By Duncan Mackay

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting UnionMay 17 - A new television deal has been agreed between the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), it has been announced. 


The deal will see the APC and ABU work together to develop partnerships with public broadcasters and free-to-air stations in the region.

The APC kicked off its engagement efforts with broadcasters at the ABU Sports Conference which was held in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this month and attended by some of the area's leading broadcasters, including CCTV of China, South Korea's KBS, NHK of Japan, IRIB of Iran, Media Corp of Singapore, Astro, TV3 and RTM of Malaysia and TVRI of Indonesia.

Asian Paralympic Committee deal with broadcasterAsian Paralympic Committee officials took the opportunity at the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Conference to brief television companies on the benefits of televising disability sport

The APC claimed that after the conference they received "good response and feedback" from broadcasters keen to produce more Paralympic-related documentaries and increase their coverage of the APC's major events.

"Last year's London Paralympic Games has proven that Para-events are not to be left out, receiving great TV coverage and airtime and recording huge number of global audience," said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Board member Dato Zainal Abu Zarin.

"We believe that the same scenario can happen here in this region with the collaboration with ABU and Asian broadcasters."

The Asian Para-Games are held every four years, back-to-back with the Asian Games.

Guangzhou in China hosted the first Asian Para-Games in 2010 while Incheon is due to host the next edition next year in Korea.

Apart from the Asian Para-Games, APC's other major Games include the Asia Open Winter Games, the Asian Youth Para-Games, regional Games and various individual championships.

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