Rio 2016 Budget Fiasco Threatens Paralympic Athletes’ Ambitions
- A third of participants could miss the Games without funding
- Paralympic head in Brasilia to put pressure on government
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Athletes representing more than 50 countries could miss the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro if organizers fail to deliver promised funds for travel, according to the spokesman for the International Paralympic Committee.
Facing severe budget constraints, Rio 2016 organizers have delayed the payment of about $8 million in travel costs for Paralympics delegations to the Games, which begin Sept. 7. The news comes as interest in the Paralympics is growing: after success in London and in Beijing, Rio’s event is scheduled to be broadcast live in more countries than ever, including in the U.S. for the first time.