More than 55 countries and territories will broadcast the Games, with many airing more hours than they have done before.

Lucrative deals have been agreed between the IPC and major broadcasters to cover the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympics, including Channel 4 in Great Britain, NBC in the United States and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Europe.

ABC, Globo's Sporttv, CBC/Radio Canada and SuperSport are also set for deals after the IPC worked with the National Paralympic Committees of Australia, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa respectively.

Russia's own broadcasters VGTRK, RBC TV and ANO Sports Broadcasting will show a total of 180 hours of coverage of the Paralympic Games.

It all means the IPC expect the Games to exceed the 1.6 billion global audience that tuned in for the Vancouver Paralympics four years ago,

"The Paralympic Games are one of world sports fastest growing properties and I am delighted that more broadcasters will be showing pictures from Sochi 2014 than any previous Paralympic Winter Games," said Alexis Schaefer, the IPC's Marketing and Commercial Director.

"Millions more people around the world will be able to watch the Paralympic Winter Games for the first time thanks to a number of deals have put in place over the last 18 months."

The Sochi 2014 Paralympics will be broadcast around the world, giving more people than ever a chance to watch the sporting action ©Getty Images



Shaefer particularly outlined the IPC's deal with NBC, which will bring the Games to the US for the first time.

He said: "The NBC deal, which includes live streaming via the USOC's (United States Olympic Committee) website, is extremely significant to the whole Paralympic Movement as it opens the Games up to the USA."

The IPC itself will broadcast more than 300 hours from the games on its website, with five HD channels showing live and commercial-free daily coverage with English commentary.

The Opening Ceremony of the Games is due to be held tomorrow, with the first of nine days of sporting action on Saturday (March 8).