A total of 139 athletes and officials from South Korea participated in 11 sports at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, which ran from September 7-18, with a goal of winning 11 gold medals and finishing inside the top 12.
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Referring to the political turmoil and recession weighing Brazil down as it put on the first Olympics in South America, Mr Nuzman conceded it had been a “mission of many doubts”.
Organizers said they had pulled off an against-the-odds success in the Rio de Janeiro Games.
The Paralympic flag is replaced by Japan’s national flag as Japanese performers make full use of their limited time to showcase the culture of the country that will host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
INJURED soldier and Paralympics debutant Curtis McGrath says he didn’t think he had “done enough” to earn selection as flag bearer at this morning’s Rio 2016 closing ceremony. “How could you have a good opinion of this country?”
It was her third victory at the Games in the Brazil after triumphing in the 3km individual pursuit and road time-trial.
“This year Vanuatu made the decision they felt they did not have an athlete ready to take a wildcard so they rejected the wildcard – they felt it was more important to develop at the grassroots level.it’s a pity they didn’t at least have maybe their developing athlete there to experience and understand what it’s about”. Part of that success, however, was due to many tickets being sold for as little as three dollars – or given to school children in an global fill the seats campaign. The next best nation was Britain with 64 gold followed by Ukraine (41), the United States (40) and Australia (22).
The top four finishers in the men’s 1,500 in the T13 class for visually impaired runners all had better times than the Olympic champion in Rio, American Matthew Centrowitz. Centrowitz ran 3:50.00 in an admittedly slow, tactical race.
Britain placed second in their heat, behind China.
A minute’s silence was observed to mark the death of Iranian para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad in the men’s road race, the first tragedy of its kind in Paralympic Games history. “I think Paralympic athletes take great pride in knowing that they have to work so much harder than 20 years ago to get those Paralympic medals”.
Great Britain were two wins away from equalling their second-best Paralympic haul of gold medals on Saturday as Dame Sarah Storey celebrated a 14th gold of her distinguished career. That’s what every sport is about.
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“As far as we’re aware it is the first fatal accident in a Paralympics”, the IPC’s director of communications Craig Spence told Reuters in an emailed response. “Like with London, I’m sure many athletes will be inspired by what they’ve seen out in Rio which will hopefully attract the next generation of athletes to come through and do what we’ve done here and continue the strong performances from the British team”.
