(ATR) Rio 2016 says "all venues" are Paralympic-ready and only final preparations are needed.
A spokesperson for the Games told Around the Rings that in terms of accessibility all venues are set to host the world’s best Paralympic athletes. The only tweaks that need to take place are updating fields of play for Paralympic sports, and to install the look of the Games.
"Outside the venues, we’ll install some temporary ramps for the athletes," the spokesperson said. "All we have to do is change the field of play and change the look."
The Paralympic Village will open on Aug. 31 when the first 2500 athletes arrive to their accommodations. The village will be fully open on September 5.
International Paralympic Committee communications director Craig Spence told ATR that a total of 161 countries plus the refugee team will be competing at the Rio 2016 Games. Three countries scheduled to compete in Rio will not be doing so. One of those countries is Russia, who was suspended from participating for violating the IPC doping code.
According to Spence one country pulled out after its only athlete was injured and could not participate. The final country pulled out of the Paralympics after it was determined that its only athlete could not make it to Rio de Janeiro.
"The travel grants have not been paid yet, but because the countries know the grants are coming, they managed to take out short term loans or found other means to get their travel, so they will all get to the Games," Spence added.
The IPC says it remains in "constant dialogue" with the 10 countries whose Paralympic participation was put at risk from missed payments for travel grants. One of the National Paralympic Committees was from Europe, while the rest were from the Americas and Africa, Spence confirmed.
"Our last dialogue with them confirmed they would be in attendance," Spence said. "They have their flights booked."
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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