Rio Paralympic Test for Engenhao Stadium -- On the Scene

(ATR) Athletes and officials tell Around the Rings that accessibility at Engenhão Stadium has improved but more work is needed for the Paralympics.

Paralympic athletics closed up the Rio 2016 test event schedule on May 18-21. Athletes from 24 countries took part in the grand prix event organized by the International Paralympic Committee and Brazilian Paralympic Committee.

Rio 2016 sports director Agberto Guimarães told ATR that the event "accomplished testing the field of play, the warm up area, timing and scoring, and referees", in an environment that allowed the athletes to test the track at a high level.

Athletes say the track is very fast, but the event provided a learning experience to see what accessibility changes need to be finalized,Guimarães said.

"We cannot say that it is 100 percent yet; there are a few things we have to do to make sure its fully accessible for all of them," Guimarães said. "Considering the time the track was delivered to us, I think we did a good job so far. We just learned flow from the warm-up area to the stadium [needs to be addressed]... we will take a look and see what athletes are proposing.

"We will take all the feedback and talk to the city because the city is the one conducting the refurbishment of the stadium and we should have it done by Games time."

Preparations for the Paralympics have the benefit of extra time. The 2016 Paralympics will open on Sept. 7, giving organizers an extra month to finalize logistics for the event.

Guimarães said the organizing committee will move all venue management teams into offices in the completed venue in the coming weeks as temporary overlays are finishing up. That will give teams the time to tackle the thousands of small details that go into hosting an Olympics.

Brazilian Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons told ATR that accessibility was a concern going into the Engenhãoevent, but seeing athletes competing on the track assuaged many of the concerns.

"It is a facility that works, it really works," Parsons added. "Of course we have some things still being done, but I think my opinion is very positive about how the team has operated and how the venue works. This week we have the last project review of the IPC and they gave us feedback, and we still have time to adjust. In general it is an accessible venue."

Athletes seemed generally pleased with how the event was run. Their feedback will drive the necessary changes to finalize the stadium - and they were largely optimistic.

"This is a nice track, it is beautiful," Michael Brannigan, a 1500m runner from the USA toldATR. "It is easy to get around. Walking around you feel it; this is my first time in Rio and I can’t wait to do better."

Omara Durand, a sprinter from Cuba, told local media that she "feels at home," running on the track.

"It's something great for all of us that there are Games in our region; it is a very beautiful opportunity," Durand added. "The track despite the rain is great; it felt great racing here."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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