APC secretary general Malini Rajasagaran and ABU secretary general Dr Javad Mottaghi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to ensure more comprehensive broadcasting and media exposure for Paralympic sport in the region.

The first event to come under the new arrangement will be the Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG), which is due to take place October 26 to 30 in Kuala Lumpar.

ABU, which has 255 members in 63 countries, will be the broadcast partner for the Games in the Malaysian capital and produce live feeds, highlights and news packages, as well as assist with the distribution of AYPG news packages and highlights to its members through Asiavision.

"APC is proud to be associated with ABU and sees this partnership as one that will propel Para-sports in the region to a different level starting with the AYPG 2013," said IPC Governing Board member and APC President Dato' Zainal Abu Zarin.

He was joined at the ceremony in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) Deputy President, Dr Anuar Suun and MPC vice-president, Dato' Mah Hassan Hj Omar.

"The signing of this MoU marks a new milestone in the Paralympic movement in Asia.

"Although the idea to promote and enhance the value of Para-sports and [the] Paralympic Movement in the region through a partnership between ABU and APC is something that has been on our minds for some years, it is only now that the idea has come to fruition."

As well s the AYPG, the new partnership will cover all major and regional APC sports championships, including the Asian Para Games taking place in Incheon from October 18 to 24 next year, along with plans to broadcast the Asian Open Winter Games, details of which are still the subject of negotiation.

First held in Hong Kong in 2003, next month's APYG are expected to see more than 2,000 athletes from 41 countries participate across 14 sports in the Malaysian capital.

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