![Two blindfolded men, one in a suit lying on a field of play, catching a ball](/sites/default/files/images/150909155611801_12002865_101_0.jpg)
How preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games entered the home straight in 2015
Venues built, test events staged, volunteers selected, torches unveiled, preconceptions challenged and much more... it’s been a busy 12 months for organisers of the Rio 2016 Games
![Daoliang Hu (L) of China celebrates winning gold against Anton Datsko (R) of Ukraine during the Men's Individual Foil Category B final of the Wheelchair Fencing on day 6 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/150505131101702_151233846.jpg)
Ten things we learned in 2015: Wheelchair fencing
The year 2015 was action-packed for the world’s elite wheelchair fencers. Here are 10 things we learned about the sport over the past 12 months.
![Sandra Paovic of Croatia](/sites/default/files/images/150206091853984_Sandra%2BPaovic%2BCRO.jpg)
Para-table tennis: Five questions for 2016
After the 2015 season, here are some lingering thoughts heading into the Games year.
![PyeongChang 2018 emblem](/sites/default/files/images/151116172813722_Pyeongchang%2Blogo%2Bsquare.jpg)
PyeongChang 2018 aims to breakdown language barriers
Organising Committee signs MOU for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with various Ministries.
Europa Cups rearranged due to a lack of snow
Two IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup events planned for Spain in early January will now take place a month later.
![Germany’s Markus Rehm](/sites/default/files/images/151218120751928_2%2Blandscape13.jpg)
No.2 Rehm’s long jump of 8.40m creates global headlines
The German long jumper retained his world title with a performance that would have won him gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
![Kendall Gretsch](/sites/default/files/images/151125093138235_jms_8625.jpg)
2016 ITU calendar complete
In addition to the seven WPE events, a stand-alone Para-triathlon World Championships will also be held.
![Group picture of Rwanda's women sitting volleyball team](/sites/default/files/images/151216143801195_3%2Blandscape12.jpg)
No. 3 Rwandan women secure Rio 2016 sitting volleyball spot
For the first time, Africa will send a women’s sitting volleyball team to the Paralympics. That team will be Rwanda.
![Alem Mumuni](/sites/default/files/images/120214141232239_Alem%2Bat%2BUCI%2BWorld%2BChamps%2BDenmark%2BSept%2B2011%2Bresized.jpg)
Mumuni uses para-cycling to improve lives in Ghana
The London 2012 Paralympian hopes to use his experiences to inspire people with impairments in his country to take up sport.
![Sir Philip playing wheelchair basketball in Rio](/sites/default/files/images/151216142852838_4%2Blandscape11.jpg)
No. 4 Rio 2016 tickets go on sale celebrating 1 Year To Go
A record total of 3.3 million tickets are available; overseas fans are able to buy from authorised vendors in their countries.
![Logo Swiss Paralympic Committee](/sites/default/files/images/171214102820060_NPC%2BSwitzerland.jpg)
Swiss Paralympic and Swiss Paraplegic Foundation extend partnership
The Swiss Paraplegic Foundation (SPS) has been a partner of Swiss Paralympic for 15 years.
![Rixt van der Horst](/sites/default/files/images/150317082135209_Rixt%2Bvan%2Bder%2BHorst1_0.jpg)
Equestrian: 10 things learned
Here are the top takeaways from 2015 in the sport.
![wheelchair basketball](/sites/default/files/images/151217101858435_5%2Blandscape10.jpg)
No. 5 Canada, USA go head-to-head in Toronto 2015
The two hottest wheelchair rugby rivals went at each other at the Parapan American Games.
Kurka targets PyeongChang 2018 start line
The US alpine skier, who has broken his back three times, is coming off his first World Championships medal and believes that a less ‘gung-ho’ approach to competition will equal success.
![close up shot of Daniel Dias swimming and winning gold](/sites/default/files/images/151216141645523_6%2Blandscape9.jpg)
No. 6 Dias makes it another golden year in pool
Brazilian Paralympic champion Daniel Dias won seven world titles and eight gold medals at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.
![Cuban sprinter Omara Durand](/sites/default/files/images/151218124226466_7%2Blandscape8.jpg)
No.7 Multiple golds and world records for Durand
The Cuban sprinter had a year to remember becoming the world’s fastest female para-athlete with sensational performances at Toronto 2015 and Doha 2015.
![Angelica Bernal and Johana Martinez (Colombia) during the Women's Doubles Semi-Final against USA in Toronto at the 2015 Parapan American Games.](/sites/default/files/images/150812073146388_DSC_4135.jpg)
NPC Colombia provides education on para-sport to future leaders
The National Paralympic Committee is launching an internship programme for undergraduates to intern at the NPC.
![Selfie of seven people](/sites/default/files/images/151211151339136_para%2Btable%2Btennis%2Bawards.jpg)
Para-table tennis: 10 things learned
Find out who are the ones to beat, who are the rising stars and more after this year of para-table tennis.
![Top 50 moments - No. 8](/sites/default/files/images/151218125046510_8%2Blandscape7.jpg)
No. 8 Paralympian elected to Canadian government
With her appointment to Canadian Minster for Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Paralympian Carla Qualtrough became one of the most influential woman in Canadian sport.
![The Alpensia Resort is seen from above on February 10, 2015 in the mountain cluster of Pyeongchang, South Korea.](/sites/default/files/images/150306095847428_PyeongChang%2B1.jpg)
Tourism boost for PyeongChang 2018
Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) signs MOU supporting the tourism industry for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games