News - Football 7-a-side
![Spain's Juan Jose Mendez Fernandez competes in the men's 3km C1 Individual Pursuit Qualifying at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.](/sites/default/files/images/161231145617945_GettyImages-601090252.jpg)
Craig Spence: My top five moments of 2016
The IPC’s Director of Media and Communications looks back at his favourite moments from an exhausting and exhilarating 2016.
![Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain competes in the Women's 800m - T34](/sites/default/files/images/160916235349860_GettyImages-606519300.jpg)
BPA and Allianz extend partnership
The British Paralympic Association (BPA) and Allianz UK have extended their partnership through until 2020.
![IPC Top 50 moments 2016 - 1 - landscape](/sites/default/files/images/161215111441702_01%2Blandscape%2B-%2BGetty.jpg)
No. 1 Rio 2016 are the People’s Games
Despite issues in the build-up, the Rio 2016 showed to the world that the Paralympics can be a success in any country they are staged.
Wheelchair fencing: Five things we learned in 2016
From the emergence of new stars to the resurgence of former champions - what 2016 taught us about wheelchair fencing.
![Natalia Partyka competing in Rio de Janeiro](/sites/default/files/images/160914134252549_GettyImages-588939342.jpg)
Table tennis: Five things we learned in 2016
The sport saw the rise of a 16-year-old Paralympic champion, as well as an Egyptian player who captured much attention with his playing style.
Lithuanian Paralympic PR campaign wins major award
A campaign to raise awareness about Lithuanian Paralympians ahead of Rio 2016 scooped the country’s best sports communication campaign of the year.
![IPC Top 50 moments 2016 - 2 - landscape](/sites/default/files/images/161215111215650_02%2Blandscape%2B-%2BGetty.jpg)
No. 2: More medals for more countries
A total of 83 countries won at least one medal at Rio 2016, the most ever at a Paralympic Games.
![Australia's Chris Bond pushes down the court as USA's Josh Brewer reaches for the ball](/sites/default/files/images/160918215616140_Bogetti-Smith_Rio%2BParalympics_Rugby%2B18_20160918_0022.jpg)
Wheelchair rugby: Five things learned from 2016
Tokyo 2020 might see a shuffle in the final medal standings. Find out what else emerged from this year.
![No. 3 The IPC make a stand for clean sport](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/VI3PpMG-moBlSm8i2ToTtzf9esJROllcY_X3qA1Dmk0.jpg?itok=ymMObmur)
No. 3 The IPC make a stand for clean sport
On 7 August the IPC suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee for failure to fulfil its IPC membership obligations.
![Group of people pose in front of slopes](/sites/default/files/images/161228104736870_161228_PyeongChang%2B2018%2BPress%2BRelease_Photo%2B3.jpg)
Jeongseon Alpine Centre to host Para alpine skiing and snowboard in 2018
The IPC and PyeongChang agree to consolidate venue for Test Events and 2018 Paralympic Winter Games
![The mascot for the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships is a lynx](/sites/default/files/images/161221164041117_Finsterau%2BMascot_0.jpg)
Help name the mascot of Finsterau 2017
The organisers of the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships have revealed that a lynx will be an ambassador for the competition.
![Tao Zheng of China](/sites/default/files/images/161216091233135_GettyImages-176715012.jpg)
Zheng vows to only swim for pleasure in 2017
China’s most popular swimmer speaks on successfully defending his signature title, training schedule and his rivalry with teammate Qing Xu.
![No. 4 Images of the Paralympics go viral](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/k-v0IBrEv6pZhnM-UVGeDdWetAukNTAvVe_HYsMA6dk.jpg?itok=yIhxZhq0)
No. 4 Images of the Paralympics go viral
A two-minute long wheelchair tennis rally and an incredible table tennis shot are among the most viral videos from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Denysiuk’s difficult Rio exam
Despite winning a bronze at his Paralympic debut, the Ukrainian pistol hopeful did not meet his high expectations for the Games.
![A female sit-skier takes to the trails](/sites/default/files/images/161221184704685_Sini%2BPyy.jpg)
Finland’s Pyy: Why I love cross-country skiing
In the build-up to the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships, Sini Pyy gives us an insight into her love of the sport.
![No. 5 World’s strongest Paralympian raises bar higher](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/85KsZzykIXbAlNK8m7HJWnTuDBpH29MxEUat9dBayk8.jpg?itok=HmNDDicv)
No. 5 World’s strongest Paralympian raises bar higher
Iranian powerlifter Siamand Rahman delivered fans with the lift they had been waiting for, and went even further.
![Markus Salcher goes down the slope very fast, he seems to lose control](/sites/default/files/images/140308172559148_477220513.jpg)
Three things you did not know about Markus Salcher
As he builds up to compete at the 2017 Worlds, find out more about the Austrian downhill and super-G Paralympic champion.
![Top 50 No 6](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/BDrgVf20Tm1QWHToeZNwZRiE3Ht3U1tq-hh1h0b7C7U.jpg?itok=gnaGyYnO)
No. 6 Refugees make history at Rio 2016
Ibrahim Al-Hussein and Shahrad Nasajpour competed as part of an Independent Paralympic Athletes’ Team, spreading a message of hope for refugees with impairments.
![No. 7 Most decorated Paralympians](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/Liz7Ue1wA4CffEx3lTfIOkxIV4ug8gInUNt1eUIVwyQ.jpg?itok=1KRh5yRw)
No. 7 More bling for Boki
Ihar Boki left Rio as the most decorated Paralympian, while China once again dominated the medals table.
![Women in wheelchairs forming a circle on a basketball field](/sites/default/files/images/161012074918264_GettyImages-606989252.jpg)
Wheelchair basketball: Five things learned in 2016
The year saw development in Africa, as well as anticipating match-ups heading into the 2017 Europeans.