The_Guardian_-_2016-12-29

pride and celebration soon replaced the tension as it became clear the locals were on board, tempted
by affordable tickets and a concerted publicity drive by the organisers. Imagine the IPC’s joy and
relief when a sellout crowd of 167,675 flocked to the Olympic Park on the first Saturday, beating the
attendance of 157,000 on the busiest day of the Olympics. More than two million tickets were sold in
the end, making Rio 2016 the second most attended Paralympics in history.
Perhaps it was not a surprise to see the IPC salvage the situation given that the body, responding with
the decisiveness sorely missing from its Olympic counterparts, had already demonstrated its resolve
by banning Russia from the Games because of evidence of state-sponsored doping. The IPC stayed
firm despite an appeal from the Russian Paralympic Committee, although there was a show of mutiny
from Belarus at the opening ceremony when Andrei Fomochkin, a Belarusian sports ministry official,
smuggled a Russian flag past security and waved it during the parade of athletes.
Kadeena Cox celebrates taking gold in the C4-5 500m time trial final. Photograph: Andrew
Matthews/PA
While Russia were banished, it was a Games to savour for ParalympicsGB. UK Sport set a 264-
strong squad the task of beating their tally of 120 medals in London and Mission 121 was completed
with two days to go. Britain finished second behind China in the medals table after winning 147,
while Dame Sarah Storey became the most successful British Paralympian of all time with her 14th
gold, Kadeena Cox became the first British Paralympian to top the podium in two different sports
since 1984, Jonnie Peacock lost and found his lucky charms after defending his T11 100m title and
Ellie Simmonds became the first SM6 swimmer to race below three minutes in the 200m medley.
David Weir’s struggles on his farewell to track racing were the only disappointment, but the veteran
wheelchair racer hardly had a bad career.
Perhaps I am remembering it through rose-tinted glasses, but my memory of the short journey from my
hotel to the main park is of smiling volunteers noisily greeting fans who were wearing yellow shirts
and waving Brazilian flags, creating a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere, full of colour and
positive energy.
Imagine the IPC’s joy and relief when a sellout crowd of 167,674 flocked to the Olympic Park
on the first Saturday.
There were imperfections. The Olympic Stadium was an unpopular destination, remote and difficult
to reach, lowering the sense of occasion during the athletics sessions. The atmosphere at the venue
was often flat, even for the most attractive events.