POSTED: Monday August 20th 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES RIO 2007 END AND LEAVE LEGACY FOR FUTURE EDITIONS

Closing Ceremony at the Parapan American Village was attended by 1,500 athletes, officials, and volunteers

The closing Ceremony of the Parapan American Games Rio 2007 which took place on Sunday, August 19 at the Parapan American Village was a celebration of brotherhood for 1,500 people, among which there were athletes and officials from the 25 participating countries and volunteers. President of the Organizing Committee of the Parapan American Games Rio 2007 (CO-RIO) Carlos Arthur Nuzman said that staging the PArapan American Games immediately after and in the same city as the Pan American Games for the first time was a privilege for

Rio de Janeiro. In 2011, the Parapan American Game will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, the same city that will host the next Pan American Games.

?It was a challenge and we sought in you, athletes, the inspiration to overcome the difficulties. We staged the Games at an Olympic level. The Mervelous City did its part by attending the competitions with enthusiasm and joy. With the determination of the Federal, State, and City Governments, we managed to make the Pan American and the Parapan American Games a memorable chapter in the history of sport, leaving permanent legacies to many generations. I also thank Caixa Econ?mica Federal, the single sponsoring company of the Games, which ratified the spirit of inclusion and brotherhood,? said Nuzman.

The closing Ceremony was attended by Minister of Sports Orlando Silva, Vice Governor of Rio de Janeiro State Luiz Fernando Pez?o, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Cesar Maia, International Paralmypic Committee CEO Xavier Gonzalez, Americans Paralympic Committee (APC) President Andrew Parsons, and Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) President Vital Severino Neto.

For Parsons, the the Parapan American Games Rio 2007 changed the course of the history of Sport in the Americas. ?From Rio 2007 on, Olympic and Paralympic sport walk together in the Americas like two inseparable brothers, Pan American and Parapan American Games. Among the important names in Paralympic sport, today I highlight the name of Carlos Arthur Nuzman. Rio de Janeiro and Brasil should be proud of what they did for the Paralympic Movement in the Americas,? he said.

Pez?o handed the International Paraplmypic Committee flag to the representative of the Government of Jalisco, Ra?l Arizaga Ybarra. Maia in turn delivered the Americas Paralympic Committee flag to the representative from the city of Guadalajara, Alejandro Reyes Delgara. The 25 flag bearing athletes symbolized the putting out of the Parapan American Rio 2007 Cauldron to the sound of ?O Vento,? a song by Brazilian Dorival Caymmi. The Ceremony was closed with a concert by singer Sandra de S?.

Further information:

CO-RIO Press Department/Textual

M?rcia Penna Firme ? Services Manager

Service to international press

Eloyza Guardia

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