Channel 4 to screen major upcoming athletics events

BAFTA winners to screen World Championships, Grand Prix Final and Anniversary Games 21 May 2013
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David Weir - London 2012

David Weir from Great Britain takes gold in the men's 5000m T54 and comes for more on Day 5.

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“Channel 4’s BAFTA award winning coverage of the 2012 Games brought Paralympic sport to a whole new audience in the UK and had a positive impact on attitudes towards disability sport. I’m delighted that we’re continuing the story with live coverage of the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix and Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.”

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed it is to show coverage of June’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final in Birmingham and July’s Anniversary Games in London.

The BAFTA winning channel will screen terrestrial coverage of the first ever Sainsbury’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final from Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on 29 June - the first time the world’s leading athletes and British favourites Hannah Cockroft, Jonnie Peacock, David Weir and Richard Whitehead will compete in the UK since last summer’s Paralympic Games.

Channel 4 will also broadcast live from the third day of the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, the Sainsbury’s International Para Challenge where the world’s best athletes will return to London to compete for their countries in front of a capacity sold-out crowd.

The broadcaster, who earlier this year secured the rights to televise the 2014 and 2016 Paralympic Games, will also be televising this summer’s IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France.

Following its coverage of last year’s Paralympic Games, Channel 4 continues to receive critical acclaim. As well as winning the ‘Best Sport and Live Event’ award at the recent BAFTAs, Channel 4’s coverage broke viewing records for Paralympic sport – with coverage reaching almost 40 million people – three quarters of the UK population.

Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4’s Sports Editor said: “Channel 4’s BAFTA award winning coverage of the 2012 Games brought Paralympic sport to a whole new audience in the UK and had a positive impact on attitudes towards disability sport. I’m delighted that we’re continuing the story with live coverage of the Sainsbury’s Grand Prix and Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.”

British Athletics’ Commercial Director and Paralympian Sophia Warner said: “The 2012 Paralympic coverage marked a watershed moment for the sport. Channel 4 superbly showcased British Athletics’ Paralympians, and helped create some of the Britain’s biggest and brightest new sports stars.

“Major brands are now recognising that these athletes have a unique appeal to the British public”

Channel 4’s coverage of athletics this summer includes the following events:

Sainsbury’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final – Birmingham (29 June)

Sainsbury’s International Para Challenge (28 July)

The IPC Athletics World Championships, Lyon, France 19-28 July

Tickets for Sainsbury’s Grand Prix – Birmingham (29-30 June) are available via the British Athletics website –www.britishathletics.org.uk

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