With the Tokyo Olympic Games providing the nation with a welcome respite from the Covid-19 news cycle, it’s time for the Paralympics to welcome the world back to Tokyo.
Like the Olympic Games, Seven will be the official broadcaster of the Paralympics.
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony will air on Seven and 7plus at 9:15pm AEST on Tuesday, August 24, kicking off another 12 days of competition. The Closing Ceremony will be at 9pm AEST on Sunday, September 5.
Olympic Stadium, which hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, will also be the site of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.
Kurt Fearnley and Annabelle Williams will anchor Seven’s Olympic Ceremony coverage, alongside Johanna Griggs.
Kurt Fearnley
One of Australia’s greatest sporting stars, Kurt has had a glittering wheelchair racing career, winning 13 medals, including three Gold, across five Paralympic Games in events ranging from the 100m relay to the marathon. This will be the first Paralympic Games since his retirement in 2018.
Annabelle Williams
During her swimming career, Annabelle captained the Australian Paralympic swim team, broke five world records and won numerous medals for Australia, including gold at the Paralympic Games London 2012. Her achievements out of the pool are just as impressive, as an accomplished sports broadcaster, international speaker and former corporate lawyer.
Johanna Griggs
Johanna represented Australia in swimming at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990, winning bronze in the 100m backstroke, before she went on to become a well known television personality on Australian screens. Johanna has been part of Seven’s coverage of almost all major sporting events, including the past six Olympic Games, tennis and horse racing, as well as hosting Better Homes and Gardens and House Rules.
Paralympics 2021 Sports
There will be 22 sports contested in the 2021 Paralympic Games, with two new additions for this year: badminton and taekwondo.
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Boccia
Canoe Sprint
Cycling Road
Cycling Track
Equestrian
Football 5-a-side
Goalball
Judo
Powerlifting
Rowing
Shooting
Sitting Volleyball
Swimming
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Triathlon
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Fencing
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Tennis
Australians to Watch
Curtis McGrath
Taking up canoeing after losing both his legs in Afghanistan, McGrath took Australia’s first gold medal in Para-canoe at the 2016 Paralympic Games.
Jaryd Clifford
A vision imparied runner, Clifford was the first Paralympian to compete at the able-bodied U20 World Championships in 2018, and earned his spot as dual world champion and world record holder in the men’s 1500m T13 at the 2019 World Para-athletics Championships.
Erik Horrie
Horrie is an accomplished wheelchair basketballer, but – not content with only one sport – is representing the country in rowing. The five-time world champion is one of the most successful Australian para-rowers ever, and is chasing his first gold after earning silver at London and Rio.
Dylan Alcott
One of Australia’s most recognisable Paralympians, Alcott has won six consecutive Australian Open titles and is working towards a Golden Slam (all four majors and the Olympics) after he won the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon this year.
Ellie Cole
Training with Cate and Bronte Campbell, Cole currently holds a record-breaking 15 Paralympic medals. She won six of those across six events in Rio, and is off to defend her titles in Tokyo.
Madison de Rozario
Chasing gold after winning three silver medals in Rio, de Rozario is racing in four wheelchair events this year. Taking on the 800m up to the marathon, she has been training under wheelchair racer and Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame inductee Louise Sauvage.
Lina Lei
By the time she was only 15, Lei was a world para-table tennis champion in both singles and teams. Playing for her native China, she has already earned five Paralympic medals. After Rio, Lei came to Australia, and she will represent us for the first time at Tokyo.
Wheelchair Rugby
The Steelers – Australia’s wheelchair Rugby team – are chasing their third straight gold in the sport also sometimes called “murderball”.