The Peruvian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) was granted the membership on February 5, although it remains subject to ratification at the 2017 IPC General Assembly.

Saul Barrera Ayala, Peru’s Minister of Sport, and Peru NPC President Luisa Villar, are among those to feature in the video to discuss the importance of the recognition.

Having been awarded membership, the NPC have now received formal recognition of the country’s Government and will be assigned a budget.

The move is seen as crucial to helping the country’s elite Para-athletes compete further on the international stage.

“This is a great change where we call everyone to contribute toward an adapted movement like there is in many other countries,” said Villar.

“Here we have the most important thing, the human factor.”

The membership will see Peruvian athletes compete under their own nation’s flag at international competitions, rather than as an individual.

“People that are watching this video and want to participate, they will now have platforms and ways to access easier,” said badminton player Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, who competed at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

“The difference now is that if a young person now shines, he or she will have the way to be a selected athlete and represent Peru rather than looking for this by him or herself.”

As well as building towards the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Peru will be hoping to develop Para-sport across the country as they prepare to host the 2019 Parapan American Games.