Where To Watch: Paralympic Wheelchair Curling in North America

Compared to Canada’s multi-platform coverage of Olympic curling, Paralympic wheelchair curling coverage should be a lot easier for Canucks to digest.

In fact, it should be as easy as Americans who get to follow a super-simple NBC Olympics coverage schedule.

Before we get to Canadian and U.S. coverage details, here are some all-encompassing reminders for fans from both countries...

Reminder 1: All game start times in the below viewing guides are listed in Eastern Standard Time (ET).

Reminder 2: Every single curling game – whether Canadian or U.S. teams are involved or not – can be viewed online at Canada’s CBC Gem streaming platform and the USA’s Peacock streaming platform.

Reminder 3: In terms of commentary, OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services) may not be providing on-site commentary in English for all games; in such cases, fans will hear ambient arena sound and player microphones. When Canadian or American teams are involved, each domestic talent lineup steps in (details below).

Reminder 4: This is live sports, so things might change. Possibly for technical reasons, such as a power failure in the arena. Or inclement weather affecting snow sports (this usually means *more* curling coverage, as happened at Nagano 1998).

Reminder 5: The viewing guides start with the new mixed doubles (MD) wheelchair curling discipline; followed by the “fours” team (FT) viewing schedule starting Mar. 7.

First up is Canadian coverage; U.S. readers are invited to scroll down a bit for your States-centric content.

CANADA

The new discipline of mixed doubles wheelchair curling started today in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Canada failed to qualify for the eight-team tournament.

Nevertheless, the CBC Gem streaming platform features all games – four per session – up to the playoffs, then the semifinals and (bronze and gold) medal games. 

Canada begins fours team (FT) competition on Mar. 7. 

Olympic partners TSN and Sportsnet are not expected to be involved in Paralympic coverage.

For Canada FT games beginning Mar. 7, play-by-play will come from CBC veteran Brenda Irving and analysis from wheelchair curler Jill Hopkins of Toronto, who is also a volunteer Board Member at the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

For CBC French coverage on Radio-Canada, play-by-play will be handled by Justine Boutet with analysis from Quebec wheelchair curling veteran Carl Maquis.

Here is the full Canadian viewing schedule for mixed doubles wheelchair curling, running Mar. 4-14 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, all times EST (MD = Mixed Doubles, FT = Fours Teams):

Mar 4 • 12:55 pm • Session 1 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 5 • 3:55 am • Session 2 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 5 • 12:55 pm • Session 3 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 6 • 2:55 am • Session 4 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 7 • 3:25 am • Session 1 FT • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 7 • 8:25 am • Session 5 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem 

Mar 7 • 12:25 pm • Session 2 FT • CAN vs ITA • CBC Gem

Mar 7 • 4:30 pm • Session 2 FT • CAN vs ITA • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 8 • 4:25 am • Session 3 FT • CAN vs GBR • CBC Gem 

Mar 8 • 9:25 am • Session 6 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem 

Mar 8 • 1:25 pm • Session 4 FT • CAN vs NOR • CBC Gem

Mar 8 • 11:30 pm • Session 4 FT • CAN vs NOR • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 9 • 4:25 am • Session 5 FT • CAN vs LAT • CBC Gem

Mar 9 • 9:25 am • Session 7 MD • Four Games • CBC Gem, CBC TV

Mar 9 • 1:25 pm • Session 6 FT • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 9 • 2:30 pm • Session 5 FT • CAN vs LAT • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 9 • 7:00 pm • Session 5 FT • CAN vs LAT • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 10 • 4:25 am • Session 7 FT • CAN vs CHN • CBC Gem

Mar 10 • 8:25 am • MD Semifinals • CBC Gem

Mar 10 • 1:25 pm • Session 8 FT • CAN vs SWE • CBC Gem, CBC TV (joined in progress on CBC TV following Para Ice Hockey)

Mar 11 • 4:25 am • Session 9 FT • Four Games • CBC Gem

Mar 11 • 9:25 am • MD Medal Games • CBC Gem

Mar 11 • 2:00 pm • MD Medal Games • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 11 • 2:55 pm • Session 10 FT • CAN vs SVK • CBC Gem, CBC TV

Mar 11 • 11:00 pm • Session 10 FT • CAN vs SVK • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 12 • 9:55 am • Session 11 FT • CAN vs KOR • CBC Gem

Mar 12 • 1:25 pm • Session 12 FT • CAN vs USA • CBC Gem, CBC TV

Mar 12 • 11:30 pm • Session 12 FT • CAN vs USA • CBC TV (encore)

Mar 13 • 4:55 am • FT Semifinals • CBC Gem

Mar 13 • 1:25 pm • FT Bronze Medal Game • CBC Gem

Mar 14 • 9:55 am • FT Gold Medal Game • CBC Gem, CBC TV

And now, the schedule for viewers in the United States.

USA

NBC has put some time into providing a solid schedule, which makes everyone’s lives easier (including ours).

Every game of every session will be streamed live and on-demand on Peacock. Occasional U.S. games will also be televised (live or encore) on CNBC or USA Network.

Jim Kozimor handles play-by-play at his second consecutive Winter Paralympics, with analysis provided by 2018 U.S. Paralympian Justin Marshall.

Here is the full U.S. viewing schedule for mixed doubles, running Mar. 4-14 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, all times EST (MD = Mixed Doubles, FT = Fours Teams):

Mar 4 • 1:05 pm • Session 1 MD • USA vs LAT • Peacock

Mar 5 • 4:05 am • Session 2 MD • USA vs JPN • Peacock

Mar 5 • 1:05 pm • Session 3 MD • USA vs EST • Peacock

Mar 6 • 3:05 am • Session 4 MD • USA vs GBR • Peacock

Mar 7 • 3:25 am • Session 1 FT • USA vs CHN • Peacock

Mar 7 • 8:35 am Session 5 MD • USA vs KOR • Peacock, CNBC 

Mar 7 • 12:25 pm • Session 2 FT • USA vs GBR • Peacock

Mar 8 • 4:25 am • Session 3 FT • Two Games • Peacock

Mar 8 • 8:35 am • Session 6 MD • USA vs ITA • Peacock, CNBC

Mar 8• 1:25 pm • Session 4 FT • USA vs ITA • Peacock,

Mar 9 • 4:25 am • Session 5 FT • USA vs SWE• Peacock

Mar 9 • 7:25 am • Session 5 FT • USA vs SWE• USA Network (encore)

Mar 9 • 9:25 am • Session 7 MD • USA vs CHN • Peacock, USA Network 

Mar 9 • 1:25 pm • Session 6 FT • USA vs LAT • Peacock

Mar 10 • 4:25 am • Session 7 FT • Three Games • Peacock

Mar 10 • 8:25 am • MD Semifinals • Peacock

Mar 10 • 1:25 pm • Session 8 FT • USA vs SVK • Peacock

Mar 11• 4:25 am • Session 9 FT • USA vs KOR • Peacock

Mar 11 • 6:20 am • Session 9 FT • USA vs KOR • USA Network (encore)

Mar 11 • 8:35 am • MD Medal Games • Peacock, CNBC, USA Network

Mar 11 • 2:55 pm • Session 10 FT • Three Games • Peacock

Mar 12 • 9:55 am • Session 11 FT • USA vs NOR • Peacock, USA Network

Mar 12 • 1:25 pm • Session 12 FT • USA vs CAN • Peacock

Mar 13 • 4:55 am • FT Semifinals • Peacock, USA Network

Mar 13 • 1:25 pm • FT Bronze Medal Game • Peacock

Mar 14 • 9:55 am • FT Gold Medal Game • Peacock, CNBC