Channel 4 to broadcast best of the action from National Paralympic Day

Channel 4 are to broadcast highlights of National Paralympic Day in Britain on July 26 ©BPA

Channel 4 is broadcast the best of the action from National Paralympic Day in Britain on July 26, it has been announced.

They will show highlights from the day's event, featuring athletics and swimming at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, due to include Paralympic gold medallists Ellie Simmonds and David Weir.

The announcement demonstrates Channel 4’s continued commitment to Para-sport, following their groundbreaking, BAFTA-winning coverage of London 2012 and extensive programming from Sochi 2014, it is claimed.

Simmonds, Ollie Hynd and Jessica-Jane Applegate are among the swimmers due to return to the scene of their triumphs in London 2012 at the Aquatics Centre as they race against a special rest of the world team.

Fans can complete their day out by heading to the former Olympic Stadium to watch Weir, Hannah Cockroft and Richard Whitehead lead the British contingent at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics Grand Prix final brings the curtain down on the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.

Elsewhere on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Channel 4 will give viewers a taste of the atmosphere on National Paralympic Day as they capture members of the public enjoying free access to the Park, meeting Paralympic equestrian gold medallists, including Sophie Christiansen and Natasha Baker, and trying out a whole range of disability sports.

There will also be highlights from the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival, which will be presenting a line-up of deaf and disabled artists, musicians and performers in a range of performances which showcase British talent.

In addition to the highlights package that will be broadcast in the week following National Paralympic Day, live coverage of the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games will be shown on the afternoon of Sunday July 26.

Britain's National Paralympic Day gives everyone the opportunity to try out new sports, including powerlifting ©BPA

“National Paralympic Day will be a wonderful celebration and a day of sport featuring some of the world’s finest Paralympians, now household names after their heroic performances in London 2012. The centrepiece is a world class swimming event in the iconic Aquatics Centre and Channel 4 will be packaging the very best of the action from the day for sports fans," Stephen Lyle, Channel 4's commissioning editor for sport, said.

National Paralympic Day is supported by Spirit of 2012, a trust established by the Big Lottery Fund to recreate the spirit that radiated from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics.

“I’m delighted that Channel 4 will be broadcasting highlights from National Paralympic Day to homes across the country," said Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association.

"The event has continued to grow in scale, and with a dedicated highlights programme Channel 4 will expand the reach of our celebrations and help more people to feel part of it.

“The British public were such fantastic supporters of Paralympic sport during London 2012 and this coverage provides another opportunity for people to engage with and celebrate the Paralympics with just over a year to go to Rio 2016.”

In addition to the event on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, there will be three regional events taking place on Saturday (July 25) in cities across Britain, and local sports clubs across the country can also get involved in celebrations by hosting their own event, whether that be a come and try session, a cake sale, or a Paralympic quiz.

For more information on National Paralympic Day click here.