By Gary Anderson

September 23 - VGTRK has been named as an official broadcaster of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic GamesSochi 2014 President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko has today signed media and broadcasting deals with three Russian companies that will provide support and promotion for next year's Paralympic Winter Games.

ANO Sports Broadcasting (Panorama), the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) and RBC TV will provide technical support, produce special programming and provide broadcasting services for the Games, which feature alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling and run from March 7 to 16.

"As organisers, we aim to ensure that as many people as possible will be able to see the first Winter Games in the history of Russia," Chernyshenko said.

"The agreements will provide the Paralympic Winter Games with the widest coverage.

"All three companies are leaders in broadcasting, and I am confident that viewers will appreciate their efforts and professionalism."

VGTRK, which has more than 80 regional television stations broadcasting in all regions of Russia, will become the official broadcaster of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and will broadcast all the competitive action from Sochi, as well as producing special programming surrounding the event.

"For us, it is a great honour to be the official rights holder of the first Paralympic Games in Russia's history," said deputy head of VGTRK's legal and corporate governance department, Natalia Tolkacheva.

"The Paralympic Games are a celebration of the human spirit, the unrelenting will to win and truly unlimited possibilities.

"We were delighted at the success of our Paralympic athletes in Turin, China, Vancouver and London.

"Our viewers will follow the new achievements of Paralympians during the Games in Sochi with great interest."

Panorama will provide Olympic Broadcasting Services with technical support on site around all the venues to produce the international television signal for the Games.

"The Paralympic Games showcase the highest achievements of the human spirit," said general director of Panorama, Vasily Kiknadze.

"We are proud to be able to show courageous and strong Paralympic athletes to millions of television viewers with the help of television technology.

"Our team is fully prepared to work."

Dmitry Chernyshenko has agreed Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games broadcast deals with three of Russia's biggest broadcasting companiesDmitry Chernyshenko has agreed Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games broadcast deals with three of Russia's biggest broadcasting companies



























Under the agreement, 24-hour business news channel RBC becomes a general partner of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics, providing media coverage of the preparations for the Games in addition to providing large-scale support of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Ticketing Programme.

RBC will produce and broadcast 10 Paralympic Torch Relay diaries, each lasting 10 minutes that will include the news of the day, information on the city the Torch has visited, interviews with Torchbearers, spectators and special guests, as well as footage of locations along the relay route and stories from the life of the participants.

In addition, RBC will support the ticketing programme by producing and broadcasting eight commercials in the lead up to the Games, and the channel says it is also planning a series of 10 programmes dedicated to the story of the Russian Paralympic team's training and preparation for Sochi, and the story of the Paralympic Movement in Russia and the world.

"Russian Paralympians show extraordinary strength of spirit and commitment to athletic achievements," said general director of RBC TV, Alexander Lyubimov.

"Our channel will launch a special two-week project dedicated to them.

"One of its main goals is to attract the viewers' attention to the millions of our fellow citizens with disabilities.

"And next year, everyone who sees the celebration of Paralympic sport on RBC will certainly be moved by this spectacular and historic event for Russia."

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