RIA Novosti named official host national news agency for Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games

RIA Novosti will provide comprehensive coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics, with special emphasis on the performance of the Russian athletes. 04 Apr 2013 By IPC

"The co-operation with RIA Novosti will help us at the IPC to build the excitement about the Paralympic Games from now on and increase the awareness of the Paralympic athletes and the Paralympic Movement in Russia. This is key for a successful staging of the Games next year."

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has named Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti as the official host national news agency for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

RIA Novosti will provide comprehensive coverage of the Sochi Paralympics, with special emphasis on the performance of the Russian athletes.

Craig Spence, IPC Communications & Media Director, said: "We are delighted that RIA Novosti will be acting as the host national news agency for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games."

"The co-operation with RIA Novosti will help us at the IPC to build the excitement about the Paralympic Games from now on and increase the awareness of the Paralympic athletes and the Paralympic Movement in Russia. This is key for a successful staging of the Games next year."

Maxim Filimonov, head of RIA Novosti’s Olympic team said: “Covering Paralympic events has always been a priority for RIA Novosti, and the IPC’s decision is a great honor for us.

“The agency plans to use over 50 journalists and photojournalists, who will focus mainly on the Russian athletes.”

All news materials, beginning with the preparation period for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, will be available to Russian and foreign media and published on RIA Novosti Group’s web resources, including the R-Sport sports news agency.

According to RIA Novosti Executive Director Dmitry Tugarin, the agency’s host national status will allow all Russian media to cover the 2014 Winter Paralympics at an entirely new and higher level.

RIA Novosti has always provided extensive coverage of the Paralympics. As part of its social project Sports Without Borders, RIA Novosti published a book of photography “devoted to Russian Paralympians, people with unlimited abilities.”

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 7 to 16 March next year, with more than 700 athletes from 45 countries taking part.