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Parapan Energy in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - The Rio 2007 Parapan American Games have come to an end after seven days of action packed competition. A total of 1,132 athletes from 25 countries competed in ten sports - Athletics, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Judo, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball (Sitting), Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Tennis. Haiti took part in an international competition for the first time. 20 Aug 2007
Excellent sporting performances in all sports, especially in Athletics, Powerlifting and Swimming, resulted in 28 world records and 101 Parapan American records. The medal tally was topped by Brazil with 83 gold (228 medals in total), followed by Canada with 49 gold (112 medals in total) and USA and Mexico joint with 37 gold each (117 medals in total).
As spectators were able to watch competitions for free, around 280,000 people, especially students and their teachers, used this opportunity to experience Paralympic Sport live. Several competitions, for example the finals of Football 5-a-side and Wheelchair Basketball as well as Swimming and Athletics competitions, were attended by a big crowd.
Visually impaired sprinter Lucas Prado (BRA) and wheelchair athlete Saul Mendoza (Mexico) rocked the track in the Joao Havelange Stadium by winning three gold medals each. Prado won the 100m, 200m and 400m (class T11), Mendoza finished first in the 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m (class T54). Two of the most outstanding Swimmiers at the Rio 2007 Parapan American Games were Brazil’s Clodoaldo Silva with seven gold and one silver medal as well as Canadian Stephanie Dixon with five gold and one silver medal.
USA won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s Wheelchair Basketball competition by beating Canada in close and thrilling matches. Brazil and Argentina faced each other both in Football 5-a-side and Football 7-a-side. Brazil was the lucky winner beating Argentina 1:0 (Football 5-a-side) and 5:0 (Football 7-a-side).
A record was set in the area of media representatives covering the Parapan American Games; a total of 1,107 written press, photographers and rights holding broadcasters, mainly from Brazil, were present. Brazilian television channel SportTV showed live broadcast of Swimming and Wheelchair Basketball and informed their viewers with regular highlights of all other Parapan American sports.
A total of 5,000 volunteers, amongst 50 volunteers with a disability, helped the Games to become a very special and outstanding event.
At the Closing Ceremony, held at the Parapan American Village, the IPC and APC flag was handed over to representatives of Guadalajara, host of the 2011 Pan and Parapan American Games in Mexico.