RT Statement on the Special Olympics National Games

RT Statement on the Special Olympics National Games RT notes the petition received today from Senator Mary Moran, calling for live coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies of Special Olympics National Games.

While RT covered the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in 2003, RT has not to date featured live coverage of the national games. However, RT recognises the importance of the games and has traditionally offered a range of coverage across its services.

For the 2014 games, RT News is planning a preview package on tonight's Six-One News, and will cover the opening ceremony on Thursday June 12 for the main television news bulletins, and there will be further coverage of the ceremony on Morning Edition on RT One and RT News Now. Morning Edition will have the Special Olympics Ireland CEO and two competitors in studio for interview. Meanwhile, reporter Aisling O'Riordan will have two live reports also into Morning Edition from University of Limerick where the games are taking place.

On Friday morning Morning Ireland on RT Radio 1 will look back at the opening ceremony and coverage is also planned on RT Radio 1's Saturday Sport, Drivetime, on The Marian Finucane Show and Sunday with Miriam, and across programmes on RT 2fm. Updates will also be carried on sports bulletins on RT Raidi na Gaeltachta.

In addition, RT News will cover the events on Friday for RT television, radio and online. Meanwhile, RT One's Nationwide will record at the games across the weekend for a special report on Wednesday June 18. All coverage will be housed also on RT .ie and on the RT Player, with updates via @rte and @rtesport on Twitter.

Ryle Nugent, Group Head of RT Sport has said While RT covered the World Games Opening Ceremony live, we have never covered the national games live. Live broadcasting is an extremely expensive business and RT does not have the resources to do so on this occasion. I hope that the level of commitment on national television and radio, as evidenced above, will demonstrate RT 's recognition of the importance of the games.

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2014/0610/62286...
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