With 100 days to go until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said he expects this year's Games to deliver the best performances in Paralympic history.

“I am fully confident that Rio 2016 will be the best ever in terms of athletic performance, going beyond what we saw in London four years ago," Sir Philip Craven said.

“I am hugely excited about what people will witness in Rio this September. They will see incredible feats of skill, endurance and speed from athletes that many thought were unimaginable years ago."

About 4,350 athletes from more than 170 countries are set to compete across 22 sports at the Games, which open on Wednesday 7 September at the legendary Maracanã Stadium.

At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, 251 world records were set. Craven thinks that the first ever Games to be held in South America will see many more record breaking performances. A series of world records have been set over the course of the last month, including two at the athletics test event in Rio.

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"If they are breaking records now in May, I can only imagine how amazing their performances will be this September," Craven said. "Athletes perform to their best when they have optimal conditions and I think what they’ll find in Rio will suit them perfectly."

Cuba's Omara Durand is the fastest woman in Paralympic history (Photo: Getty Images/Francois Nel)

Audience of billions

The IPC also expects record-breaking media coverage of the Games. The Rio 2016 events are set to be shown in over 120 countries to a record cumulative audience of four billion people.

“Expansive global coverage, combined with outstanding displays of athletic ability, will have a seismic impact on how people around the world view people with an impairment," Craven said. “Para-athletes will showcase to billions around the world the power of the human spirit and what can be achieved when testing your body to its absolute limits.”

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The IPC president said he was confident that the success of the home team would inspire the Brazilian people and contribute towards a memorable Games. After finishing a highest ever seventh in the medals table at London 2012, Brazil is targeting a top five finish this September.

Craven said: “The Brazilian people are world renowned for their happiness, lust for life and love of sport but recent issues have diminished this a little. I truly believe that September’s Paralympics will be a transformational event; those who attend the Games or watch on TV will feel huge pride in Brazil staging such a global and life-changing spectacle. The Paralympians will put a huge smile on the faces of the Brazilian people."

He highlighted swimmer Daniel Dias and 5-a-side football star Jefinho as two Brazilian Paralympians who will have the opportunity to become sporting heroes for years to come.

Paralympic footballer Jeferson 'Jefinho' Gonçalves carried the Olympic torch in Salvador this month (Photo: Rio 2016/Andre Luiz Mello)

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place from 7-18 September 2016. 

At the Toronto 2015 Parapan-American Games, Daniel Dias was the most decorated athlete with eight gold medals from all events (Photo: Getty Images/Buda Mendes)