The extreme wheelchair athlete got the opening ceremony under way against a backdrop of fireworks exploding out of the Maracana’s circular roof.
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The show featured a tribute to the wheel, to Brazil’s swirling samba rhythms, and to the beach – a ritual gathering spot in Rio.
Rio 2016 organizing committee chairman Carlos Arthur Nuzman, Craven and loudest of all Brazil President Michel Temer were jeered. Political symbols and gestures of all kinds are strictly barred at Olympic and Paralympic events. Two channels that chose to show the ceremonies had to interrupt them for one hour so they could air government-mandated free election propaganda.
“That was one of the most awesome experiences of my entire life”, said Pearson. Some pushed their own wheelchairs, others were pushed, while others limped.
As well as imposing a blanket ban in Brazil, the CAS and the International Paralympic Committee have also excluded Russia’s winter sports teams from the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The 2016 Paralympics will feature 1,500 targeted anti-doping tests – the most ever.
Russian Federation came second four years ago, with 36 gold medals, but will not be in Rio due to their ban.
In the next edition held in Barcelona in 1992, the Malaysian contingent did better, winning one silver through Cheok Kon Fatt, also in powerlifting, and two bronze medals through Mariappan (powerlifting) and Mohd Khasseri Othman (athletics).
Swimmer Inbal Pezaro is paralyzed in her lower limbs.
Although the record of 41 career gold medals won by blind American swimmer Trischa Zorn between 1980 and 2004 looks unbeatable, the Paralympics will inevitably produce new stars.
A notable absentee was International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, who revealed he had to attend a state mourning ceremony in Germany for Walter Scheel, the former West Germany president. Rio police were to give a press conference on the matter on Thursday. “Paralympic sport and athletes are incredibly inspiring and we are honored to showcase their athletic excellence”. New events these games are the paracanoe and paratriatholon.
But organizers say a last-minute push has boosted ticket sales and a bailout by the Brazilian government has helped save the event. This follows concerns about half-empty stadiums at numerous Olympics events.
Picture shows a resident of Rio de Janeiro holding the Paralympic torch outside the Museu do Amanha (Museum of Tomorrow) before the final leg to the Maracana Stadium.
But organizers have reported a dramatic turnaround in the last few days.
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Talking to reporters, Craven said: “Two weeks ago I said we faced unprecedented circumstances and since then we’ve seen unprecedented teamwork”.
