Rio Paralympics a Success Despite Dark Shadow

(ATR) International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven says the tragic death of Paralympian Bahman Golbarnezhad in Saturday’s road cycling competition does not diminish the Rio 2016 experience.

"Bahman yesterday was probably the worst day the Paralympic movement has encountered," Craven told Around the Rings at the final daily briefing of the Rio Paralympics.

"Yesterday’s passing of Bahman Golbarnezhad has caused a huge pain in my heart and I can only imagine what his wife and his son must feel like waking up this morning sadly knowing that yesterday was not a horrendous dream," says Craven. "The thoughts and condolences of the entire Paralympic family are with her and her son and everyone in Iran."

"Although yesterday’s events do cast a dark shadow over these Games, I think overall Rio 2016 will be remembered as a successful l Paralympic Games and a Games that surprised many people."

He tells ATR that Iran’s National Paralympic Committee was appreciative that the IPC executives, IPC medical and scientific director Peter van der Vliet and Rio 2016 all communicated up front about the situation.

"Communication is so important in sport and here it is absolutely crucial," he says. "If you let one or two hours go when people are grief stricken then they start to feel like they’re alone and that’s the last thing we would do in the Paralympics, we’re a family together and when something like this happens we’re right together on this."

Craven says he was surprised that despite the tragedy, the head of the Iranian delegation in Rio talked to him about the success of the Games.

"They’ve had a great Games here and a it’s been a very sad event but tonight we will show due respect to Bahman, his family and the Iranian people and will also celebrate the great Games here in Rio," he tells ATR.

Craven says the combination of 2.1 million tickets sold, seven more countries winning medals than London 2012, six countries competing at the Paralympics for the first time and the social impact of the Games all contributed to that success.

"Rio 2016 will leave a significant social legacy," he says. "What I love about these Games is you can feel the world changing around you as the sports take place. You can sense attitudes changing around you and I have no doubt these games will make for a more inclusive Rio, Brazil, and the world."

Of all the Paralympics Craven has overseen as IPC president since 2001, he says he is most proud of Rio 2016.

"What we have achieved here gives me more personal satisfaction than any Paralympics I’ve been involved in," he says. "Four weeks ago we highlighted the issues we had here but the teamwork since then has been wonderful. The Paralympic spirit has turned a negative situation into a huge positive with energy pulsating around the Games on a daily basis."

He says he will personally thank the Brazilian people at tonight’s closing ceremony for supporting the Games with high energy at every venue.

"I wish I could bottle the noise levels created by the Carioca and take it to every sport event around the world," Craven says.

Although the IPC considers the Rio Games a success, Craven says there is still much work that can be done to improve the Paralympics for the athletes.

"There’s a lot that can be said that will be a benefit to future organizing committees at the Rio debrief in Tokyo at the end of November, but I think that’s the ideal platform at which this is discussed," he tells ATR. "I think there’s a lot to learn from these Games but there’s a great deal to be proud of."

Reported by Kevin Nutley in Rio de Janeiro.

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