Rio de Janeiro - The 2016 Rio Paralympics has Zika, no money, no Russians and no spectators. The 2016 Rio Paralympians have heart, no legs, no arms and no worries. Somewhere in the middle, in the muddle of organisers and the professionalism of the athletes, will rise a Games that will leave the world astounded once more after Wednesday night’s opening ceremony.
Perhaps this is may be the perfect entrance for the Paralympics, a Games that will succeed despite the obstacles and a society still sometimes wary of the disabled. London may never be topped. It was a spectacular spectacular, a Moulin Rouge of wonder and athleticism. For Rio, well, nothing is certain. The organisers ran out of money, ticket sales have been slow and the International Paralympic Committee took a brave and controversial decision to ban all Russian athletes.
Sir Philip Craven, the president of the IPC, said recently that Rio is the biggest crisis in the 56 years of the Paralympics. Some venues have been closed after Olympics, which is nothing new. Some services have been cut back, which isn’t good news. Travel grants were not paid in time. There will be fewer volunteers. But through the gloom, there was good news this week, though, when it was announced that they had sold over 1.5-million tickets. A campaign to #filltheseats by buying them for local children has helped. A worried Beijing are starting to feel a little more comfortable. Craven said the organisers had told him there were “sufficient resources to put on a very good games”.
“The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games achieved an important milestone on Sunday as it reached 1.5 million tickets sold,” said a relieved IPC. Several finals are now fully sold out. The Paralympic athletes can be prepared to display their amazing will and skills in fully booked venues. While there are still around one million tickets available the rhythm of sales suggests that all the 2.5-million tickets will be sold.”
South Africa’s Paralympic team are not used to being spoilt. They will make do, no matter what the conditions are. The team is 45 strong, representing 10 codes: archery, athletics, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, powerlifting, rowing, swimming, shooting and wheelchair tennis.
Much is expected from them after their 29 medals in London. It is unsure whether that will be repeated. The world has caught up to South Africa, who were strong in Sydney, Athens and Beijing. Paralympians around the world are now benefiting from better coaching and improved funding. Ernst van Dyk knows better than most how to push longevity. This will be his seventh Paralympic Games, and he will compete in cycling and wheelchair racing. His form has been good this past year, his equipment has lifted up a notch with a full carbon ’chair designed and built by Honda R&D Sun. He has 3D gloves. These may be his last Games. He is leaving little to chance.
Wheelchair tennis player Lucas Sithole will be looking to make up for his disappointment in London when he bombed out in the round of 16. Hilton Langenhoven won three golds in Beijing on the track and the field, and will be hoping for a return to those heady heights.
Zanele Situ won gold in the javelin in Sydney and returns to be the flag bearer for the team. Ntando Mahlangu, a double amputee, is just 14, the baby of the team, and only learnt to walk properly four years ago. Now he is a 100m and 200m sprinter. He may be the surprise package.
“I am fully confident Rio 2016 will be the best Games ever in terms of athletic performance ... The opportunity we have here to make Rio, Brazil, Latin America and the world a more equitable place for all does not come around very often,” said Craven. Rio and the Paralympians will be sure to make the most of that opportunity. No worries.
* Kevin McCallum will be in Rio to cover the Paralympic Games for Independent Media. These will be his fifth Paralympics.
Independent Media