about a year ago

Channel 4, who are also official broadcaster for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, will utilise much of their Paralympic Games team at Manchester Regional Arena next week.

This will be Channel 4’s second successive year broadcasting the BT Paralympic World Cup and the event will act as vital preparation ahead of the Paralympic foray in just over 100 days.

The final day of the BT Paralympic World Cup, Saturday 26 May, will once again be broadcast live on Channel 4 from 12.00 – 14.00, with highlights packages concluding all other days of competition.

In addition, from Wednesday to Friday, the event will be screened live online from 12.45 – 17.45, meaning those unable to get tickets to the Manchester Regional Arena, don’t have to miss any of the action.

Saturday’s live show will be presented by Clare Balding and Paralympic bronze medallist and former wheelchair basketball star, Ade Adepitan, who will both also present Friday’s online screening.

Joining the pair in presenting will be reining triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards and acclaimed television host Kelly Cates, who will lead the show on Wednesday.

Thursday’s online transmission will be fronted by Georgie Bingham and Arthur Williams.

All highlights packages will be presented by That Paralympic Show host Rick Edwards and Daráine Mulvihill, and will be shown on Wednesday at 00.35, Thursday at 00.15, Friday at 01.00 and Saturday at 00.25.

Deborah Poulton, Project Leader, Paralympics 2012, Channel 4 “Channel 4 are delighted to be the host broadcaster of the BT Paralympic World Cup for the 2nd year running."

"It is a great opportunity for us to put in place many of our talent who will be working with us at games time and build the stories of the athletes that will compete in the Paralympic Games.”Deborah Poulton

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport. BT is entering its fourth year as title sponsor, upholding its strong commitment to disability sport in the UK that stretches back over twenty years.

Manchester has committed for the eighth consecutive year to hosting elite international athletes competing across Wheelchair Basketball, Athletics and Football 7-a-side. In addition, Boccia will once again be represented, with an international match being staged during the competition.

The 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup will once again be broadcast by Channel 4. For more information about Channel 4’s Paralympic coverage, visit: www.channel4.com/paralympics.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by ParalympicsGB, BT and Manchester City Council.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale. For more information visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com

The event schedule will see the Manchester Regional Arena host all events, starting with Athletics on 22 May, followed by Wheelchair Basketball and Football 7-a-side on 23-26 May. The Boccia match will be staged on 24 May.