The Paralympic Movement has signed its first combined sponsorship deal with car manufacturer Toyota in an agreement which is being lauded as 'monumental'.

The Toyota Motor Corporation has inked a Worldwide Paralympic Partner deal until 2024 which will see the company provide vehicles, technological services and mobility support devices to the Paralympic Games.

It is the first partnership that brings together the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), all National Paralympic Committees (NPC), from 2017, and future Games Organising Committees from Tokyo 2020.

Although the partnership represents the first joint deal between the three bodies, Toyota becomes the IPC’s sixth Worldwide Paralympic Partner, joining Atos, Ottoback, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.

The deal was announced today in the Japanese capital by IPC president Sir Philip Craven and Toyota president Akio Toyoda.

Craven said the partnership heralded a “monumental day”, adding: “Today the Paralympic Games are the world’s number one sporting event for driving societal transformation and in partnership with Toyota, we believe we can energise and activate the whole Paralympic Movement to further our impact on society, enriching millions more lives.”

Toyoda added: “We at Toyota share the IPC’s commitment to help create a society where we all have access to the same opportunities.”

“Sir Philip has noted the importance of mobility in promoting social participation for people with an impairment. We don’t want mobility be an obstacle, but rather an opportunity for people to achieve their dreams.”