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Rio 2016 hope to continue Paralympic legacy

Rio aim to build on London Paralympics
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Head of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Committee says that there is still a long way to go before disabled athletes are celebrated in Brazil.

The head of the Paralympics Committee of Rio 2016, Andrew Parsons, has claimed that they will try to build on the legacy that has been created at the London 2012 Games.

The Brazilian city will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in four years' time and Parsons has outlined the country's determination to get young disabled children inspired by the athletes.

"We're in a country where we still have a long way to go in terms of social inclusion for people with disability," The Telegraph quotes Parsons as saying.

"Maybe by 2016 we will not have a perfect country for persons with a disability but [the Paralympic Games] is a big push. What sport has done for persons with disability is having role models for kids. It's amazing. Every kid in Brazil doesn't have to dream about being Ronaldo or Pele. They can dream about being Daniel Dias or Adria Santos (four-time Paralympic sprinter champion).

"This is very important. When you have disabled athletes as heroes, they're part of society. They're another element of what we call society. This is a big legacy that can come from the Games."

Brazil are currently eighth in the London 2012 medal table with a total of 29 medals.

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