The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is to provide free-to-air coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in Sub-Saharan Africa – a move IPC President Andrew Parsons claims can be a “turning point” and raise awareness of Para sport in the region.
For the first time across the region, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be free-to-air and broadcast live on 24 August and 5 September 2021. There will also be a 52-minute daily Games highlight show of African centred content in English, French, and Portuguese.
The IPC and UK Aid will fund the 2020 broadcast. The IPC hopes that this initiative will be a catalyst for commercial partners to broadcast Paris 2024 to Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The IPC is very excited about the prospect of more people than ever before watching the Paralympic Games in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through sport the IPC wants to normalise and challenge the stigma attached to disability. One of the best ways to achieve this is to watch the Paralympics and see first-hand what persons with disabilities can do.” said IPC President Andrew Parsons.
“Going free-to-air across so many territories will allow us to tell the compelling stories and athletic achievements of Para athletes and raise awareness of the Paralympic Movement.”
This broadcast initiative is a key element of the Para Sport Against Stigma project between the IPC, Loughborough University, and the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, which aims to support social change and overcome stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities in Africa.
