RIO 2016 PARALYMPICS NEWS
![Goalball - Asya Miller](/sites/default/files/images/120904181226478_Goalball.jpg)
USA goalball players aiming for gold at Rio 2016
The sport’s leading superpower has already qualified men’s and women’s teams for the first Paralympic Games in South America
![Athlete practicing para-canoe](/sites/default/files/images/161020104901899_square.jpg)
IPC announces Rio 2016 canoe medal events
There will be three men’s and three women’s events in kayak when the sport makes its Paralympic debut.
![Channel 4 presenters](/sites/default/files/images/120228144726963_Channel4_story_1.jpg)
Channel 4 launches talent search for Rio 2016
Britain’s award winning Paralympic broadcasters aims to recruit 24 trainees with the potential to work on the next Paralympic Games
![A spectacular view of with Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.](/sites/default/files/images/140907085400659_187753735_0.jpg)
New Zealand team Chef de Mission encouraged by progress in Rio
Ben Lucas impressed by the scale of work around the city as South America prepares to stage its first Paralympic Games.
![Dartanyon Crockett](/sites/default/files/images/130710152547003_151108682.jpg)
Rio 2016: the qualifiers so far
In 2014, 271 Paralympic places were decided for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in 10 sports.
![A yellow mascots and blue mascot with green leaves as hair stand on top of Rio's Sugar Loaf mountain.](/sites/default/files/images/170202124815472_Tom-and-Vinicius.jpg)
Rio 2016 looks ahead to a year of milestones
New venues, test events, ticket sales are just some of the milestones coming up for the organisers of South America’s first Paralympic Games
![Great Britain's Hannah Cockroft on her way to a new 200m T34 world record in Nottwil, Switzerland in May 2014.](/sites/default/files/images/140517094609717_IPC_ATH_GP_NOTTWILL_20140516_LP_0418_WEB_0.jpg)
Hannah Cockcroft aiming for triple world gold in 2015
British wheelchair racing ace is hoping to win the 100m, 200m and 800m T34 at October’s World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
![The Rio 2016 Pioneer Volunteers group photographed during the filming of the campaign.](/sites/default/files/images/170202125759887_Rio-volunteers.jpg)
Selection process underway for Rio 2016 volunteers
More than 240,000 people applied for 70,000 positions, with strong interest from the USA, Russia, China and Great Britain.
![Denis Toomey with Catherine Walsh](/sites/default/files/images/141218160050505_Denis%2BCatherine%2BTrack%2BLondon680125_0.jpg)
Denis Toomey announced as Chef de Mission for 2016 Irish Paralympic Team
President of Cycling Ireland will spearhead the Irish team at Rio 2016
![A yellow mascots and blue mascot with green leaves as hair stand on top of Rio's Sugar Loaf mountain.](/sites/default/files/images/170202124815472_Tom-and-Vinicius.jpg)
Rio 2016 Paralympic mascot named "Tom"
Nearly 325,000 people took part in the public vote to decide the name of the Rio 2016 Paralympic mascot.
![Women preparing a boat](/sites/default/files/images/141212111719492_Tracy%2BSchmitt%2Bprepares%2Bfor%2Bher%2Bfirst%2BSkud%2B18%2Brace_IMG_0290_0.jpg)
Canadian sailor’s determination has led her to Melbourne
Tracy Schmitt sold her home and everything she could not fit into her car to try realise her Rio 2016 dream.
![A yellow mascots and blue mascot with green leaves as hair stand on top of Rio's Sugar Loaf mountain.](/sites/default/files/images/170202124815472_Tom-and-Vinicius.jpg)
Just days left to vote for Rio 2016 mascot names
The public have until Sunday 14 December to vote for their favourite names for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic mascots.
World champion para-cyclists make their mark at UCI C1 event
Invercargill, New Zealand, stages its first ever UCI Para-Cycling C1 Track event
![Man in canoe in triumphant pose](/sites/default/files/images/141205142729830_McGrath%2BCanoe_0.jpg)
Australian McGrath embarks on second season
After winning many accolades in his debut season, Curtis McGrath is now looking ahead to Rio 2016
![A picture of a man without his right leg preparing himself to a swimming race](/sites/default/files/images/130423093020242_154543833.jpg)
ITU World Para-triathlon events for 2015 revealed
Events will be held in all five continents next year as the sport gears up for its Paralympic debut at Rio 2016.
![Women with headscarfs lined up](/sites/default/files/images/141202145132068_30%2Bbranded%2Bcredit%2BWorld%2BParaVolley_0.jpg)
No. 30 Iranian women qualify for Rio 2016
The Iranian women’s sitting volleyball team qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games for the very first time, after reaching the final at the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games.