The International Paralympic Committee will be responsible for marketing the international broadcast rights for the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the event's local organizers announced Thursday.
  

The organizing committee for the competition said it has appointed the IPC as the exclusive sales agent for the international rights to broadcast the quadrennial event for disabled athletes.
  

The IPC signed similar agreements with organizers of the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympics.
  

The 2014 competition was watched by 2.1 billion people in 55 countries, up from 1.6 billion viewers for the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.
  

The 2016 Summer Paralympics will be broadcast in more than 120 countries and territories, and could break the 4-billion mark in cumulative viewers for the first time.
  

Xavier Gonzalez, CEO of the IPC, said the global Paralympic body will look to build on its recent success.
  

"Through the IPC taking on a similar role for the 2014 and 2016 Games, we have not only built loyalty with rights holders but continuity with TV viewers who are able to see more hours of Paralympic sport coverage than ever before," Gonzalez said through a statement released by PyeongChang's organizing committee. "We aim to build on this success for future editions of the Games and are confident we can increase the number of international rights holders covering the Paralympic Winter Games in 2018." (Yonhap)