The report, however, hardly mentioned Russian Paralympic athletes, apart from in relation to a list of 35 allegedly disappeared doping samples.
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Despite many difficulties and controversies, the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games is due to take place on Wednesday evening.
And just like that, the 2016 Paralympics opening ceremony got off to an extravagant start.
They are looking to improve on the 120 medals they won four years ago in London, where they finished third behind China and Russian Federation.
At a sold out Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro this morning, the New Zealand Rio 2016 Paralympic Team marched out alongside 4,350 athletes from 160 countries.
As a two-time Paralympian, I encourage our athletes to enjoy the experience of competing at the Games and come together to celebrate the values of friendship, fair play and equality.
All of Russia’s disabled athletes have been banned from the Paralympics for alleged involvement in Russia’s doping scandal.
“Every day, our Paralympians demonstrate how sport can inspire, encourage and motivate people to overcome adversity”.
Ticket sales have also picked up as Brazilians, famous for their hospitality and in the afterglow of an ultimately successful Olympic Games, began to embrace the Paralympics; 1.6 million of the 2.5m available are now sold.
Stars: The record of 41 career gold medals won by blind American swimmer Trischa Zorn between 1980 and 2004 looks unbeatable, but the Paralympics will inevitably produce new stars.
Let’s show Team Canada that all of us – #35Mstrong – are united in our support.
Silva, a wheelchair user, received the flame as rain fell, faced a flight of stairs and turned to the large crowd as if to say, “What do I do now?” During the opening ceremonies, the Russian flag was seen in the ranks of the athletes from Belarus, in an apparent protest against the banning of the Russians.
“The grand event today is a solemn tribute to our athletes whose hard work, courage and faith in themselves and their abilities is an inspiring example”, a message from President Vladimir Putin read out by Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said. Putin has slammed the decision as “outside the law, morality, humanity” and Russia’s state-run sports channel will not show the Games in Brazil live.
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The 264-strong British team, described as the “best prepared” for a Games, will be competing in 19 sports.
