The Daily Telegraph reports that senior figures within the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are beginning to have doubts about New York’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games because of an absence of a US broadcaster at the Paralympics.
Paralympic organizers are also irritated by the decision of US television not to show a two-hour highlights program until November 13, six weeks after the closing ceremony, reports the newspaper.
The snub has been discussed at the Paralympics, particularly since there were 3,500 US media representatives at the Olympics, and the Americans have brought a large team of athletes to Athens.
One senior IPC official told the Daily Telegraph Tuesday: “no US broadcaster here could have caused New York real damage in their bid. Although the IPC do not have an official number of votes in the bidding process, we are still consulted”.
State broadcasters from three other 2012 bid cities – London, Madrid and Paris – are in Athens, as well as from Rio de Janeiro, which was dropped from the 2012 bid city short list.
BBC television has been showing live coverage of the Paralympics for the first time, with viewing figures early in the Games peaking at two million.
Phil Craven, President of the IPC, admits that media coverage of the Games is an important showcase for the progression of the Paralympic Movement, which remains a vehicle towards equality for people with disabilities.
