The Paralympics closed their first edition in South America with a colourful ceremony rich in musicality, in tribute to the rhythms of the country around some of the great Brazilian singers. ““Mission accomplished,” said Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee.

On stage, the most powerful images and the most moving of the Paralympic Games Rio 2016 parade. The swimmer, a refugee from Syria, Ibrahim Al Hussein and the American Tatyana McFadden, holder of four medals in Rio athletics gold, receive the Whang Youn Dai Achievement prize which rewards athletes who best represented the spirit Paralympic, these Rio 2016 Games.

During the 16 days of the Olympic Games in Rio, more than 11,000 athletes from 205 countries entered into the competition to win 974 medals. 91 Olympic records and 27 world records were beaten.
During the Paralympic Games, nearly 4,300 athletes representing 159 nationalities, for eleven days faced extraordinary challenges and achieved feats. 1,500 medals were won. Nearly 350 new Paralympic records and 209 world records were established.

Rio 2016 also counted on the involvement of a dedicated workforce and numerous. In August, 35,000 volunteers from 161 countries and 5,000 employees worked on the Olympic Games.
During the Paralympics, 15,000 volunteers from 119 nationalities and 3,000 paid staff contributed to the success of the Rio 2016 Games.

The public has responded! More than 6 million tickets were sold for the Olympic Games including 2.1 for the tests of single Olympic Park. The success was repeated in September, with 2 million tickets for the Paralympic Games elapsed. Details: 80% were purchased by Brazilians!

After the speeches of Sir Philip Craven (President of the International Paralympic Committee) and Carlos Nuzman, Eduardo Paes (Mayor of Rio) transmits the Paralympic flag to the Governor of Tokyo. A symbolic baton passing to announce the next edition of the Games in the Japanese capital in 2020.