SKY Italia raises the bid with the Paralympics

Franco Fava
Corriere dello Sport (translated from the original Italian)

Hot on the heels of Olympic coverage success, SKY Italia adds wall-to-wall Paralympic coverage to the line-up

From the small screen to the maxi screens in the squares. After the success of the 100% coverage of Vancouver Winter Games, Sky raises the bid with the Paralympics, that will take place in Canada from March 12 to March 21, taking the Olympic wonders in the heart of Rome and Milan and offering again a total media coverage for the whole nine-day period of the competitions. It will be possible to watch the live broadcasts of the most important competitions on the public maxi screens installed in Rome at Piazza Farnese and in the Galleria Alberto Sordi and in Milan at Piazza del Duomo.

With 280 live hours and 1,200 overall hours distributed among 5 channels (from 206 to 210), this time Sky Sport is also launching the 5-window interactive mosaic that will offer all the possible statistics, including results, number of medals and the profiles of the 36 Italian athletes competing in Vancouver, besides the re-runs of competitions. Moreover on Sky Uno (channel 109), 14 hours of daily programmes dedicated to the event, accessible to all the subscribers. An endeavour without precedents for Olympic sport and with an even historical result as for Paralympics. «It is in our interest to broaden the Olympic offer in view of London 2012: we want Sky to become the house of the Olympic world», explained the head of Sky Sport, Fabio Guadagnini, showing interest also for the great athletics.

The choice not to exercise the exclusive on the rights acquired «is spurring the competition, with Rai that has decided to dedicate as many hours to Winter Paralympics as never before», added Andrea Scrosati, Sky's vice-president.

Luca Pancalli, the president of the Italian Paralympic Committee and Petrucci's deputy within Coni, moved, says thank you. Acknowledging the cultural value (revolution?) which is behind Sky'initiative towards a sport and champions up to now unjustly relegated to the second place. «It is the first time that Italy is able to admire our champions, their efforts, passions without only dwelling on a missing arm or leg: that's the way we can change», explained Pancalli. Medals? «I promised Petrucci not to make comparisons, also because we are competing in 5 disciplines rather than 13 – added Pancalli – But I truly hope to get better results than the Olympic colleagues». Four years ago in Turin Italy won 8 medals, of which two were gold medals, placing itself at number ten in the charts of the medals won.

With Nelson Mandela's slogan, "Sport alone can change the world", Murdoch's satellite network launched the Paralympic schedule showing off great champions and "appointing" Francesca Porcellato as the symbol of the expedition. The outstanding champion, 39 years old from Ca¬stelfranco Veneto, is taking part in her sixth edition of Paralympic Games, the second winter edition. His debut was in Seul where Francesca, who at the time was 22 won important medals in athletics imposing herself in the 100 metres and in the marathon also winning that of New York. In Turin 2006 she did not succeed to step on to the podium for cross-country ski, but she will try it again in Vancouver. Her achievements are also standing out on Alex Del Piero's website. «I was struck by her words on her wheelchair: "The first thing I thought of when I was given it was to make it run as fast as possible"», remembered Juventus's striker linked from Vinovo.

ON TV - On Sky 150 live ours and 5-window interactive mosaic - SKY SPORT

The start will be on Sky Uno (channel 109) with the opening ceremony of the Games in the night between Friday March 12 and Saturday March 13 at 3 a.m. (re-run at 4.30 pm). Always on Sky Uno every day from 5.30 pm to 7 am, there will be the in-depth programme hosted by Giovanni Bruno. 150 live hours, 2 HD channels (channel 206 and 207) and 5-window interactive mosaic that can be reached by pressing the green button of the remote from the 5 channels dedicated to the event (from 206 to 210). Channels 206-207 will broadcast the best of live events. On channels 207-208 re-runs will add to live broadcastings. Channel 209 will report all the news and interviews of the Paralympics. Channel 210 will be dedicated to the most beautiful images and to the protagonists of the Paralympics.

Testimonials: Melania Corradini and Francesca Porcel¬lato (who will be competing in Vancouver in cross-country and alpine ski), apart from Fabrizio Macchi and Gianfranco Martin, former coach of the National Ski team for disabled.
EUROSPORT Also the multimedia platform ((available in 20 languages) leader in Europe as for sports entertainment sector has increased its offer with 15 daily live hours. On Sky, on channel 211 it will be possible to watch the five Paralympic disciplines.
RAI RaiSport will totally cover the event starting from the opening ceremony scheduled for March 12 with live broadcasts from 6.30 pm whereas Rai2 from 2 am.