International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Philip Craven on Monday expressed his disappointment in the lack of coverage for the Paralympic Games which are set to receive in North America.

"I'm very disappointed. I'm very disappointed for the athletes and I'm also very disappointed for the hundreds of millions of people who live in North America who don't have the opportunity on a very easy basis to access what will be amazing images," said Craven in a press conference on Monday afternoon, two days before the opening ceremony of the Games.

"Some people think that North America always lead on everything, and on this they don't. It's about time they caught up," he added.

Despite a number of leading Paralympians being involved in a protest against Atos's role in UK 'fit to work' tests, Atos is still a sponsor of IPC.

Craven said: "We as an organization have Atos - and not Atos healthcare, I might hasten to add - as a sponsor of the International Paralympic Committee, and also as a sponsor of the Games here. Our relationship with Atos has been incredibly positive. That's really the only relationship I can comment on."

On mentally impaired athletes returning to the Paralympic Games for the first time since Sydney 2000, Craven said efforts are still needed in the future.

"The organization that represented them had to work on a workable and new eligibility system. Really, cooperation between the IPC and Inas (International Federation for sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability) only took off in 2007, 2008. Therefore that's the reason it seems to have taken such a long time, but we're just so very pleased to have them back in this time."

Craven said he was satisfied with the "athletes-centered" work from London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

"Seb (Chairman of LOCOG) today hasn't commented on what he always talks about which is the London Games, be it Paralympics or Olympics, are athletes-centered. They've absolutely been that, the athletes have come first. Get it right for the athletes and everything then should fall into place. All the ingredients are there for the best Paralympic Games ever."

The President said IPC has plans to reduce worries that high equipment costs exclude athletes from poorer national Paralympic committees.

"We're concerned but we spread technology as far as we can. That's something that we will be addressing - well, we already have addressed but will be addressing even more - through our new strategic plan moving forward from 2011 to 2014."

"Our new strategic plan has got two key focuses. Our two previous four-year plans were primarily building the Paralympic Games. Our second and equally important focus now is creating new athletes all over the world. To do that, we have to ensure they can have access to sports equipment."

The London 2012 Paralympic Games, running from August 29 to September 9, will bring together 4,200 athletes from 166 countries and regions to compete in 503 medal events from 20 sports.