2016 Rio Paralympics

The 2016 Summer Paralympics, the fifteenth Summer Paralympic Games, are an upcoming major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016, making them the first Summer Paralympics to be held during the host city's wintertime.

This will mark the first time a Latin American and South American city hosts the event, the second Southern Hemisphere city and nation, the first one being the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, and also the first time a Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country hosts the event. 

These Games will see the introduction of two new sports to the Paralympic program: canoeing and the paratriathlon.

BAME Olympians to watch;

Name: Mandip Sehmi 

Home Town: Leamington Spa 

DOB: 13/12/1980 

Sport: Wheelchair Rugby  

Ambassador, Mandip Sehmi will be soon be facing competitors from across the world alongside his fellow team GB players in Rio 2016 Paralympics. Mandip first made his Paralympic debut 8 years ago at the Beijing Paralympic Games. After finishing 5th place in London 2012 Mandip has earnt his third Cap representing his country.  

“It's quite amazing to be competing at my third Paralympics, it's something I never thought I'd be doing when I first started the sport so to be selected for my third Games is such a great feeling.” 

Mandip has featured in the IWRF European Championships (2005, 2007 and 2015) coming away with three gold medals. Will the Rio Paralympics set the stage for Mandips first ever Olympic medal? See Team GB kick off the Paralympic medals campaign on Wednesday 14th September against Australia in the Group stages.  

Name: Ali Jawad  

Home Town: Tottenham, London 

DOB: 12/01/1989 

Sport: Powerlifting   

Competing in the 59KG class, Ali Jawad is a British Powerlifter who has taken gold in his most recent competition the IPC Powerlifting European Championships 2015. The 27-year-old is in his best form and after the misery of be unable to fulfil his Paralympic dream due to illness just the night before competition in Beijing, Ali said,  

“The target is to come away with some sort of medal. After last time, it will be something that I really want, after all the hurdles in my way, I think to finally get one, will be a dream come true.” 

 Ali starts his pursuit for a medal position on 9th September 2016.