Paralympics 2016: When does it start, what time is it on TV, which channel and when is the opening ceremony?

Everything you need to know about the Paralympic Games

Callum Hosier
Monday 05 September 2016 15:41 BST
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Sarah Storey remains Britain's most successful ever Paralympian
Sarah Storey remains Britain's most successful ever Paralympian (Getty)

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With the Olympic Games barely a distant memory, the Paralympics is ready to take centre stage in Rio de Janeiro with 11 days of competition pitting the best disabled athletes in the world against one another.

Many of the same venues will be used for the Rio Paralympics as were made available for the Olympic Games, and it will be screened live throughout the event including both the opening and closing ceremonies.

Team GB will hope to continue its summer of success and better the 34 gold medals won in London 2012, with over 270 athletes flying to Brazil for the Paralympic Games.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

When is it?

The Paralympics starts on Thursday 8 September and will finish on Sunday 18 September.

Where can I watch it?

The Paralympics will be broadcasted live on Channel 4, BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra.

What time will it start?

The Opening Ceremony begins from 21:00 on Wednesday 7 September, with a number of British hopefuls scheduled to appear in the TV studio set-up in Rio’s Maracana Stadium.

The Paralympics opening ceremony takes place at the Maracana Stadium
The Paralympics opening ceremony takes place at the Maracana Stadium (Getty)

Live coverage of the Paralympic Games action will broadcast from 13:00 on Thursday 8 September on Channel 4.

Which GB athletes should I look out for?

Dame Sarah Storey has been named in Team GB for her seventh Paralympic Games, having featured as a swimmer at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 before switching to cycling for Beijing 2008, and she won four gold medals at London 2012. The 38-year-old will hope to add to her British record haul of 22 Paralympic medals.

Lee Pearson will be aiming to add to his collection of 10 gold medals in the equestrian, while Sophie Christiansen will be defending the three titles she won at London 2012.

Ellie Simmonds leads Britain's campaign in the swimming pool (Getty)
Ellie Simmonds leads Britain's campaign in the swimming pool (Getty) (GETTY IMAGES)

Swimmer Ellie Simmonds tops a list of seven athletes competing in the pool in Rio who won gold at London 2012.

David Weir, Richard Whitehead, Aled Davies and Hannah Cockroft all won gold in the athletics in London and have been named in the British Paralympic team for Rio.

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