The celebration turned momentarily somber during a tribute to Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad who suffered a fatal bike crash while competing on Saturday, September 17th, photo courtesy of the International Paralympic Committee.
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He hailed the victorious Paralympic team for making history in the games.
“The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio”, Philip Craven, the committee’s president, said in a statement.
Also Team GB won more medals across more sports than at London 2012.
The British Paralympic team tweeted: “We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad’s passing”.
With Brazil hit by political turmoil and recession, Mr. Nuzman conceded it had been a “mission of many doubts”, but was happy to declare the event as being “mission accomplished”.
China achieved its aim set before the Rio Paralympics to finish at the top of the medal standings, just as they did at the previous three Games in Athens, Beijing and London.
After the tragic death Saturday of Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, there was some solace for Iran as the men’s sitting volleyball team won an emotional gold medal against defending champions Bosnia and Herzegovina.
China finished the 11-day megaevent with 107 gold, 81 silver and 51 bronze medals.
The Russian national team did not take part in the games.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on August 7 its decision to ban the membership of the Russian Paralympic Committee.
Accordingly, Iran’s Paralympic caravan managed to scoop eight gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals to stand in the 15th place in Rio with a total of 24 medals.
She said: “We look forward to welcoming people from all over the country for a spectacular celebration of the achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic heroes and to share in an unforgettable day”.
However, Centrowitz won in what was by Olympic standards a near-record slow race, meaning Baka’s outstanding time was of mostly symbolic significance.
The silver medals were also taken by swimmer Raman Salei, athlete Elena Chebanu (two silver), and athlete Kamil Aliyev.
Visually impaired sprinter Libby Clegg, who won two gold medals in Rio, said: “To be honest, it’s not really sunk in yet”.
“We appreciate your individual and collective efforts which have placed Nigeria on a very prominent position on the medals table”.
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A moment of silence was planned for last night’s closing ceremony in Rio.
