Brazilian President Michel Temer, who formally took his post after Dilma Rousseff’s recent impeachment, was booed during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Advertisement
As with the Olympics, Paralympic officials say political gestures are not allowed in the sports event.
Philip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), said recession-hit Brazil could draw inspiration from the feats of Paralympic athletes.
Among the highlights of the ceremony was a stunt in which wheelchair athlete Aaron Wheelz sped down a 17-meter ramp before completing a stunning reverse somersault.
The Brazilian national anthem was played on the piano by Carlos Martin, whose right hand is severely disabled, before the parade of athletes, with the loudest cheer of the night reserved for competitors from the host nation.
However, as the first fireworks exploded and then disappeared into the sky above Brazil’s iconic Maracana stadium, those worries became a distant memory.
The Olympic Channel’s daily coverage from Rio de Janeiro will be available in 162 territories and includes events and highlights shows, and concludes with the Closing Ceremony on September 18. Among them was former Brazilian Paralympic medalist Marcia Malsar, who fell over backwards as she carried the torch across the floor with aid of a cane.
The Paralympic Games have opened in Rio de Janeiro.
Athletes with various physical and mental impairment – including mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy – will compete in a range of sports. “Our aim is to sell around 2.4 million”, he said.
It’s yet to be seen how ticket sales transfer into stadium attendances but the outlook is much more positive than it was a fortnight ago.
Among those competing for Britain on day one of the Games is cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, who is aiming to overtake Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as the British female with the most Paralympic gold medals.
Advertisement
He lost his leg during a bombing in Syria and was elated when was revealed as flag bearer for the International Paralympics Athletes team.
