RIO 2016 PARALYMPICS NEWS

FC Barcelona stars and Spain’s 5-a-side blind team

Ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Spanish Paralympic team tested their skills against the likes of Lionel Messi.

Sherzod Namozov UZB (white) battles with Makoto Hirose JPN in Rio 2016

France’s Sandrine Martinet puts injury woes firmly behind her with judo gold on opening day of competition at Rio Paralympics.

Woman in roing boat celebrates

Rio 2016 will feature four rowing medal events, which will be held in the Lagoa Stadium from 9-11 September.

Daniel Dias

Home favourite Daniel Dias gets his campaign underway as he aims for an incredible nine titles.

Nigeria's Yakubu Adesokan winning gold at London 2012

There are first medals of the Paralympic Games for Vietnam and Hungary as athletes raise the bar at the start of competition at Riocentro.

Shingo Kunieda of Japan

Wheelchair tennis rolls into action on 9 September at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Barra Olympic Park.

Veronika Vadovicova concentrates on her next shot.

The first day of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games is packed with sporting action and includes the Games’ first medals.

(GOLD) NORBEKOV Khusniddin Uzbekistan

On the track, athletes lay down their markers in qualification for eagerly-awaited Fast Friday finals at the Olympic Stadium

A picture of a powerlifter on a bench competing

Medals up for grabs from the off in what is forecast to be the most competitive Paralympic Games in the history of the sport.

A look inside a venue where table tennis will be contested. On the court are four tennis tables set up.

Egyptian Hamadtou set for his Paralympic debut after starring in the Nothing is Impossible YouTube video.

Gold medalist Daniel Dias of Brazil celebrates on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Freestyle - S5 Final on day 1 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

A bronze medal for Italo Pereiro also delights the home crowds at the Aquatics Stadium, alongside eight more world records.

The Netherlands' Marlou van Rhijn on her way to breaking the 100m T43 world record at the 2016 Nottwil Grand Prix.

The Games have arrived – athletics action starts today (Thursday 8 September) at the Olympic Stadium. It’s time for one last chat with our experts.

Yunidis Castillo of Cuba celebrates as she wins gold in the Women's 100m T46 Final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Cuba’s five-time Paralympic champion is aiming for four more golds at her third Paralympics Games.

A visually impaired athlete runs with her guide on the track of a stadium.

It’s a busy start at the Olympic Stadium with some of the fastest Paralympians on the planet making their first appearances on the track.

Swimmer in the water breathing between two freestyle strokes

New bests for China, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, and Great Britain in the heats open the first day of competition at the Aquatics Stadium.

Sarah Storey of Great Britain celebrates after the womens C5 3000m individual pursuit track cycling on day 1 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Cyclist Sarah Storey, 38, becomes her country’s most decorated female Paralympian on first day of track cycling action at Rio 2016.