New record for Rio 2016: 133,000 tickets for Paralympic Games sold in just one day

"In the last 48 hours alone, we have doubled the number of tickets sold overall."

Organisers of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games sold 133,000 tickets on Tuesday (23 August), the largest number of tickets they have ever sold in just one day.

Demand for Paralympic tickets has accelerated since the ending of the Olympic Games on Sunday. After selling 16,000 tickets last Saturday, organisers say they sold 50,000 tickets on Sunday, 100,000 on Monday and then 133,000 on Tuesday.

Xavier Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of the International Paralympic Committee, said: “We are greatly encouraged by the increase in demand for Paralympic tickets since Sunday's Olympic closing ceremony.

"In the last 48 hours alone, we have almost doubled the number of tickets sold overall. It is fantastic to see the cariocas rallying around the Paralympics.

"Brazil winning Olympic gold in football and volleyball last weekend has given home fans a flavour of what they can expect at the Paralympics with the host nation targeting a top five finish in the medals table. Clearly they want more and want to be part of what will be historic and transformative Paralympic Games here in Rio."

According to organisers, the sports for which demand for tickets is highest include athletics, swimming,5-a-side football, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

A total of more than 600,000 tickets have been sold so far, over 20 per cent of the 2.5 million tickets available.

Tickets for Paralympic sporting events in Rio cost from 10 reais (about US$3) to 130 reais (US$40).