Burkina Faso to hold national para-sport event

After sending two athletes to the London 2012 Games last year, the Burkina Faso are trying to encourage new competitions and find new athletes to build their delegation in the lead-up to Rio 2016.

Around 128 athletes will compete in Ouaga, Burkina Faso on Sunday (8 September) at the country’s national para-sport championships in the disciplines of athletics, cycling and wheelchair basketball.

After sending two athletes to the London 2012 Games last year, the Burkina Faso are trying to encourage new competitions and find new athletes to build their delegation in the lead-up to Rio 2016.

Since London 2012, Burkino Faso have developed a partnership with a British NGO international service organisation to help them develop para-sport in the country.

The organisation has provided the National Paralympic Committee with a team of 14 people to strengthen the capacity of its athletes and coaches, and to ensure favorable conditions for the practice of elite sport.

Burkina Faso has taken part in the Paralympic Games since Barcelona 1992, but has never taken part in the Paralympic Winter Games. Thus far, the country has been represented on the international stage in cycling, judo and powerlifting.