(From AFP)
Austere but as battling as ever, the Paralympics start in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday hoping that rivalry in competition can overshadow controversy off the track.
Caught in political and economic crises, Rio 2016 organizers have skimped as far as they can on food, transport and accommodation. But they have not put off Iranian power-lifter Siamand Rahman, Britain’s wheelchair racer David Weir and China’s blind sprinter Liu Cuiqing as they seek sporting glory.
Rio’s problem is that it is following London 2012, hailed as the best Paralympics ever in terms of fervour and sporting performance. Read more