“This is excellent news for the Paralympic Movement, especially coming so close to the start of the biggest ever Paralympic Games in London."

The Presidents of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Sir Philip Craven and Jacques Rogge, today (Tuesday 24 July) signed an agreement in London that ensures the Paralympic Games will be held in the same city as the Olympic Games through 2020.

At the 124th IOC session in London - held just three days before the start of the Olympics and 36 days prior to the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony - the two Presidents extended the current Co-operation Agreement that was signed in June 2006 and runs through to the 2016 Games. The Agreement now extends the practice of “one bid, one city” to the PyeongChang 2018 Games and the 2020 Games that will be held in either Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo.

In addition to renewing the Co-operation Agreement, the IOC and IPC have signed a new partnership whereby the IOC and IPC have identified new IOC programmes and activities which the IPC could participate in, including IF development, IOC Olympic Solidarity, Transfer of Knowledge. The Parties also agreed to discuss further areas and projects of mutual interest and collaboration. In particular this includes further co-operation in the commercial area and to explore the benefits of a closer co-operation on the Games planning and delivery functions

The new agreement has also led to an increase in funding from the IOC to the IPC.

IOC President Jacques Rogge commented on the signing of the agreement: "I'm delighted to extend our close co-operation with the IPC through to 2020. They have a fundamentally important role in the Olympic movement and we are pleased to continue to support this partnership."

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “This is excellent news for the Paralympic Movement, especially coming so close to the start of the biggest ever Paralympic Games in London.

“The agreements secure the continued growth of the Movement and our members. Since 1988 we have benefited from using the same venues, infrastructure and levels of detailed planning as the Olympic Games and through this agreement it will continue through to at least 2020.

“We are grateful to the IOC for their continued and growing support. Without them the Paralympic Games would not have grown to the superb sporting spectacle it is today. By working together over the coming years we can continue to deliver a 60 day global celebration of sport.”

The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games first saw the IOC and IPC outline the principles of further relationships between the two organizations.

On 19 June 2001, a co-operation agreement was signed aimed at protecting the organization of the Paralympic Games and securing the practice of "one bid, one city". It reaffirmed that the Paralympic Games from 2008 would always take place shortly after the Olympic Games, using the same sports venues and facilities. From the 2012 bid process onward, the host city chosen to host the Olympic Games was also be obliged to host the Paralympics as well.

In 2003, the IOC-IPC Agreement was adjusted. The amendment ensured that Organizing Committees for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOGs) in 2008, 2010 and 2012 would pay the IPC a certain amount of money for broadcasting and marketing related to the respective Paralympic Games.

In June 2006, the IOC and the IPC signed a further extension covering the 2014 Sochi and the 2016 Rio Games.

As a result of the Co-operation Agreements the IPC is represented on several IOC Commissions and Committees including the IOC Athletes' Committee, the Co-ordination Commissions of the Olympic Games, the IOC Medical Commission, the Women and Sport Commission, the Press Commission and the Radio and Television Commission.

The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy in 1960 featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries and have taken place every four years since, enjoying exponential growth.

Since the Seoul Summer Games (1988) and the Albertville Winter Games (1992), they have also taken place at the same venues as the Olympic Games.

The last Paralympic Games took place in 2008 in Beijing, China and attracted 3,951 athletes from 146 countries. More than 3.6 million spectators attended the event and a cumulative audience of 3.8 billion watched on TV around the world.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games which take place between 29 August and 9 September are set to be even bigger with 4,200 athletes from 165 countries competing in 20 sports.