RIO PARALYMPIC OLYMPICS 2016 COMMENCES

The fifteenth edition Summer Paralympic Games,kicks off yesterday inside macarana stadium,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil. It is a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, to be held from 7 September to 18 September 2016.

Here are some notable features of the summer events

*This will be the first Summer Paralympics to be held during the host city's wintertime. 

This will mark the first time a Latin American and South American city hosts the event, the second Southern Hemisphere city and nation, the first one being the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.

*The first time a Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country hosts the event.

* These Games will see the introduction of two new sports to the Paralympic program:  canoeing and the paratriathlon.

* More than 4300 athletes from 159 nations, plus two refugees in an independent team, are prepared to perform to the peak of their physical capabilities at the events.

*NIGERIA

-The 35-member contingent departed Abuja on September1.

-23 athletes will represent Nigeria in the games.

-Six of the athletes will feature in Para- Athletes, 14 in Para-Powerlifting, while three will take part in Para-Table tennis

-Twelve officials, including coaches, medical personnel, helpers, loaders and team administrators, accompanied the team.

*The opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Paralympics take place on the evening of 7 September 2016 at the Maracanã Stadium while the closing ceremony takes place at the same stadium in 11 days time.

Get ready for the intense excitement of 23 Paralympic sports. 528 events over the course of 11 days of competition will yield 225 medals for women, 265 for men and 38 mixed medals

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