Rio Paralympics: Paralympic Games with silver tint

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

The 15th Rio 2016 Paralympic Games was brought to a close at the Maracana Stadium on September 18.

Games ended with colorful closing ceremony -- singers, dancers and fireworks lit up the iconic stadium. Famous Brazilian musicians performed in front of the guests and athletes, followed by an immense fireworks display.

International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven, addressing the event said Rio Paralympics were “uniquely Brazilian and wondrous,” as quoted by the BBC.

Carlos Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, was cheered when he exclaimed that “Mission accomplished.”

“The Brazil we love so much has shown the world what it can do. This celebration started with a dream. It was 20 years in the making. Many thought it was impossible. But not for Rio and Brazil,” he said, wishing good luck to Tokyo, who will be the next city to host the Games.

The ceremony also paid tribute with a minute of silence to Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, who died on September 17 from a cardiac attack during a road race.

China won the most medals in this year’s Games, with a total 239, out of which 107 were gold. It is then followed by the United Kingdom and Ukraine, with 64 and 41 medals respectively.

Represented by 24 athletes in six sports including in judo, athletics, powerlifting, swimming, shooting and archery, Azerbaijan claimed 11 medals in the Rio, thus ranking 33rd in the medal table with one gold, eight silver and two bronze.

Some 11 of the athletes for the first time participated in Paralympics. Compared to the London 2012 Olympic Games, the national Para team won one medal less, but in London only seven athletes won medals, while in Rio eight athletes took medals home. In addition, in Rio Azerbaijan was represented by five women who won four medals.

Two national athletes broke a record. Irada Aliyeva in the javelin with a score of 42.58 meters, updated Paralympic record and Elena Ciobanu in the women's 100 meters (11.71) repeated the European record.

Azerbaijan’s only medal was secured by judo fighter Ramil Gasimov in the men’s -73kg finals, who grabbed the medal after gaining victory over Ukrainian Dmitro Solovey.

Last two silvers were secured on the last day of the Olympiad by female athlete Irada Aliyeva and male swimmer Dmitry Salei. Dmitry took the medal in the 50-meter freestyle event reaching the finish in second (24.29 seconds). Earlier in the 100-meter breaststroke Dmitry also won silver.

The silver medals were also taken by swimmer Raman Salei, athlete Elena Chebanu (two silver),  and athlete Kamil Aliyev.

Two bronze medals were grabbed by judoka Rovshan Safarov (-81kg) and athlete Elena Chebanu in 200-meter race.

In general, for 20 years, Azerbaijan won nine gold, 18 silver and 11 bronze medals at the Paralympics, thus bringing home 38 medals.

Now, Azerbaijani paralympians say goodbye to Rio and preparing to win more medals in Tokyo.