The London 2012 Paralympic Games burst into life with several British medal hopes in action on the opening day of competition.
Cyclist Sarah Storey kicks off the action as she goes for the first of four possible golds in the individual C5 pursuit, and European champion Ben Quilter is one of Britain’s best hopes of a judo gold.
Already a seven-time Paralympic gold medallist in both swimming and cycling, and having broken 70 world records as a professional athlete, the imperious Sarah Storey (above) goes for the first of four possible golds at these Games.
She competes in the individual C5 pursuit (1631 BST), an event in which she is the world champion and defending Paralympic champion.
Over at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Di Coates could have the honour of being Britain’s first medallist at the 2012 Paralympics in the shooting.
The 58-year-old is one of the senior members of the ParalympicsGB team, and goes for her fourth shooting gold in her eighth Paralympics in the R2 10m air rifle standing (12.00pm).
Cyclist Darren Kenny will hope to kick off a goldrush at the Velodrome when he defends his C3 1km time trial title (2.00pm), with team-mates Rik Waddon, Mark Colbourne and Shaun McKeown also in contention.
Swimming, along with the Athletics, will provide the bulk of each evening’s Paralympic entertainment, and there are plenty of medal hopes in the pool on day one, including Jonathan Fox hoping to upgrade his Beijing silver for gold in the S7 100m backstroke (6.52pm) and two-time gold medallist Nyree Kindred in the women’s S6 100m back (5.38pm).
Susie Rodgers made quite a splash on her international swimming debut, taking five golds at the 2011 European Championships, and she goes up against American sensation Mallory Weggemann – who has broken 16 world records since 2008 – in the 100m backstroke S7 (7.00pm).
In Judo, men’s -66kg world and European champion Ben Quilter (1758 BST) is one of Britain’s best hopes of a judo gold (5.58pm).
Also today, Britain begin their quest for gold in the men’s wheelchair basketball with a clash against Germany, the team they beat to land European Championship gold in 2011.
After two successive bronze medals in Athens and Beijing, can Britain go one, or even two, better?
Britain’s women’s Wheelchair Basketball team also make their Paralympic bow against the Netherlands (1.00pm).
Table tennis world number 2 Will Bayley opens his gold campaign against Yuttana Namsaga at 5.20pm.
Plus, 20-year-old powerlifter Zoe Newson is the European record holder and could threaten the more experienced campaigners in the women’s 40kg category.
You can follow all the action from the first day of full competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games on Channel 4. Details below:
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The first Paralympic Games Breakfast Show comes live from the Olympic Stadium, featuring interviews with judoka Ben Quilter, swimmers Jonathan Fox and Nyree Kindred, and cyclist Sarah Storey.
There is a preview of this morning’s opening action, which will include track cycling, wheelchair basketball and swimming, and the first of the Paralympic History films, charting the evolution of the Games. Plus, a look back at the opening ceremony and the live Paralympic roadshow from Glasgow.
9.15am-1.00pm – PARALYMPIC GAMES 2012 Presenters: Jonathan Edwards & Daraine Mulvihill Swimming, Track Cycling, Judo, Archery, Shooting, EquestrianLive coverage of the opening events of the Games, featuring swimming, cycling, judo, archery and shooting.
The swimming gets under way at the Aquatics Centre with Nyree Kindred and Jonathan Fox representing Team GB in the women’s S6 100m backstroke and men’s S7 100m backstroke respectively.
The London Velodrome is the venue for the track cycling, as Sarah Storey competes in the women’s individual C5 pursuit qualifiers, looking to progress to tonight’s final.
Plus, Ben Quilter is in the men’s -60kg judo preliminaries at the ExCeL London, Danielle Brown and John Cavanagh are in the archery at the Royal Artillery Barracks, and Di Coates takes part in the shooting at the same venue.
After 12.05pm, their is judo at the ExCeL London and equestrian at Greenwich Park. The preliminaries and quarter-finals take place in the men’s -60kg and -66kg, and women’s -48kg and -52kg judo, with Britain’s Ben Quilter in the first of those disciplines, and the Mixed Team Test Grade II in the equestrian.
Channel 4 News Midday Summary at 12.00pm-12.05pm
. 1.00pm-3.25pm – PARALYMPIC GAMES 2012 Presenters: Georgie Bingham & Arthur Williams Wheelchair Basketball & Track CyclingCoverage of the opening women’s wheelchair basketball Group A match at the Basketball Arena.
The top four nations in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, the stage at which both sides exited the competition four years ago in Beijing. Plus, track cycling at the London Velodrome, where Darren Kenny and Rik Waddon compete in the men’s individual C3 1km time-trial.
Coverage continues on More4 and Channel 4 HD at 3.25pm (details below)
. 5.25pm-6.30pm – PARALYMPIC GAMES 2012 Presenters: Clare Balding & Ade Adepitan Swimming, Judo, Track CyclingCoverage of the opening swimming finals at the Aquatics Centre and the first judo finals at the ExCeL London.
Nyree Kindred won the gold medal in the women’s S6 100m backstroke at the 2004 Games, and is among the favourites to regain her title after finishing second four years ago, with Sean Fraser a competitor in the men’s S8 100m butterfly. The day’s judo concludes with four finals, including the men’s -60kg, which could feature Ben Quilter.
Plus, reaction to the earlier track cycling at the London Velodrome, which was expected to feature Sarah Storey.
Coverage continues on More4 and Channel 4 HD at 6.30pm (details below)
. 7.30pm-10.30pm – PARALYMPIC GAMES 2012 Presenters: Clare Balding & Ade Adepitan Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, Table TennisChannel 4’s first primetime coverage from the Paralympics features the latest swimming finals, along with wheelchair basketball and table tennis on the opening day of competition.
The Aquatics Centre hosts the opening evening of the swimming, which includes the finals of the women’s SM10 200m individual medley and men’s SM10 200m individual medley, in which Britain’s Gemma Almond and Rob Welbourn are expected to feature among the medal challengers.
Plus, updates on the men’s wheelchair basketball Group B fixture between Great Britain and Germany at the North Greenwich Arena, and the women’s table tennis singles preliminaries at the ExCeL London, which features fixtures in various disciplines.
. 10.30pm-11.15pm – THE LAST LEG with ADAM HILLS Presenter: Adam Hills, with Josh WiddicombeThe comedian presents an alternative review of the day’s Paralympics action, focusing on the key moments and talking points with sidekick Josh Widdicombe and guests from the sports and showbiz worlds.
The strangest events will also be featured in a light-hearted take on the Games, looking back at how the competitors’ exploits unfolded.
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Coverage continues on More4 and Channel 4 HD, featuring track cycling at the London Velodrome.
Sarah Storey will expect to be involved in the final of the women’s individual C5 pursuit discipline, having won seven Paralympic golds in swimming and cycling since 1992.
UPDATE: In a late scheduling change, this slot will be now be broadcast on Channel 4
. 6.25pm-7.30pm – PARALYMPIC GAMES 2012 Presenters: Clare Balding & Ade Adepitan Swimming & PowerliftingCoverage of the opening evening of swimming finals at the Aquatics Centre, including the men’s and women’s S7 100m backstroke and women’s S9 100m butterfly.
Britain’s Jonathan Fox won the silver medal four years ago in Beijing in the backstroke, Susie Rodgers is one of the favourites in the women’s backstroke, while the butterfly was one of five golds won by South Africa’s Natalie du Toit at those Games.
Plus, updates on Zoe Newson’s efforts in the women’s -40kg powerlifting at the ExCeL London.
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