This year represents the third consecutive Paralympic Winter Games that will be covered by ABC TV, who will provide live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on March 8, starting at 3:00am (AEDST) along with daily half-hour highlights programmes on ABC1 at 10.30am and nightly repeats at 6pm on the same channel.

ABC will also provide live streaming of all Alpine skiing events along with selected cross-country, biathlon and ice sledge hockey events on its Grandstand website, as well making all daily highlights packages available to watch on iView.

ABC's broadcast will be presented by Amanda Shalala and Darren Boyd, as well as special guests from the Australian Paralympic Movement.

"We are pleased to again have the ABC as our broadcast partner as we work to bring the Paralympic Winter Games to all Australians," said Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) President Glenn Tasker.

"Much like the Winter Olympics, the Paralympic Winter Games appeal to the athlete and daredevil in all of us and we look forward to Australians tuning in to continue their interest in Sochi and of course, support our Paralympic team.

"The ABC has a deep connection with the Paralympic Movement, having covered a number of Paralympics now including the very successful coverage of the London 2012 Games.

"We are very excited by what the ABC is offering in terms of their Sochi coverage, and we are confident the ABC team in Russia will deliver an outstanding product to give Australians watching at home a great viewer experience."

Alpine skier Jessica Gallagher will be among the main medal hopes for Australia at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images



Australia will send nine athletes and two guides to Sochi, where they will be looking to improve on their 16th place finish on the medal table at Vancouver 2010.

Among them will be snowboarder Ben Tudhope, 14, who will become the youngest ever athlete to represent Australia in Sochi and he will be joined by Alpine skiers Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Jessica Gallagher, who claimed bronze medals last time out.

Commenting on the broadcast deal with ABC TV, APC chief executive Jason Hellwig said: "We're excited to again have Amanda and Darren bring the Paralympic Games to Australians.

"We saw them on the London 2012 coverage, they have a strong affiliation with the Paralympic Games and together with members of our team and our Movement will bring great expertise and commentary for the viewers back in Australia.

"A key strategic goal for the APC is to increase media coverage of the Paralympic Games and Australia's Paralympians over the next four years and we are pleased to again be working with the ABC to share the performances of our Winter team with everyone at home."

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