Beijing 2022 and the IPC have signed an agreement for the delivery of a Paralympic excellence programme ©Beijing 2022

An agreement has been signed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Beijing 2022 for the delivery of a Paralympic excellence programme for next year's Games.

The deal was signed during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission visit to Beijing, which concluded yesterday.

Beijing 2022 are the fifth Organising Committee to benefit the scheme, run by the IPC Academy.

It will include a range of educational activities and programmes geared towards the planning and successful delivery of the 2022 Winter Paralympics in the Chinese capital.

Topics such as accessibility, sustainable legacy, Paralympic marketing and communications will be part of a series of workshops regarding "critical" organisational areas for the Games.

Delegates from Beijing 2022 will participate in the observers programme at both Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 to gain experience and knowledge.

The IPC Academy are also due to host a Pyeongchang 2018 debrief in the second half of next year.

During the two-day event, organisers will learn of the most challenging aspects from Pyeongchang 2018, what is required to host a Winter Paralympics and what lessons can be learned from the South Korean hosts.

The deal was struck during the recent Coordination Commission visit to Beijing ©IOC
The deal was struck during the recent Coordination Commission visit to Beijing ©IOC

This will be followed by two simulation exercises, aimed at testing operational readiness "specifically for Paralympic Winter Games and also educate in practice the hundreds of new staff who join the Organising Committee in the last months".

IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez, who attended this week's Coordination Commission visit to inspect Beijing 2022's preparations, said he fully expects the Organising Committee to take the Winter Paralympics to a "new level".

"The aim of the Programme is to share best practice, experience and key learnings from previous Games in both a theoretical and hands-on environment," he said.

"Participants will find themselves attending interactive classroom sessions, going behind the scenes at the Paralympic Games and learning from a range of experts who have worked on previous Games. 

"We believe this integrated approach to learning will create the best possible environment for Beijing 2022 to deliver outstanding Paralympic Winter Games.”

Chris Solly, director of the World Academy of Sport, said they were "delighted to be working with the Beijing 2022 team, as they continue to develop and deliver a highly customised learning program for all of their staff, delivery partners and contractors, with this representing another core piece of this important framework".