ABU in new partnership to promote Paralympics in Asia-Pacific

The ABU and Asian Paralympic Committee have formed a partnership to promote the Paralympic movement in the region.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the Olympic Sports Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 26 September 2013, establishing a partnership between the two bodies to enhance the broadcasting of Paralympic events in the Asia-Pacific and to help increase awareness on Paralympic sports and events amongst television audience in the region. 

The MOU was signed by ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi and Ms Malini Rajasegaran, Secretary-General of the Asian Paralympic Committee, in the presence of APC President YBhg Dato’ Zainal Abu Zarin, Malaysian Paralympic Council Deputy President Assoc Prof Dr Anuar Suun and MPC Vice-President Dato’ Mah Hassan Hj Omar.

Dr Mottaghi said that with more than 250 members, the ABU’s reach would be enormous and this would enhance the level of interest on the Paralympic movement through extensive television coverage in the region.

This would help create greater awareness of the Paralympic movement, which would hopefully change the perception of people towards athletes with a disability and the Para Sports.

Dato’ Zainal said: “The 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 Asian Youth Para Games 2013.”

“The signing of this MoU marks a new milestone in the Paralympic movement in Asia,“ he said.

The 2013 Asian Youth Para Games will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 26-30 October. The ABU will be the Games Broadcast Partner and will work with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to produce live feeds, highlights and news packages of the event, as well as assist with distribution of the AYPG news package and highlights to its members through Asiavision and other satellite distribution points.

The APC’s other major sporting events include the Asia Open Winter Games (in preparation), regional Games and individual championships.