FANS can’t wait for the Paralympic Games to get underway, with more exciting events to watch.
Channel 4 has lined up an incredible team of presenters for Paris 2024, which includes a trio of commentators who are covering the wheelchair rugby events.
As a former Paralympic hero himself, Steve Brown is well equipped to give his take on the wheelchair rugby at Paris 2024.
He is one of three presenters who will be in the commentators’ box to cover these events.
Viewers may recognise Steve from Escape To The Country.
He is also know for appearing on shows like Countryfile, as well as being a roving reporter on shows like Sky Sports’ Game Changers.
Steve was left in a wheelchair after a horrific accident when he was 23.
After a long recovery he went on to join the Great Britain rugby squad before becoming the captain of the team for the Paralympic games in 2012 where they came fifth.
Much like Steve, Jim is also a Paralympics hero and scooped gold in 2020 for wheelchair basketball.
The athlete and commentator was born with a disability called femoral dysplasia.
Jim started out in his sporting career as a swimmer, and progressed on to other Paralympic sports, such as rowing and sitting volleyball.
As well as Tokyo 2020, he also competed in London 2012.
Bringing her rugby expertise to the table is sports presenter Claire Thomas.
The TV star has built up an incredible career and has hosted shows for ITV, 5 Live, TNT, and Sky Sports.
Claire also played rugby herself, having once competed at an international level.
She has now switched to broadcasting and is on the Channel 4 team of commentators at the Paralympics.
Matches are split into four eight-minute quarters.
The aim of the game is to carry the ball over the opponent’s try line, and to stop the opponent from doing the same at the other end of the court.
It’s a high-impact sport, which is why the wheelchairs have a solid frame, an anti-tip device at the rear, and a double bumper.
Players aren’t allowed to grab an opponent with their hands, and excessive contact could cause injury, which leads to sanctions.
The rules of wheelchair rugby were inspired by rugby, basketball, and hockey.
The Paralympic wheelchair rugby events will take place from August 29 until September 2, 2024.
The Paris 2024 Paralympics will be broadcast live on Channel 4 in the UK from August 28, 2024, at 7pm.
The Games are running until September 8, 2024.
US spectators can tune in on either Peacock or NBC Olympics platforms.
Each sport is broken down into subcategories giving athletes the chance to compete on equal terms with those who have a similar impairment.
Here are the events:
