PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Ibrahim Al Hussein](/sites/default/files/images/160826093021838_Ibrahim%2BAl%2BHussein%2B7%2Bcredit%2BUNHCR%2BAchilleas%2BZavallis.jpg)
Two to form Independent Paralympic Athletes Team
The full team, including Chef de Mission, coaching and support staff, will travel to Rio 2016 under the Paralympic flag.
![Sir Philip Craven](/sites/default/files/images/160531064953039_Sir%2BPhilip.jpg)
Sir Philip Craven to athletes: Be a Proud Paralympian
The President of the International Paralympic Committee has written an open letter encouraging athletes to get involved in a new venture at Rio 2016.
![Rio 2016 preview: Men’s up to 80kg](/sites/default/files/images/160826162622859_Powerlifting%2Bmen%2Bup%2Bto%2B80.jpg)
Rio 2016 preview: Men’s up to 80kg
World champion Xiao Fei Gu has a chance to upgrade his Paralympic silver to gold.
![R7 (men’s 50m rifle three positions SH1)](/sites/default/files/images/160825114903402_Shooting%2BR7.jpg)
Rio 2016 preview: R7 (men’s 50m rifle three positions SH1)
Swedish sharp shooter Jonas Jacobsson enters as the defending Paralympic and world champion.
![Woman sits in chair and throws discus](/sites/default/files/images/160718124153205_Rachael%2BMorrison.jpg)
US thrower Rachael Morrison ready to take on her rivals in Rio
The rivalry between Morrison and Great Britain’s Jo Butterfield could be a highlight of September’s Paralympic Games.
![Tickets for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/160523070757927_Rio%2Btickets_0.jpg)
Latest Rio 2016 record: 145,000 tickets sold on one day
So far, about 800,000 tickets have been sold of the total 2.5 million tickets available.
![Rio 2016 Paralympic Torch design is white with red, orange circles.](/sites/default/files/images/151211155123932_torch.jpg)
Rio 2016 Paralympic torch lit in Brasilia
The Paralympic torch relay will begin on 1 September and will visit five cities around Brazil on its way to Rio de Janeiro.
![Woman in wheelchair doing archery](/sites/default/files/images/160826115944666_Neroli%2BSusan%2BFairhall_0.jpg)
IPC announces 2016 Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame inductees
Five individuals will join the list of Paralympic legends during the Rio 2016 Games.
![China’s Yu Xiaowei competes in the men’s KL1 200m at the 2016 ICF Canoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany.](/sites/default/files/images/160825090619622_2.jpg)
Yu Xiaowei seeks to better himself at Paralympic debut
The newly minted Para canoe world champion has greater expectations for himself at Rio 2016.
![Pedro Mejia](/sites/default/files/images/160825104348896_Pedro%2BMejia.jpg)
Throwback Thursday: Colombia’s Pedro Mejia
Colombia’s only Paralympic champion in history believes the South American country will win “multiple gold medals” at Rio 2016.