Ait grand prix to be broadcast on irish tv
Some of the biggest names in world athletics will feature in a special live broadcast of the Athlone IT International Indoor Grand Prix exclusively on Irish TV this Wednesday.
This live event will air from 7-9.30pm on Sky 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191 and online at irishtv.ie.
Mutaz Essa Barshim, the Qatari world indoor high jump champion, and Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, the former 100 metres world record holder, are the headline athletes competing at the AIT International Arena Grand Prix this Wednesday.
Top Irish athletes competing at the event include Ciaran O’Lionard, Eoin Everard, John Coghlan and John Travers in the mile.
The second annual grand prix to be held in the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) venue promises to build on the sold-out success of the 2014 meet, which starred Ashton Eaton, the Olympic decathlon champion and world record holder.
AIT’s new €10 million International Arena facility opened its doors to the public in mid-January 2013. To date the arena has hosted the AAI Combined Event Championships, the AAI Open Indoor Games, National Indoor Finals, Masters, Under 23s championships, Connacht & Leinster Indoor Championships, as well as several club and athlete training days.
“The 2014 grand prix was a fantastic success with a packed indoor arena providing a tremendous atmosphere for athletes and spectators alike,” said Irish TV head of broadcast Malachi Cush.
“We expect this year’s event to be even better and are delighted to be able to showcase this great spectacle to a national and global audience on Irish TV.”
“The show will feature some of the biggest names in world athletics as well as many of our own homegrown heroes who will relish the prospect of performing live on television.”
Irish TV began broadcasting in May, 2014 and recently created 20 jobs in their new Munster regional base in Kerry.
The channel is introducing original new programming every week, and each of the 32 counties has their own half-hour County Matters show once a week, produced by Irish TV’s own nationwide production network.