NBC Airs Live Coverage of 2014 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES, Beg. Today

NBC Olympics' unprecedented coverage of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games begins today at 11 a.m. ET with the Opening Ceremony live, hosted by 13-time Paralympic medalist Chris Waddell and veteran Olympic announcer Steve Schlanger. NBCSN's first six days of Paralympics coverage includes live alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing, as well as wheelchair curling and Team USA vs. Russia in sled hockey. TeamUSA.org will live stream all events from the Paralympic Winter Games.

Following are highlights of the first six days of coverage:

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Fri., March 7	Opening Ceremony - Live	NBCSN	11 a.m.

DAY 1, SAT., MARCH 8 HIGHLIGHTS: NBCSN's live coverage begins at 1 a.m. ET on Saturday with alpine skiing featuring men's and women's visually impaired, standing and sitting downhill events. Danelle Umstead, a visually impaired skier and 2010 downhill bronze medalist, looks to win her second consecutive Paralympic medal in downhill as she competes with her husband Rob, who serves as her guide. She recently won a downhill gold medal at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals.

Sit-skier Alana Nichols, the first American woman to win gold medals in Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, aims for a repeat of her Vancouver Paralympics performance after becoming the most-decorated U.S. Paralympian at the Games (two gold, one silver and one bronze). Downhill marks the first of five alpine skiing events Nichols is expected to compete in. In addition, NBC presents encore coverage of the Opening Ceremony at 1 p.m. ET.

NBCSN's Paralympics studio show, hosted by Carolyn Manno and premiering at 5:30 p.m. ET, recaps the day's biggest events, providing full segments of action, competition coverage and in-depth analysis throughout the Games.

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Sat., March 8 (Day 1)	Alpine Skiing (Downhill) - Live	NBCSN	1 a.m.
	Opening Ceremony (Encore)	NBC	1 p.m.
	Paralympics Day 1 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	5:30 p.m.

DAY 2, SUN., MARCH 9 HIGHLIGHTS: Live coverage begins at 1 a.m. ET Sunday on NBCSN as Russian sitting cross-country skier and biathlete Irek Zaripov looks to maintain his dominance with a second consecutive gold in the men's 15km against teammate and 2010 Vancouver silver medalist Roman Petushkov. Studio coverage, hosted by Manno, begins at 11 p.m. ET.

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Sun., March 9 (Day 2)	Cross-Country Skiing - Live	NBCSN	1 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 2 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	11 p.m.

DAY 3, MON., MARCH 10 HIGHLIGHTS: NBCSN presents live super G coverage at 2 a.m. ET. 2010 super G silver medalist Alana Nichols is expected to compete against defending super G champion Claudia Loesch, of Austria.Danelle Umstead looks to make the podium in the super G after placing fourth in Vancouver. Russ Thaler hosts studio coverage at noon ET.

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Mon., March 10 (Day 3)	Alpine Skiing (Super G) - Live	NBCSN	2 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 3 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	Noon

DAY 4, TUES., MARCH 11 HIGHLIGHTS: Live biathlon coverage begins at 2 a.m. ET on NBCSN as Russia looks to extend their dominance in men's 12.5 km individual sitting biathlon after sweeping the podium at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics. Reigning champion Irek Zaripov competes alongside bronze medalist Roman Petushkov.

Defending 2010 Vancouver Paralympic sled hockey champion Team USA faces Russia on home ice in the final day of sled hockey qualifying at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Vancouver gold medalist and goaltender Steve Cash aims to continue his flawless Paralympic career after not allowing a goal in five contests in 2010 tournament - stopping all 33 shots, including a penalty shot attempt in the gold medal game. Also headlining Team USA is U.S. Army veteranRico Roman and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Josh Sweeney, who come off a strong 2013 season after winning silver in the International Paralympic Committee World Sled Hockey Championship.

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Tue., March 11 (Day 4)	Biathlon - Live	NBCSN	2 a.m.
	Sled Hockey - Team USA vs. Russia	NBCSN	3 p.m.

DAY 5, WED., MARCH 12 HIGHLIGHTS: NBCSN presents live coverage of the wheelchair curling round robin at 1:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday as 2010 fourth-place finisher medalist Team USA faces China. Studio coverage, hosted by Thaler, begins at 3 p.m. ET.

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Wed., March 12 (Day 5)	Wheelchair Curling - Team USA vs. China - Live	NBCSN	1:30 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 5 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	3 p.m.

Following is NBC and NBCSN's coverage schedule for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games:

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Fri., March 7	Opening Ceremony - Live	NBCSN	11 a.m.
Sat., March 8	Alpine Skiing (Downhill) - Live	NBCSN	1 a.m.
	Opening Ceremony	NBC	1 p.m.
	Paralympics Day 1 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	5:30 p.m.
Sun., March 9	Cross-Country Skiing - Live	NBCSN	1 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 2 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	11 p.m.
Mon., March 10	Alpine Skiing (Super G) - Live	NBCSN	2 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 3 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	Noon
Tue., March 11	Biathlon - Live	NBCSN	2 a.m.
	Sled Hockey - Team USA vs. Russia	NBCSN	3 p.m.
Wed., March 12	Wheelchair Curling - Team USA vs. China - Live	NBCSN	1:30 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 5 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	3 p.m.
Thu., March 13	Sled Hockey Semifinal - Live	NBCSN	5 a.m.
	Sled Hockey Semifinal - Live	NBCSN	Noon
Fri., March 14	Snowboarding	NBCSN	3 a.m.
	Paralympics Day 7 Studio Coverage	NBCSN	11:30 p.m.
Sat., March 15	Cross-Country Skiing - Live	NBCSN	3:30 a.m.
	Sled Hockey Final	NBC	1 p.m.
	Wheelchair Curling Final	NBCSN	6:30 p.m.
Sun., March 16	Alpine Skiing (Giant Slalom) - Live	NBCSN	4:30 a.m.
	Closing Ceremony	NBCSN	3:30 p.m.
Sat., March 22	2014 Sochi Paralympic Games Review Show	NBC	1 p.m.

*All dates and times subject to change

To post a comment, you must register and login.