It was described yesterday as the biggest announcement ever in the history of Paralympics Ireland.  Setanta Ireland with the support of Allianz will be showing up to ten hours coverage daily from the London 2012 Paralympic Games, much of it live and with a specific focus on Ireland’s team of 40 athletes.
The coverage will be on a freeview basis through Sky, UPC and Eircom, reaching a potential audience in 1.3 million homes.
This will place Ireland among the top ten nations in the world for coverage of the event.  Deals were also announced yesterday for coverage through the European Broadcasting Union, in China, Australia, Japan and Italy
Mark Rohan, Orla Barry, Padraic Moran, Eimear Breathnach and Darragh McDonald are five of those hoping to bring home medals that were present at yesterday’s launch.  Interviewed by Paul Dempsey of Setanta, Rohan highlighted the fact that the Irish Cycling team had gone from one bike at the Athens games in 2004 to five in Beijing and seven this year.  He is expected to feature strongly in the hand cycling event.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the achievements of the Irish team into the homes of so many people,” said Breathnach who competes in table tennis, “including our own friends, family and supporters who cannot make it to the games.
Liam Harbison CEO of Paralympics Ireland and Chef de Mission for the Irish team is delighted with the extra coverage.  “This is a momentous announcement for Irish Paralympic sport.  The Irish Team are on the cusp of great success at London 2012 and we’re thrilled that the support of Setanta and Allianz will allow the Irish public to view, admire and be inspired by the achievements of Ireland’s elite Paralympians.  Paralympic sport at the top level is exciting, gripping and ferociously competitive – we look forward to Setanta bringing this to Irish sports fans.”
Friday’s Main News Stories
Paralympics secures 10 hours a day of free to air coverage
RSA extends Irish Cricket Support
Punchestown keeps show on the road
Fan the Flame for Special Olympics
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