Financial cuts, downgraded facilities, volunteer shortfalls and poor ticket sales have overshadowed the countdown to the opening ceremony on Wednesday, prompting fears that the Paralympics could be even more sparsely attended than last month’s Olympics.
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The stage is set, the athletes are ready, ready to battle their odds and perform….perform for their country! Turnham competed in London, but it’s Hall makes her Games debut in Rio, with the duo racing in the pursuit on the track. The technology has improved a lot and people are getting faster and faster, we can hit insane speeds on the track. I think we’ve said enough, right? “After all, this is the Paralympic Games, and I can achieve good results here”, said Wang Yanzhang, Chinese shot putter.
‘In 2008 they chopped them off and I started using prosthetics at the end of the year.
‘I’m not sure we could manage that’.
The Italian believes that the judgment was politically motivated and cannot understand how the decision can be seen as “fair and just”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung urged the team to compete fairly and be of good behaviour at the games.
“I’m really exited about Rio, Team SA has a great spirit going, and I’m thankful to be here!” Now it’s our turn.
“I inspire myself a lot with what he’s done and because we’ve had a similar path, obviously in a different world”.
Pararower Tom Aggar, who won gold in the single sculls in Beijing, and Sophie Christiansen, who will be aiming to replicate the form which saw her win three golds (two individual and one team) at London 2012, will be there for Team GB. She only (ok…not only) has to win gold this year to be remembered as the most decorated Paralympic swimmer of all time.
McCord, who will retire as Canada’s coach after the Rio Games, has known Huot for 16 years and says his training has been strong.
Already a double Paralympic champion, Natasha Baker claims the pride in representing your nation on the biggest stage is not diminished by former glories.
Gideon Sam, Sascoc’s president, is hopeful that Team SA will bring more medals than the 29 they won during the London Games four years ago.
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There was to be no golden goodbye to these most storied of Olympic Games, when mining medals seemed, at times, nearly ridiculously easy.
