PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Participants after training.](/sites/default/files/images/160822105123965_Blind%2Bfootball%2BNZ.jpg)
Blind Football launched in New Zealand
Blind Sport New Zealand, in association with the International Blind Sports Federation, introduced the sport to the country through a series of events in Auckland.
![USA's LTA4+ rowing team at the 2015 World Rowing Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/160822113812283_rowing%2B3.jpg)
USA’s mixed coxed four hungry for gold
After a silver at the 2015 Worlds, the USA’s LTA4+ boat are confident they can contend for gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
![Rio 2016 preview: Women’s up to 55kg](/sites/default/files/images/160822124950020_Powerlifting%2Bwomen%2Bup%2Bto%2B55.jpg)
Rio 2016 preview: Women’s up to 55kg
Do not miss Mexico’s Amalia Perez, one of the most established names in powerlifting.
![Heinrich Popow of Germany](/sites/default/files/images/160715080828812_Heinrich%2BPopow.jpg)
Athletes hit form ahead of Rio 2016
A number of world and European records fell at the weekend, as athletes start to peak ahead of next month’s Paralympic Games.
![Raymond Martin of the United States competes in the men's 100m T52 heats at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar.](/sites/default/files/images/160510074619794_Ray%2BMartin.jpg)
Expectations are high for Ray Martin who heads to Rio 2016 as the man to beat
The US T52 racer heads to his second Paralympics aiming to win three gold medals.
Para sports project to be launched in Benin
The West African country will launch their third project to promote Para sports in November 2016, thanks to the support of the Agitos Foundation.
![Rio 2016 preview: Men’s up to 65kg](/sites/default/files/images/160819133158786_Powerlifting%2Bmen%2Bup%2Bto%2B65.jpg)
Rio 2016 preview: Men’s up to 65kg
After a strong Paralympic debut, China’s Peng Hu is the one to out-lift at Rio 2016.
![Rio 2016 preview: R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2)](/sites/default/files/images/160821092150690_Shooting%2BR5new_0.jpg)
Rio 2016 preview: R5 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2)
Ukranian Vasyl Kovalchuk has the most momentum heading into Rio as he seeks to defend his Paralympic title.
![An wheelchair racer shouts out after crossing the finish line in first place.](/sites/default/files/images/140522145302959_174464500_0.jpg)
What makes the perfect…100m?
The USA’s Jarryd Wallace and Finland’s Leo-Pekka Tahti explain how to get the best out of the shortest spring in track and field.
![A picture of a woman with a gold medal around her neck](/sites/default/files/images/170202150817617_Ellie-Simmonds_0.jpg)
Simmonds: The talent in swimming has never been so high
The British superstar reflects on the rest of the field as she nears her third Paralympic Games.