Key Points
- Channel Nine has been criticised over its TV advertisement for the 2024 Paris Games.
- Paralympian Janine Watson said Nine needed to "do better" after the ad made no mention of the Paralympics.
- Nine said it was "proud" to be the broadcaster of the Paralympics and it would feature in promos later in the year.
An Australian Paralympian has criticised Channel Nine over its TV advertisement for the Paris 2024 Games, saying it fails to "truly represent the Australian people".
The ad features Olympic athletes competing in a variety of sports and ends on a shot of the Paris skyline with the Channel Nine logo and "Your home of the Olympics" over the top.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Janine Watson called out the broadcaster for neglecting to make any mention of the Paralympics in the ad.
"Anyone watching the Australian Open over the last 2 weeks on Channel Nine would have seen a beautiful advertisement for the Paris 2024 Games," she wrote alongside an edited screenshot of the advertisement.
"As beautiful as the advertisement is, it has failed to truly represent the Australian people."
"Channel Nine, you are not just the home of the Olympics. Be proud that you are also the home of the Paralympics.
Watson, who was Australia's first taekwondo Paralympian and won bronze at the Toyko Games, said Nine needed to "do better".
"Paralympics Australia and the numerous members of the disability community have not fought so hard in the past for equal representation for Channel Nine to forget about us," she said.
"Australian Paralympians are not an afterthought."
Janine Watson was Australia's first taekwondo Paralympian. Source: Facebook / Janine Watson
"We feature para athletes across a wide range of our programs and platforms, and regularly share their stories in our sports coverage," they said.
"The roll out of promos and their placement varies throughout the year, but be assured the Paralympics will be prominent in our broadcast and messaging throughout this year."
