Boccia in Rio Tests Paralympics Preparations

(ATR) Athletes and organizers tellAround the Rings that the first Paralympic test event in Rio was a positive experience.

"We’ve been warmly welcomed and the transportation was really good and really slick," David Smith, an athlete from Great Britain, said to ATR.

"I think there will still be some changes made so we’re playing the surface and getting used to the heat and humidity."

Smith, who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics, thought the organization in Riocentro was top-notch despite not being the venue for the 2016 Games. He said that the situation was similar in the run-up to the London Games, and doubted it would impact the field of play in Rio.

Joaquim Viegas, Technical Delegate of the Boccia International Sports Federation, said that the opportunity to teach Rio organizers the nuance and necessities for Boccia at the Paralympics made the test event successful.

"The test event is very important because it tells us what to and the best way to learn," Viegas said.

"We did not come here and expect everything was ready. Now I believe it will be easier to do the planning, because the will to do so, and do well, is great. Each one has to know exactly its scope to do well, and what is expected of each of us."

Viegas said that it is important for the organizing committee to make the floor that will be used during the Games available for the federation as soon as possible. That way the federation can help get athletes competing in Rio next year up to speed on how it feels.

"We will discuss it with the federation and have a proper analysis of the event and see what we can do to make it perfect for the Games next year," Gustavo Nascimento, head of venue management for Rio 2016, said to ATR about the floor.

"That’s the reason why we are testing here, so we can test the specification that we are discussing with them."

Nascimento says that the knowledge from focusing on a Paralympic event is beneficial to the organizing committee, and that the feedback from the event showed that they were on the right track.

"So far everything is going really well."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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