Japan's NHK to show London 2017 highlights

Japan's largest broadcaster, NHK, is to show highlights of every day of the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017. It is the first time NHK has broadcast such extensive coverage of the Championships, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games only three years away.

Many Japanese medallists from Rio 2016 will compete in London and expectations will be particularly high for such athletes as Atsushi Yamamoto, Tomoki Sato and Sae Tsuji. There will be a keen focus, too, on the rising young athletes now targeting the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Commentary will be provided by a team of experts headed by para sports legend Yoshifumi Nagao, who competed at seven Paralympic Games. Graphics to explain the unique rules of para sports will also be part of the programming.

As a part of its preparations for Tokyo 2020, NHK is also looking for presenters and reporters with an impairment to enhance its coverage. The idea is to give viewers a better insight into the challenges faced by para athletes, and encourage more diversity in society.

Applications are invited for a period of one month from June 22. Successful candidates will be selected through a process including a written examination, interview and camera test, and announced in late October.