The IPC has banned Russian Federation from the Paralympics because of the country’s part in a state-sponsored doping system.
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The parade of the athletes was ended with marching of Brazilian Paralympic team. Some 263 athletes will be taking part in the alternative Games. “Rio is ready. Here we stand for history that will be made by the athletes, volunteers and by you, right here, right now”.
Kuala Lumpur: All members of the Malaysian Paralympic contingent that is now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio Paralympics are in high spirits and healthy.
Rio de Janeiro opened the Paralympic Games on Wednesday with samba, parading wheelchairs, giant balloons – and loud booing of Brazil’s president – at a sold-out Maracana stadium. He won silver in the 2012 London Paralympics and silver and bronze medals in the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Paralympic Games.
The Rio Paralympics will strive to promote “a fairer, more fraternal world” while changing perceptions of people with disabilities, the head of the Rio 2016 organizing committee said on Wednesday.
Controversy hung over the no-show by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach – the first absence of an IOC chief since the 1984 Summer Games.
An estimated 2,700 male and 1650 female athletes from more than 160 countries are set to compete in 528 medal events across 22 sports over the next 11 days of sporting action. The winners will receive the same prizes and awards that they would receive in Rio.
The run-up to the Games was also overshadowed by slow ticket sales.
But organisers have reported a dramatic turnaround in the last few days. Mr Craven, who lost the use of his legs in a rock-climbing fall at the age of 16, reminded Brazilians they have their own problems to overcome.
This year’s Paralympics are the biggest ever and will see 4,300 representing 160 teams from around the world compete.
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“If they talk about doping, we are absolutely against doping, but not a single fact was provided proving that some Paralympians used doping and that they were suspended from the participation in the Games”.
