IWAS President Rudi Van Den Abbeele, right, signed the deal with the WDU's Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadim ©IWAS

The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) and the World Disability Union (WDU) have signed an agreement to help promote Para-sports.

Both organisations are hoping to use the IWAS World Games to promote accessibility in host countries as well as the basic rights of disabled people.

IWAS President Rudi Van Den Abbeele penned the deal with Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadim, the first vice-president of the WDU.

"We are delighted to be formalising our relationship with the WDU after several years of working together," Van Den Abbeele said.

"The IWAS World Games are held in different countries and cities and offer a real opportunity to spread the importance of accessibility and open the eyes of the community to equal rights. 

"We believe this is a great way of helping to secure a legacy for everyone who lives in or visits these places."

This year's IWAS World Games in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand were due to take place in December, but have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal aims to use the IWAS World Games to promote inclusion ©Getty Images
The deal aims to use the IWAS World Games to promote inclusion ©Getty Images

IWAS is now reviewing its Games cycle for the coming years. 

As well as the World Games, this includes the IWAS World Youth Games and the inaugural IWAS Guttmann Games.

The Guttmann Games will offer athletes competing in non-Paralympic sports the chance to take to the global stage.  

As part of the new arrangement, future host cities will be assessed to WDU standards and given certificates of compliance.   

Established in 2011, the WDU supports the delivery of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through its 150 members from almost 70 countries.