The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has declared itself encouraged by the progress being made towards the staging of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, after its latest visit to the city. The statement was made following the fifth IPC Rio 2016 Project Review, on Tuesday and Wednesday this week (May 13-14), during which it was announced that Andrew Parsons, the IPC Vice President and President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, has been appointed as Chair of the recently formed Rio 2016 Paralympic Integration Committee.

During the two-day project review, the IPC was updated by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and its government partners on various areas of the project – including sport, venues, accommodation, transport and ticketing – and along with expressing its general satisfaction with progress, the IPC highlighted the legacy of improved accessibility that would be left to the city.

Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC's Chief Executive Officer, said: “Overall, we are encouraged with the progress being made by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and its partners, who appear determined to deliver the best Paralympic Games they possibly can. They are moving forward in all areas.

“The city government is doing a lot to improve accessibility in the city ahead of the Games, making many kilometres of pavements and tourist attractions accessible for all. This is a direct consequence of Rio staging the Paralympic Games and will leave a lasting legacy for Rio residents and visitors once the Games close in September 2016.

“We leave Rio with a positive feeling that all is being done to deliver a highly successful Paralympic Games in 2016.”

The IPC Project Review came one week after delegates from 17 National Paralympic Committees (NPC) from five continents visited Rio for the first ever NPC Open Day in the history of the Paralympic Movement, and declared themselves impressed by the progress made.

Parsons, one of the leading figures in the global Paralympic Movement, joins the Rio 2016 Organising Committee on a volunteer basis. In his role as Chair of the Paralympic Integration Committee, Parsons will bring together the Paralympic specific elements of each functional area within Rio 2016 on a monthly basis to find solutions to any issues that arise and to ensure the Paralympic Games remain fully integrated across the Rio 2016 project. 

The Brazilian becomes the first official Rio 2016 Pioneer Volunteer as part of a programme designed to find skilled volunteers dedicated to working within the organising committee.

Gonzalez said: “The appointment of Andrew Parsons underlines how committed the organising committee is to delivering a high quality Paralympic Games. Andrew has an extensive knowledge of the Paralympic Movement and he will be an asset to Rio 2016.”

Parsons stressed the transformative effect the Games could have for people with a disability, saying: “It is a great honour for me to be involved even more in the organisation of South America’s first Paralympic Games. They have the potential to transform this region and the lives of millions of people.”

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman also expressed his delight that Parsons had accepted the invitation to work even closer with the organising committee: “There is no one else in Brazil, and very few people in the world, with Andrew’s level of knowledge and expertise on Paralympic sports and the Paralympic Games. He will provide us with very valuable input to our decision-making process and can mobilise his extensive network of contacts to support our preparations.”