Rio 2016 Bid Committee presents paralympic plans to IOC

Today at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, the Rio 2016 Bid Committee presented its plans for the Paralympic Games to the IOC’s Evaluation Commission members. Mayor Eduardo Paes, Brazilian Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, Rio 2016 Paralympic Sport Manager Mariana Mello, and Brazilian Paralympic medalists Daniel Dias and Sandro Laina presented to the members.

“The Paralympic Games in Rio will bring an unprecedented opportunity to raise the level of exposure for the Paralympic Movement in South America, starting with Brazil, a country with more than 25 million citizens with disabilities,” argued Parsons.

“The benefits of the Games in Rio will remain for future generations. Many facilities will be built or adapted to world standards. Transport, stores and other services will be modified and adapted. This will improve the lives of around 900,000 people with disabilities or reduced mobility in our city. The transformation will go beyond modifications to buildings: it will bring a new level of awareness to Brazil and South America.”

The presentation on Rio’s plans for the 2016 Paralympic Games featured a special moment provided by athlete Sandro Laina, football 5-a-side player. When it came to Laina’s turn to speak, the lights in the presentation room were switched off. Laina, who is visually impaired, then spoke into the microphone, relating in English how a simple sound changed his life. “I shook a ball with ball bearings in it, without saying what it was, and how it transformed my life,” explains Laina.

“When the lights were switched back on, they saw that the sound came from the ball. People told me they were very touched at that moment. After the presentation, some of them came to me and spoke about this emotion.”
In his presentation, swimming champion Daniel Dias spoke about the importance of having competed alongside sports stars in Beijing and stressed how Rio and Brazil will benefit in terms of accessibility if Rio de Janeiro hosts the 2016 Paralympic Games.

“In 2016, we will have a totally accessible city, thanks to action taken by the three levels of government,” said Mariana Mello, noting that Beijing had accessibility problems before holding the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Rio’s experience as host of various international Paralympic competitions was emphasised by Andrew Parsons including the success and positive effects of the Rio 2007 Parapan American Games, considered by the President of the International Paralympic Committee as the best ever. Parsons also addressed about transport:

“One of the biggest issues for accessibility is public transport. As a result of this, the City Government approved a municipal law that will ensure that all public transport in the city is accessible by 2014. All new buses are designed with this in mind, and are built with higher standards of accessibility”.