Rio to host Paralympics 2016

Brazil, the country which hosted the Olympics 2016 will also host the Paralympics 2016 games from September 7 at Rio de Janeiro.

Thousands of athletes will compete in the competitions of Paralympics 2016. More than four thousand athletes from more than 160 countries will compete to win the medals in 22 different sports.

According to IBT, more women are participating than the anticipated number of around 1,650 women. The Paralympics games will start with a ceremony at Maracanã - one of the most famous stadiums in the world that was modernized for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will be held here. The opening ceremony will include the live creation of a work of art by ceremony director and renowned Brazilian artist Vik Muniz.

The games which will be held at different venues are Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Canoe sprint, Cycling road, Cycling track, Equestrian, Football 5-a side, Football 7-a side, Goal ball, Judo, Power lifting, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Sitting volleyball, Swimming, Table tennis, Triathlon, Wheelchair basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair tennis. The schedule and venues for all the above mentioned games are to be followed on Rio-2016 Schedule and Rio-2016 Venues.

Brazil is the first South American city to hold the Paralympics Games, having won the bid in 2009. The torch relay for the Paralympics will begin on September 1 visiting Brasilia, Belem, Natal, Joinville and Sao Paulo.

According to Rio-2016, 33,000 students are invited to experience Paralympic Games as part of 'Transforma' education program.

This initiative was bought by the organizing committee of Rio 2016 and Rio de Janeiro state government through an education program that will spread Paralympics values to seven million youngsters in twelve thousand schools across Brazil. This program is said to bring sport's interest in the school children along with the education.

The closing ceremony of Paralympics will be held on September 18 at Maracanã stadium.