LONDON - An agreement has been signed to ensure that the Paralympic Games will be held in the same city as the Olympic Games through until 2020.

The agreement was reached at the 124th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session held in London, just three days before the Olympics begin and 36 days before the Paralympics.

Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, and Phillip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) extended the current co-operation agreement that was signed in 2006 and ran through to the 2016 Games.

"I'm delighted to extend our close co-operation with the IPC through to 2020. They have a fundamentally important role in the Olympic movement and we are pleased to continue to support this partnership," said Rogge.

"This is excellent news for the Paralympic Movement, especially coming so close to the start of the biggest ever Paralympic Games in London," said Craven.

"The agreements secure the continued growth of the Movement and our members. Since 1988 we have benefited from using the same venues, infrastructure and levels of detailed planning as the Olympic Games and through this agreement it will continue through to at least 2020.

"We are grateful to the IOC for their continued and growing support. Without them the Paralympic Games would not have grown to the superb sporting spectacle it is today. By working together over the coming years we can continue to deliver a 60 day global celebration of sport."