International Paralympic Committee president Sir Philip Craven has quelled fears the 2016 Paralympic Games would be called off after it was revealed the Rio 2016 Organising Committee’s budget to deliver the Paralympics had fallen well short of expectations.
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The anticipated budget from Rio 2016’s organising committee was not at the level it had originally committed to, necessitating the need to make cutbacks, according to the International Paralympic Committee.
Sports minister Tracey Crouch also raised concerns, saying: “The budget cuts made to the Paralympic Games are concerning, and we support the IPC’s efforts to ensure that the Games is a success”.
“At the IPC we are a relatively small but united organisation”. “They’re keen to ensure these games will be the best games ever from a performance point of view, and they’re determined this will still be the case despite the budget shortfall”.
Rio, Brazil, Olympics and financial trouble are not new terms.
“And I believe the performances of the Para athletes will act as a catalyst for social change”.
However, the workforce for the Paralympics will still be reduced, transport services cut and media centers closed.
Just 12 per cent of the tickets on offer have been sold so far, with Brazilians seemingly not interested in virtually any aspect of the event.
And in a devastating blow to the Games, which begin next month, ten countries may now not be able to compete because of a chronic shortage of funds.
Despite the bailout, organisers have been forced to move the wheelchair fencing competition to the main Olympic Park from Deodoro Park, which will be dismantled, with equestrianism, football seven-a-side and shooting reclassified as three stand-alone venues.
“Never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this”, IPC president Philip Craven said.
The IPC is also working with Rio’s Mayor Paes to help secure an additional BRL 150 million (about $46 million) of funding and they are meeting with the Federal Government to get additional sponsorship for the Games from state run companies.
He added: “We are working desperately hard to protect athlete services, especially within the field of play”.
“London 2012 proudly showed the world what was possible and we want Rio to be the next stage of that positive journey”, the British Paralympic Association said. “You only have to look at some of the achievements from para athletes over the last two years to realise that we will witness some truly spectacular sport”. The first athletes are due to arrive August 31, although there will be no Russians after the country was suspended from the IPC over its state-sponsored doping scheme. “People power could really determine the outcome of these Games”.
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So to all the athletes who do make it to Rio, good luck!
