The 16th Paralympic Games will be live on the Seven Network, with viewers set to enjoy unprecedented coverage of one of elite sport’s greatest events.
Starting with the Opening Ceremony on 24 August, Seven’s coverage will take fans inside the Paralympic Games like never before across 13 action-packed days.
From morning to midnight every day on Seven and 7plus, fans will be able to choose from an unprecedented offering of up to 16 live streams – all live, free and in HD.
Seven’s Tokyo 2020 coverage will be led by a world-class commentary team headlined by the biggest and best group of Paralympians ever assembled for an Australian broadcast.
Australian Paralympic legends Kurt Fearnley and Annabelle Williams will anchor Seven’s coverage, alongside Johanna Griggs, Matt White and Emma Vosti.
The commentary line-up is headlined by Aussie Paralympic icon Priya Cooper, a nine-time swimming Gold medallist, and three-time athletics Gold winner Tim Matthews, who will bring rare insight to the competition at the pool and track respectively in Tokyo.
Joining them are Jessica Gallagher, the first Australian to win medals at both the Paralympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games, wheelchair basketball Gold medallist Nick Morris and dual wheelchair rugby silver medallist Bryce Alman.
Fans will also enjoy unparalleled inner-sanctum access to the Australian competitors in Tokyo, with Australian team co-captain and defending gold medallist Ryley Batt (wheelchair rugby) and Rio 2016 gold medallist Curtis McGrath (para-canoeing) both set to join Seven’s commentary team once they have finished competing.
Seven’s team of reporters on the ground in Tokyo will include another Australian Paralympic great Katrina Webb, who won three gold medals in athletics across three Paralympic Games. Webb will be joined by 7NEWS reporters Matthew Carmichael, Chris Stubbs, Blake Johnson and Joel Dry, who will ensure audiences are kept up to date with all the latest news, colour and atmosphere of the Games.
Some of Australia’s pre-eminent callers will also be part of the live and free coverage, with Matt Hill, David Culbert, Jason Bennett and Darren Boyd all set to bring the Tokyo 2020 competition to life as only they can.
Hosts
Johanna Griggs
Johanna represented Australia in swimming at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games, winning bronze in the 100m backstroke, before she went on to become one of the most popular television personalities on Australian screens. Johanna has been part of Seven’s coverage of most major sporting events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, tennis and horse racing, as well as hosting top-rating programs Better Homes and Gardens and House Rules. During the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, Johanna will team up with Paralympics legend Kurt Fearnley to host Seven’s prime-time coverage, which will include athletics, swimming and track cycling finals, while she will also anchor coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Social – Twitter: @JohGriggs7; Instagram: johgriggs7
Annabelle Williams
During her competitive career, Annie captained the Australian Paralympic swim team, broke five world records and won numerous medals for Australia, including Gold at the Paralympic Games London 2012. Her efforts in the pool were recognised with an Order of Australia Medal in 2014, while her achievements post swimming are just as impressive. An accomplished sport broadcaster, international keynote speaker and former corporate lawyer, Annie will bring a strong voice to Seven’s Paralympics coverage. Having co-hosted Seven’s Rio 2016 coverage, Annie will anchor the afternoon timeslot alongside Matt White during Tokyo 2020.
Social – Twitter: @anniejowilliams; Instagram: anniejwilliams
Kurt Fearnley
One of Australia’s greatest ever sporting stars, Kurt enjoyed a glittering wheelchair racing career, winning 13 medals, including three Gold, across five Paralympic Games in events ranging from the 100m relay to the marathon. The rare talent, grit and sportsmanship he displayed over two decades have made him an Australian sporting icon. At the first Paralympic Games since his retirement in 2018, Kurt is an outstanding addition to Seven’s Tokyo 2020 commentary team. As co-host of the prime-time coverage alongside Johanna Griggs, Kurt will bring a wealth of knowledge to an action-packed competition schedule that includes all the athletics finals.
Social – Twitter: @kurtfearnley; Instagram: kurtfearnleyinsta
Matt White
One of Australia’s most respected and versatile sport broadcasters, Matt has more than 30 years’ experience as a host, commentator and reporter across major events including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, AFL, Supercars, Spring Racing Carnival, Australian Open tennis and Australian Grand Prix. Matt will co-host Seven’s afternoon coverage of Tokyo 2020 alongside Paralympic icon Annabelle Williams
Social – Twitter: @MattWhite_TV; Instagram: mattwhite_tv
Emma Vosti
An accomplished presenter, reporter and producer, Emma’s versatility has placed her in front of the camera and behind the scenes at some of the world’s major sporting events, including the Paralympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Australian Open tennis, Spring Racing Carnival and Test cricket. As host of Seven’s morning coverage of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, Emma’s warmth as a storyteller will help amplify the amazing stories that unfold over the 12 days of competition.
Social – Twitter: @emmavosti; Instagram: emmavosti
Commentators
Priya Cooper
One of our most successful Paralympians ever, Priya won nine Gold medals in swimming across the Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Games. Her expertise will be invaluable as she calls all the action in the pool in Tokyo, with the Aussie team again expected to make a big splash.
Tim Matthews
A three-time Paralympic Gold medallist in athletics, Tim represented Australia with distinction at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Tim’s outstanding career has been recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia and Australian Sports Medal. Tim joins Seven’s Tokyo 2020 coverage to provide expert commentary of the athletics.
Social – Twitter: @Lefty1086
Jessica Gallagher
The first Australian to win medals at both the Paralympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games, Jessica has represented Australia in skiing, athletics and cycling. Jessica won Bronze medals in the slalom (Vancouver 2010) and giant slalom (Sochi 2014) at the Winter Paralympic Games, and a Bronze medal in the track cycling 1000m time trial at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. During Tokyo 2020, Jessica will commentate on the cycling for Seven.
Social – Twitter: @JessGallagher86; Instagram: jessgallagher86
Nick Morris
Nick was a member of the Australian wheelchair basketball team that won the Gold medal at the Paralympic Games Atlanta 1996, before finishing fifth at Sydney 2000. Nick received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997 and an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his outstanding service to the Paralympic movement. Nick will commentate on the wheelchair basketball during Tokyo 2020 as the Australian team bids to win its third Paralympic Gold medal.
Bryce Alman
Bryce represented Australia at three Paralympic Games in wheelchair rugby from 2000- 2008, winning Silver medals at Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008. Bryce joins Seven’s team as an expert commentator on the wheelchair rugby, with the Australian Steelers striving to win a third consecutive Paralympic Gold medal at Tokyo 2020.
Social – Instagram: brycealman
Matt Hill
A leading Australian race caller and sport broadcaster, Matt is recognised throughout the sporting industry for his flair, commitment and accuracy, while his extensive experience extends to sports including horse racing, tennis, AFL, the Olympic Games and more. During Tokyo 2020, Matt will be an integral member of Seven’s Paralympic commentary team, bringing viewers all the excitement, drama and colour as he calls our Aussie team members in action.
David Culbert
A long jump finalist at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 and dual Silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games, David has since established himself as a renowned Olympic and Paralympic Games broadcaster. During Tokyo 2020, he will provide expert athletics commentary.
Social – Twitter: @Culbert_Report; Instagram: culbert_report
Jason Bennett
Jason is an award-winning sport broadcaster, who was an AFL commentator from 2002 to 2006 before embarking on an international posting with ESPN and its popular program Aussies Abroad. A highly respected member of Seven’s football commentary team since 2015, Jason joins our Paralympic commentary line-up for Tokyo 2020 to call sports including wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.
Social – Twitter: @JasonBennettTV Instagram: jasonbennetttv
Darren Boyd
Darren has nearly 20 years’ experience in sport broadcasting and returns to Seven’s Paralympic commentary team for Tokyo 2020, having been a key part of the network’s Rio 2016 coverage.
Social – Twitter: @darrenboyd01
Channel 7 use these commentators on other sports!
Loving the coverage..but can anything be done about that idiot with the air horn.. they are spoiling the commentary as they did with the Olympics..