Rio 2016 Paralympic Games - #1YearToGo

On 7th September 2015 we are 1 year to go until the start of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Following the tremendous success of London 2012, Rio's 2016 tournament is eagerly awaited by all to see who will be the next Paralympic champions.

The build-up to Rio, through a number of qualification tournaments, has shown CP Football as a world class paralympic sport, and the performances of our teams and athletes demonstrate why so many are inspired to play their part.

Festival at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

On September 7th, a big event was develop to celebrate the mark of One Year To Go for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. It took place at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where the rowing and canoeing competitions will take place.

The event has officially started with the presence of the president of IPC, Phillip Craven, the president of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, the president of both Brazilian Olympic Committee and Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, besides representatives of the city and state of Rio de Janeiro and the Sports Ministry. The Paralympic and the Brazilian anthems were played before some Brazilian medalists from Toronto 2015 entered the arena to join the celebration.

Many activities were provided for the public, in which the people could experience many sports, as wheelchair basketball, archery, goalball, boccia, slalom and football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, fencing. There were matches of sitting volleyball between Brazil and USA and football 5-a-side, between Brazil and Argentina, besides a 100 m-track competition with the presence of athletes from Brazil, Cuba, Ireland, Australia and USA.

The event finished with the samba group “Embaixadores da Alegria” (“Joy’s Ambassadors”), which is formed by people of many kinds of disability. It was a very remarkable event, in which the people from Rio de Janeiro joined the spirit, of makes everybody sure the 2016 Paralympic Games will be a great success.

CP Football (Football 7-a-side)

The Paralympic sport of Football 7-a-side follows FIFA rules, with some key differences: there are seven players on the field, the playing field and the goals are smaller, there is no offside rule and throw-ins may be made with only one hand and rolled under-arm.

The sport is intended for athletes with cerebral palsy and other similar conditions, and rules require the presence of athletes with varying levels of disability.
The sport made its official debut on the Paralympic programme at the New York/Stoke Mandeville 1984 Games, and has featured at every Games since then.

To find out more about CP Football in the Paralympic Games click here

The Football 7-a-side competition at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be held from 8 September to 16 September at the Deodoro Stadium.
The competition will consist of one medal event

Football 7-a-side Manager, Rio 2016 - Paulo Cruz

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Cruz is a physical education teacher and a graduate of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). He has been working with Football 7-a-side for 21 years. He was the head coach of the Brazilian national team, having participated in all major international competitions since 1995, including the Paralympic Games, having won the bronze medal at Sydney 2000 and the silver medal at Athens 2004. He has also been a member of the of Football 7-a-side International Committee, now IFCPF Technical Committee, since 1997.

2016 Qualifying Teams

Rio 2016 - Paralympic Games - Football 7-a-side schedule

IT'S RIO'S TURN

The Paralympic Games are approaching, and it is with great honour that the Rio 2016 Organising Committee announce the start of ticket sales for the competitions, which will take place from 7-18 September 2016.

Rio de Janeiro is currently the capital of world sport and is getting ready to offer unparalleled scenes for the performance of today’s greatest athletes. At each sports venue it will be possible to experience the unique atmosphere provided by Paralympic sport, and witness new stories of overcoming and triumph.

Rio 2016 will have for sale a total of 3.8 million tickets for approximately 300 sporting sessions and two ceremonies. Tickets for the sports sessions will be priced between R$10 and R$130, facilitating participation in the event that will be staged in Brazil, South America for the first time.

In this guide, you will find the necessary information to become a Paralympic spectator. Take the time to read each page carefully and to familiarise yourself with the full event schedule. This will make it possible to compile the best programme for the event. (Guide available on the top right of this page)

Your presence is of great importance. Come and be an active part of the Games, become part of history, bring your energy and enthusiasm. Words can’t explain it - be there!

Carlos Nuzman Rio 2016 President 

Competition Venue: Deodoro Stadium

During the Olympic Games, Deodoro Stadium will host rugby sevens' Olympic debut as well as the riding and combined sections of the modern pentathlon. Part of the Deodoro Olympic Park, the venue will then stage 7-a-side football during the Paralympic Games. This temporary venue is erected on an existing polo field beside the Youth Arena and Deodoro Aquatics Centre. The gross capacity is just over 15,000.

Deodoro Olympic Park will be the second largest concentration of competition venues during the Rio 2016 Games, promising a vibrant mix of traditional and newer sports. Located in the west of Rio, the neighbourhood of Deodoro played a prominent role in the 2007 Pan-American Games, when a number of new venues were built there. This resulted in increased participation of young people in several sports and the aim is to build on this achievement through the Rio 2016 Games. A sporting legacy will be left in the shape of the X-Park, which will include the Whitewater Stadium and Olympic BMX Centre, along with a 500,000m2 public leisure area, the second biggest in Rio.

Athletes Village

The Athlete's Village, a real neighborhood with over 800 thousand square meters that will host over 17,000 people during the 2016 Games, including Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and other members of teams. Altogether 31 residential buildings will be built, divided into seven condominiums with 3604 apartments of two, three and four bedrooms. The proximity to the Olympic Park,which will be played most of the competition games, and the Athletes’ Park, is another great advantage of the Athletes´ Village.

Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain... it’s easy to understand why Rio is known as Cidade Maravilhosa – the Marvellous City.