The Paralympic Movement initiates a new cycle after the London 2012 Games, and the next host cities are to take advantage of the opportunity to learn with the British experience. Organisers and authorities are gathered in the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) London 2012 Debriefing, which has kicked off the last Wednesday at a hotel in Barra da Tijuca, the Rio 2016™ Olympic Park region.

The transfer of knowledge event will feature members of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the London Organising Committe of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Organising Committees from Sochi 2014, Rio 2016™ and PyeongChang 2018, as well as representatives from the 2020 candidate cities: Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul.

In the opening speech, IPC President Sir Philip Craven, said that London held the finest Paralympic Games ever: "These were the finest Games, and I am sure of this because I was told by the athletes themselves. The London Games exceeded expectations and raised the bar for the ones in the future. Now the baton is with Rio, which has the challenge of hosting even better Games. I know Rio can do it. There is always room for improvement," he said.

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee, thanked the IPC, LOCOG, the Rio 2016™ team and government partners for their attendance and congratulated Andrew Parsons, President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, for the Brazilian Paralympic athletes' excellent performance at the London Games.

"London hosted the best Paralympic Games ever and confirmed that Paralympic sports attract crowds. We had great examples, like the volunteers, that we plan to replicate in 2016. It is our task to present Games of the same level. We are determined to do our very best," Nuzman said.

Andrew Parsons, the President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, helps Ádria dos Santos, blind paralympic champion, to touch one of the  petals of the cauldron of London 2012 exposed at the Debriefing (Photo: Rio 2016™/Alex Ferro)

The two-day event features discussions regarding planning, operational and technical elements of organising the Paralympic Games. The sessions will touch upon subjects such as spectator experience; communication and promotion; commercial and marketing; media; the Paralympic family; integration; inclusion and accessibility; ceremonies; athletes and official competitions.

The opening session was attended by IPC President Sir Philip Craven; IPC Chief Executive Xavier Gonzalez, LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton, LOCOG Director of Paralympic Integration Chris Holmes; Rio 2016™ President Carlos Arthur Nuzman, and Brazilian Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

Paul Deighton said: "One of our aims was to change perceptions, towards disability. In order to leave that legacy, we needed to host amazing Games. We hope the Games we delivered will inspire a generation and delivery lasting attitudinal change ".