Brazil Sends 98 Athletes to Athen’s Paralympics


Brazil is sending 98 athletes to Athens for the Para Olympic games for the handicapped (also known as the Paralympics) which began on September 11 and will end on September 29.

It is the largest group of athletes Brazil has ever sent to this event. Brazilians will compete in 13 of the 19 sporting competitions.

“Fortunately, we were able to prepare well. We should come back with a gold medal,” says Mizael Conrado, of the soccer team for the visually impaired, known as Five Soccer.

Rivaldo Martins, a cyclist, says there are no favorites in his sport. “There will be forty of us and twelve are possible winners.” Martins lost his left leg in a traffic accident in 1986.

In Sidney in 2000, Brazil came back with 22 medals from the Para Olympics, its best ever performance. Spokesmen for the Brazilian Olympic Committee say they want to be among the top 20 nations at these games.

The Para Olympics will bring together 4,000 athletes from 43 countries.


Cuba Agreement


Last year, Cuba and Brazil signed a cooperation agreement for the development of school sports in Brazil.


Cuban specialists in this area will work together with technical personnel in the Ministry of Sports to strengthen school sports as a tool for social and human development. In return, Brazil will send soccer professionals to the island to train coaches.

In addition to this aid, the exchange also encompasses sports for the handicapped; sports for women; anti-doping; development of sports science, technology, and infrastructure; sports medicine; information and documentation; community sports; sports and cultural identity; scouting talents; recreation and leisure; and high performance sports.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Sports, Agnelo Queiroz, and the president of the (Cuban) National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (Inder), Humberto Rodriguez.


They consider that the agreement has historical significance in the relationship between the two countries.  

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Drums of Passion

A new United Nations study shows that it is enough for someone to leave ...

We’re All Protestants, Says Brazil’s Lula to an Evangelical Gathering

More and more convinced that no one will take away his presidency and that ...

Brazil Police Use Press Coverage as Green Light to Kill and Invade Houses in Rio

A dispute over drug trafficking territory in Rio de Janeiro has intensified lately, leaving ...

Only Left Can Better LatAm’s Life and Economy, Says Brazilian President’s Aide

The progress made in recent years in the process of South American integration is ...

Brazilian Stocks Stop Bleeding and Get Slight Jump

After a gray Tuesday, which saw the Brazilian stock suffer its worst tumble in ...

If Varig Is Sold Brazilian Government Wants Its Money First

A top government tax lawyer (Procurador Geral da Fazenda Nacional), Luis Inácio Adams, says ...

Brazil’s Petrobras Invests Heavy in the US and Argentina

Petrobras, Brazil’s government owned oil company is exploring in waters 1,000 meters deep south ...

The Clinton Foundation Lends a Hand and Funds to Brazil’s AIDS Fight

A protocol of understanding signed Thursday, August 25, by Brazil’s Ministry of Health and ...

Brazil Petrobras Breaks Record Producing 2 Million Oil Barrels Daily

Petrobras, Brazil's state-controlled oil and gas multinational informed that domestic oil output increased 1.2% ...

After US, Brazil’s Embraer Starts Technical Services Operation in China

Brazil aircraft manufacturer Embraer has just announced the creation of a technical-services subsidiary in ...