The event kicked off on Wednesday evening at Maracana Stadium with an opening ceremony described as low-cost, but lively and musical. It marked the beginning of the 8th edition of the Paralympic Games in history, threatened until the last moment by a dramatic lack of resources and the fear of a sparse audience.
In fact, the situation appears less bleak than expected, although there is still concern about the quality of the organization and the preparation of the venues.
On the sporting side, the numbers are almost accurate. As of the latest count, the Rio Paralympic Games will bring together 4,300 athletes from 159 delegations in Brazil.
Among them, two refugees invited to march under the banner of the Paralympic movement, following the Rio Games, where 10 were gathered by the IOC.
A notably absent participant: Russia. The IPC firmly showed them the exit. The 84 Russian athletes tried everything to force their way into the Games, but to no avail. On the eve of the opening, their last appeal in a German court was rejected.
Ticket sales: The figures had long been stuck at a dismal level of 200,000 tickets sold. It is now climbing steadily above 1.6 million units.
In Beijing, in 2008, 1.7 million tickets were purchased. The Brazilians are dreaming out loud of surpassing the Chinese.
