PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![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/oembed_thumbnails/VI3PpMG-moBlSm8i2ToTtzf9esJROllcY_X3qA1Dmk0.jpg)
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/oembed_thumbnails/k-v0IBrEv6pZhnM-UVGeDdWetAukNTAvVe_HYsMA6dk.jpg)
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.