(ATR) Tim Hollingsworth, the CEO of the British Paralympic Association, has told Around The Rings that Rio 2016 has been the most competitive Paralympics to date, even without the Russian team competing.
Hollingsworth was speaking to ATR at British House in Rio’s Shopping Metropolitano as Paralympics GB look set to better their medal haul of 120 from four years ago at their home Games in London.
At that Games, however, they finished third in the medal count behind Russia, who are not at the Rio 2016 Paralympics because of a blanket ban enacted by the International Paralympic Committee after state-sponsored doping allegations and investigations.
Russia are traditionally one of the top nations at the Paralympics and had originally selected 267 athletes across 18 sports to compete in Rio.
But even with their absence, Hollingsworth insisted that Rio 2016 had seen the best athletic performances from Paralympians ever.
He said: "I think it was tough [decision to ban Russia], it was bold, I think it was sad for athletes individually that they weren’t here. But I maintain the standard of competition is higher than competitions we’ve seen previously when Russia has been involved. So while they would have added something I certainly don’t think it’s removed from this Games a significant level of performance.
"The Chinese, the Ukrainians, now increasingly as you can see the Americans, Australia, the way the home nation has performed, the way individual nations have performed in certain sports, the Dutch, the French, you’ve started to see some really powerful athletes coming through.
"Even New Zealand, Sophie Pascoe in the pool for example. They are medals that would have been won regardless of whether the Russian athletes were here. We can acknowledge that and say that this Games, in performance terms, is in our view the best Summer Games there has ever been."
As of writing, there have been 184 world records set at the Games so far with more certain to come before the closing ceremony of the Paralympics in the Maracana on Sunday.
The total number of world records will likely end up being less than the 251 set in London, but the IPC’s Craig Spence maintained that that was due to the increasing competitiveness across all Paralympic sports.
When askedif he also thought Rio had seen the best Paralympic competition so far, Spence was unequivocal in his agreement.
"Most competitive games, yes. Truly," Spence told ATR. "The athletes, just because a team is missing, it doesn’t make it less competitive. You can only be as competitive with those who are here.
"I’ve seen a lot more closer finishes than in London. I definitely say they are the most competitive and they are the most fair because we created a fair and level playing field for all the countries here by eliminating one with a state sponsored doping program."
The IPC’s stance on Russia won praise from many National Paralympic Committees in Rio for the Games.
Written by Christian Radnedgein Rio de Janeiro
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