By Leandro Olvech
Integration
The 3rd ParaPanamerican Games had been organized in Rio de Janeiro from 7th to 20t of August.
For the very first time, the games were organized right after the able bodied version, at the same venues, same system and Organizing Committee.
Rio de Janeiro is a candidate for the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games 2016, for that reason the aim was not to reach only a regional level as organizers rather to use it as candidate’s test. Wow, they did it!
Perfect Organization
With a huge Organizing Committee, a wonderful village that welcomed more than 1200 athletes from 25 countries, with the addition of the staffs and technical officers, we must say that they made a great job. A beautiful Opening ceremony held at the basketball stadium, which was build for these games, was the Start of this magnificent event.
The village offered all necessary services, from a medical policlinic 24 hours restaurant, meeting and conferences rooms’ with adequate technology including simultaneous translation, to internet access, laundry, teams offices, fitness center, recreational swimming pool y much more. The transport worked very efficiently. It is necessary to highlight that the organizers didn’t charged any entry fee to the nations, what really encouraged the increase of participants.
Share this Energy!
That was the motto of the games. Around 300 thousand spectators followed the games at the stalls of 10 sports, writing a signal on the history line of the Panams, before and after Rio 2007. Thousand of school children arrived to the venues painting the games with wonderful colors and atmosphere. Brazil was the host more than ever and finished on the top f the medals list followed by Canada, USA and Mexico.
This last country, in the city of Guadalajara., will organize the next Panamerican Games 2011, during the regional assembly its representative announced the organization of the 4th Parapanam Games right after.