Belarus – a recent decision made by the International Paralympic Committee over the invasion of Ukraine.
The Opening Ceremony 13th Paralympic Winter Games can be watched live on Channel 7, 7mate, 7TWO and 7Plus.
Sydney 11.00 pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 11.00 pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 10.00 pm LIVE on 7mate
Adelaide 11.00 pm LIVE on 7mate
Perth 8.00 pm LIVE on 7TWO