IPC to provide FTA Paralympics coverage across Africa

(www.broadcastnow.co.uk)

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed that it will provide free-to-air coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics to 49 African territories. 

The daily 52 minute highlight packages are being provided in English, French and Portuguese, and it is estimated that the coverage will reach over 250 million viewers across the region. It also means that for the first time, African viewers will watch the opening and closing ceremonies live on 24 August and 5 September.

TV Media Sport will produce the content, and also worked on behalf of the IPC to secure the FTA broadcasters. 

Part of the AT2030, a programme to supply assistive tecchnology to those in need, Para Sport Against Stigma project, funded by UK Aid, the move aims to elevate Para athletes and promote human rights. It is being run in partnership with Loughbrough University London, University of Malawi, Chancellor College.

Law firm Hogan Lovells is also working on the project, and assisted with the negotiation of the licences and offered support to the National Paralympic Committees with the procedural requirements for athlete qualification

IPC president Andrew Parsons said: “One of the strategic goals of the IPC is to grow the global audience for the Paralympics. Increasing broadcast availability is central to that. I am thrilled that since we announced this initiative back in December last year, we have more than doubled the number of African broadcasters taking the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games from 24 to 49.

“For many reasons these are our most important Games ever. One of them is that for millions of people in Africa this will be the first time they will have seen Paralympic sport. Watching our athletes battle for medals and raise the bar in terms of elite Para sport will help normalise and challenge the stigma that too often is attached to disability.”

TVMS President Hédi Hamel added: “We are delighted for the IPC to have chosen TVMS to secure the free-to-air broadcast all over the continent and to distribute valuable live and daily highlights with editorial relevance for Africa. All of our broadcast partners have responded more than positively to be associated with the Para Sport against Stigma project. The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will receive unprecedented free exposure in Africa.”