Lee PEARSON (GBR) riding STYLETTA in the grade II during the FEI Para Dressage Championships at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Centre, near Tryon North Carolina in the USA between 11th-23rd September 2018
Channel 4 is planning full coverage of the para dressage events from the Tokyo Games, the broadcaster confirmed to H&H on 24 August. This comes as welcome news for UK fans seeking information on how to watch the Tokyo Paralympic dressage.
It will be showing the equestrian competition “in its entirety” on its dedicated Paralympic live-stream, while coverage of British riders’ tests is named among the main channel’s scheduled highlights.
The Tokyo Paralympic Games is tipped to break viewing records, with an estimated cumulative global TV audience of 4.25 billion people.
Channel 4 is the official UK broadcaster for the Paralympics and has announced it will be showing more than 300 hours “around the clock coverage” on its main channel and More 4, plus more than 1,000 hours on 16 livestreams on paralympics.channel4.com.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) crunched the numbers to reach the 4.25 billion estimate, which it puts down to a combination of more broadcasters, increased coverage levels and more live sport “than any previous Games”.
“With more live sport available to broadcasters than ever before, I am confident we will break all viewing records for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” said Alexis Schaefer, IPC commercial, partnerships and broadcasting director.
“The role of broadcasters in screening the Games has never been more important given there are no international spectators and limited domestic crowds. But the increase in the number of broadcasters and their levels of coverage is testament to the appeal of the Paralympic Games and the elite sporting performances of Para athletes.”
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Live coverage in the UK kicks off with tonight’s opening ceremony 7pm-10.10pm (11am-3.10pm BST) on Channel 4.
Channel 4 announced its “most ambitious ever Paralympic coverage plans”, with more than 1,300 hours of around the clock coverage on the main channel, More 4 and its dedicated online Paralympic streaming platform.
As well as sporting action, its coverage also includes a daily breakfast show, afternoon and evening highlight and round-up programmes Tokyo Today and Gold Rush, plus the return of award-winning comedy series The Last Leg on each night of the Games.
It has pledged to show more accessible content than it ever has before, with subtitles available on 100% of Channel 4 and More 4 coverage, and on 500 hours of streamed content.
How to watch Tokyo Paralympic dressage
This page will be updated with more information as and when we receive it
Tokyo Paralympic dressage schedule: what’s on when
Wednesday, 25 August
First horse inspection: 9am-11am (1am-3am BST)
Thursday, 26 August
Individual: grades II, IV and V, 4pm-10.50pm (8am-2.50pm)
Medal ceremony: 11pm-11.30pm (3pm-3.30pm BST)
Friday, 27 August
Individual: grades I and III, 4pm-10.15pm (8am-2.15pm BST)
Medal ceremony: 10.25pm-10.45pm (2.25pm-2.45pm BST)
Saturday, 28 August
Team: grades II, I and III, 5pm-10pm (9am-1pm BST)
Sunday, 29 August
Team: grades V and IV, 6pm-8.20pm (10am-12.20pm)
Team medal ceremony, 8.30pm-8.45pm (12.30-12.45pm)
Monday, 30 August
Second horse inspection: 9am-10am (1am-2am)
Freestyle: all grades, 4pm-10.05pm (8am-2.05pm)
Medal ceremony: 10.15pm-11.15pm (2.15pm-3.15pm)
See the full Tokyo Paralympic dressage schedule here, including details of what is happening on each day of competition plus when British and Irish combinations will be in action
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
