Rio 2016 welcomed some of the major stars of Paralympic sport for an international athletics and swimming meeting, which started Saturday. One hundred and twenty athletes that competed at the Beijing Games are there.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of Rio 2016, said he believes the competition is a further indication of the growing profile of Paralympic sport in Brazil.
He said, “Brazil obtained the country’s best ever results in Beijing, which shows the development of Paralympic sport in the country. Rio 2016 positions the Paralympic and Olympic Games at the same level, with the same standards and with full integration between them. It will be an inspiring event, like our athletes”.
The event takes place over two weekends. August 8 and 9 the Cello de Barros Stadium will host athletics competitions involving fifty athletes from ten countries. The swimming events will take place on the second weekend – August 15 and 16 – at Julio Delamare Aquatic Park. Seventy athletes from eleven countries will take part.
