Paralympic Closing Ceremony to Highlight Harmony and Diversity

(ATR) The "final act," of Rio 2016 will involve diversity in both people and music in Brazil.

Closing ceremony executive producer Flavio Machado dropped hints to reporters today about what the final ceremony will entail. Machado says that the Paralympics closing ceremony will bring a final close to both the Olympics and Paralympics, and will feature many Brazilian musical stars.

Ivete Sangalo, affectionately known as the "Beyonce of Brazil," is confirmed to be one of the acts.

"It is going to be much more diverse than the opening ceremony," Machado said. "The message we want to pass along in the closing ceremony is what we see from the courts. These athletes teach us how to coexist in peace with love and that’s our closing."

Organizers were tight lipped about what kind of "diverse music," would be performed and how the Paralympic cauldron would be extinguished. Machado promised a moment that would be a fit ending to the seven year saga to stage these Games.

Both Machado and Rio 2016 communications director Mario Andrada did not expect any political demonstrations to take away from the ceremonies. Machado said he could not guarantee it would not happen, because Brazil is "a democracy and people can express themselves."

During the three previous ceremonies, President Michel Temer was booed loudly by spectators during his brief appearances.

Andrada said the closing ceremony was all but sold out just over 48 hours from the event. Less than 1,000 tickets remain of the 45,000 available. He said the price range for the tickets was $121.88 to $304.71. Andrada said that the price was probably the reason tickets were still available, but expected a sellout crowd for the ceremony.

Volunteers Turn In Exemplary Performance

Rio 2016 says volunteer issues that plagued the Olympics all but disappeared for the Paralympics.

Mario Andrada told Around the Rings that he would be unable to give enough superlatives to the Paralympic volunteer corps in one media briefing. During the Olympics, Rio 2016 had issues with volunteer attendance, which affected key areas such as doping control and crowd flow.

For the Paralympic Games, Andrada said volunteers went above and beyond their duties, and even some staff members offered to volunteer to help run the Games.

"Here we saw an amazing display of grace and hard work and smiling and ability, willingness to help, in most of the moments during these Games," Andrada said. "We enjoyed a massive willingness to represent the Games, even by those who are not Brazilian, to make sure the Games were a success. We have to thank very much, the work that has been done by volunteers."

World Record Update

A total of 184 world records have fallen at Rio 2016. With just over two days left of competition, it is unlikely Rio will catch the 251 records that fell at London 2012.

Rio 2016 saw 104 swimming records, 55 in athletics, 12 for cycling, and 13 for powerlifting according to Andrada.

Written by Aaron Bauerin Rio de Janeiro

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