2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Paralympic Games
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the 15th Paralympic Games, including venues, sports, bid history, and broadcast coverage.
At a Glance
- 1 - The Rio 2016 Games were the 15th Summer Paralympics.
- 2 - They were the first Summer Paralympics held during the host city's wintertime.
- 3 - Rio won the bid in 2007 after two failed attempts for the 2004 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
- 4 - In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 aired 500 hours of coverage, while Australia's Seven Network showed 14 hours per day of live coverage.
Topic Definition
- 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics were the fifteenth edition of the Summer Paralympic Games, a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee and held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 7 to September 18, 2016. Staged shortly after the Rio Olympic Games, they carried a notable distinction as the first Summer Paralympics to take place during the host city's wintertime, since Rio sits in the Southern Hemisphere. All competitions were held within the city across clusters such as Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro, and Maracana, spanning sports from athletics and swimming to wheelchair rugby, goalball, and boccia. Built on a bid concept centered on technical excellence, transformation, and a lasting legacy, the games are remembered for advancing accessibility in public spaces and transport and for helping shift public perceptions toward people with disabilities across Brazil and the wider region.
Overview
The 2016 Summer Paralympics, the fifteenth Summer Paralympic Games were a major international multi-sport event for disabled athletes governed by the International Paralympic Committee, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 7 to September 18, 2016, making them the first Summer Paralympics to be held during the host city's wintertime.
The Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics was a successful campaign, first recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on September 14, 2007, after two failed attempts for the 2004 and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Rio de Janeiro held all the competitions inside the city, as was done in the XV Pan American Games.
According to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 bid committee, the bid's concept is based on four principles;
- technical excellence
- experience of a lifetime
- transformation
- supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
The Summer Olympics and Paralympics embedded the Games in society, through programs for job generation, education, community outreach, volunteerism, training and upskilling initiatives.
2016 Paralympic Venues
Barra Cluster
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium - Swimming
- Olympic Hockey Stadium - Football (5-a-side and 7-a-side)
- Olympic Tennis Stadium - Wheelchair Tennis
- Olympic Training Center - Goalball, Judo, Wheelchair Basketball
- Riocentro - Boccia, Powerlifting, Table Tennis
- Rio Olympic Arena - Wheelchair Rugby
Copacabana Cluster
- Flamengo Park- Cycling
- Marina da Gloria - Sailing
- Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas - Rowing
Deodoro Cluster
- National Shooting Center - Shooting
- Fencing Arena - Wheelchair Fencing
Maracan Cluster
- Maracan Stadium - Opening, Closing, and some Awards Ceremony's
- Havelange Olympic Stadium - Athletics
- Maracanazinho - Sitting Volleyball
- Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai - Archery, Marathon, and some Awards Ceremonies
The principle, "Supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements", combined the expansion interests of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
Using the Olympics Live initiative and the powerful influence of Brazil in South America, the Rio de Janeiro 2016 bid committee hoped to impact a new audience for the Olympic and Paralympic brands, supporting the IOC's strategy.
- In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 broadcasted the 2016 Summer Paralympics, with 500 hours of coverage.
- In Australia, the Seven Network broadcasted 14 hours per day of live coverage through its Seven Sport brand.
In the longer term, the 2016 Paralympic Games left an important legacy, both in terms of improved accessibility in public spaces and on public transport, and in changing perceptions towards people with a disability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the Rio Paralympics held during winter
Rio de Janeiro is in the Southern Hemisphere, so its September dates fall during the local winter season, unlike most Summer Games held in Northern Hemisphere summers.
How many sports were contested at the Rio Paralympics
The Rio Paralympics featured a wide program of para sports spread across several venue clusters, including both individual and team events for athletes with various impairments.
What is the difference between the 5 a side and 7 a side football events
5 a side football is played by athletes with visual impairments using a sound making ball, while 7 a side football is for athletes with cerebral palsy and related conditions.
How do athletes qualify for the Summer Paralympics
Athletes qualify through world rankings, designated qualifying competitions, and eligibility standards set by each sport and confirmed by their national committees.
What legacy did the Rio Paralympics leave
The games improved accessibility in public spaces and transport and helped change public attitudes toward people with disabilities across Brazil and the region.
Where were the opening and closing ceremonies held
The opening and closing ceremonies took place at Maracana Stadium, one of the most famous sporting venues in Brazil.
Who broadcast the 2016 Paralympics internationally
Coverage reached global audiences through broadcasters such as Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and the Seven Network in Australia, among others.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
Last updated: