CGTN America
The Rio Paralympics are in their home stretch, with the celebrations including an off-season Carnival. It’s taking place on the popular Olympic Boulevard, in the city’s renewed port area, among several attractions aimed at increasing disability awareness.
CCTV America’s Lucrecia Franco reports. Follow Lucrecia C. Franco on Twitter @LucreciaFranco
As the first and only samba school in the world designed for people with disabilities, “Embaixadores da Alegria,” means “Ambassadors of Joy.”
The group, founded by an English entrepreneur, has been taking part in Rio’s famous Carnival parade since 2006. Now they are the biggest attraction of the Paralympics – performing at Rio’s brand new Olympic Boulevard.
Samba is not the only attraction at the Olympic Boulevard, a place that has become an alternative for those who can’t go to the competitions but don’t want to miss the excitement of the games.
There is also an exhibition of wheelchairs that have been customized by local artists. It is called the wheel chair parade and the idea is to show that they can be transformed into works of art.
What’s more, the kinetic sculpture rotating around the Olympic cauldron is meant to represent life – its designer said it should serve as reminder that there are no limits to what a human can accomplish. It is clear those celebrating at this party have taken that message to heart.
2016 Rio Paralympics become second most attended games in history
Before the 2016 Paralympic Games even began, they were largely written off as a failure. Dismal ticket sales, the ongoing doping scandal involving Russia and budget problems all spun into a narrative that the games were doomed to failure.
But the predictions were proven wrong.
CCTV America’s Lucrecia Franco more Insight from Rio de Janeiro.
It’s been an unlikely success story. At the end of August- just weeks before the Games began- the organizers sold a scant 200,000 tickets.
This week, ticket sales passed the 2 million mark. These Paralympic Games are now the second most attended in history.
Ian Brittain on Rio Paralympics
For more on Rio Paralympics and the games’ importance, CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Ian Brittain, research fellow from the Coventry Business School.
