Why no Paralympics on RTE?

It is fantastic to see our National Paralympic team perform so well, winning four Gold three silver and a team bronze over the weekend and securing a top 10 place in the overall medal table for the games. Jason Smyth in the T13 100m and Michael Mc Killop in the T37 800m won gold on the athletic field and also set new world records in their respective races while Darragh Mc Donald and Bethany Firth both secured gold in the swimming pool. Cyclists Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan secured silver on the cycling track and Helen Kearney received silver in individual dressage equestrian event and ensured a bronze medal for the team event. The courage and determination of all the athletes whether or not they are medal winners is inspirational to watch. However I am bitterly disappointed that RTE is not providing live coverage of the games featuring the Irish athletes. While RTE’s live coverage of the games in London in August, and in particular the attention surrounding Katie Taylor’s outstanding boxing performances gave the country a very welcome boost, I am disappointed that the same cannot be said of the coverage for the Paralympic games. Indeed coverage of our national performances in the games over the weekend, which saw Ireland secure three gold medals in three hours on Saturday was limited to half an hour’s highlights and was televised late at night. Similar sporadic coverage is due to be aired during the week with RTE 2 showing only a half an hour’s highlights of the games in the evening and indeed no coverage of the games by RTE is scheduled at all for either Tuesday or Thursday. I would appeal to RTE to revise their intended viewing schedule of the Irish performances at the Paralympic games. This would afford the country the opportunity to witness the determination and bravery of our paralympians who have overcome their disabilities, and trained long and hard to achieve success in securing their place on the National team and are wonderful ambassadors not just for sport and courage but also for their country.