NBC Sports Presents RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES Opening Ceremony Today

NBC Sports Group presents coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, being held at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, today, Wednesday, September 7 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

In addition to NBCSN's telecast of the Opening Ceremony, the United States Olympic Committee will stream coverage on TeamUSA.org.

Jason Knapp and 13-time paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell serve as hosts of NBCSN's coverage of the Opening Ceremony, while Carolyn Manno, NBC Sports Group's Rio 2016 Paralympic Games host, opens the telecast on Wednesday night.

Rio 2016 marks Waddell's second time covering the Opening Ceremony, and second Paralympic Games assignment as a Track & Field analyst for NBC Sports Group. Knapp works his first Opening Ceremony for NBC Sports Group and returns for his second Paralympic Games assignment as a play-by-play announcer. Following the Opening Ceremony, Knapp will contribute to NBC Sports Group's Paralympic Swimming coverage. Manno, who has worked two prior Paralympic Games for NBC Sports Group, makes her Opening Ceremony debut.

Parade of Nations: The 2016 Rio Paralympics will welcome approximately 4,300 athletes from 160 countries, plus several refugee athletes who have fled their countries and will march under the Paralympic flag as "Independent Paralympic Athletes." In the Parade of Nations, the refugee athletes will lead all delegations into Maracana Stadium. All other nations will follow in alphabetical order (the host language of the 2016 Rio Paralympics is Portuguese).

NBC Sports Group will present more than 70 hours of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games coverage across NBC and NBCSN. In addition, the United States Olympic Committee will provide 12 channels of daily live online coverage at TeamUSA.org.

NBC Sports Group's Rio Paralympic Games competition coverage begins on Thursday, September 8 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and culminates on Sunday, September 18. On most days, NBCSN primetime programming will air from 7 - 9 p.m. ET; daytime from 2 - 5 p.m. ET; and late night from 1 - 5 a.m. ET.

In addition to Track & Field, Swimming, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Rugby, NBC Sports Group will also present world feed coverage of many other Rio 2016 Paralympic Games events. Coverage will be produced by OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Service) and will include the sports of Cycling, Judo, Football and more. World feed coverage of select events will feature OBS commentators.

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