(Paris) YouTube has signed a groundbreaking partnership with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to provide free live streaming of the Games to dozens of countries across Asia, Latin America and Africa, the company announced Wednesday.
The initiative includes “nearly 1,400 hours of live broadcasting […] covering all 22 Paralympic sports, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies,” YouTube said in a statement.
This live broadcast will be available in countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Indonesia, Chile, Colombia, Canada and Japan.
France is not among the countries concerned, France Télévisions having acquired the exclusivity of broadcasting on French territory the Paris Paralympic Games which begin on Wednesday and will be held until September 8.
In total, YouTube will support 160 official broadcasters with free access in 175 markets and territories around the world.
The platform, which is owned by Google, will also broadcast more than 1,200 clips and highlights of the competitions every day on the Paralympics channel.
The partnership is expected to “maximise the global reach of the world’s most transformative sporting event, engaging new audiences around Paralympian performances,” said Mike Peters, IPC CEO, in the statement.