The famous Maracana football stadium was packed, with the Paralympians themselves seated across the field, as proceedings kicked off with fireworks. Eleven days of competition where China dominated the medals table, followed by Britain, ended earlier with the last few events, including marathons and wheelchair rugby.
"Mission accomplished," said Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio organising committee. "These Games importantly signal a very bright future for this youthful and wonderful nation," Sir Philip Craven, the International Paralympic Committee president, said in a speech.
The flags of all participating countries were brought by 160 athletes and their aides. They were like bright spots in a huge crowd.
The night sky over the stadium Maracana was colored with splashes of bright fireworks. With a flash of fireworks, the games come to an end.
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Artists with disabilities performed at the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Sunday evening (September 18) at Maracana Stadium. The cultural program of the closing ceremony was structured as a concert, headlined by Ivete Sangalo and Gaby Amarantos, joined by Vanessa da Mata, Céu, Saulo Fernandes, Saulo Laucas, Kisser, Armandinho, Jonathan Bastos, the groups NAÇÃO ZUMBI and DREAM TEAM DO PASSINHO, and the funk singer Nego do Borel.
The opening segments featured blind drummers guided by a “visual metronome,” a performance by Kisser set to a sequence featuring acrobats in wheelchairs, and a performance by Bastos — who was born without arms, and plays guitar with his feet.
The volunteers rewarding was also held at the closing ceremony. "I would like to thank the volunteers. They have competence, dedication and enthusiasm. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart", Carlos Nuzman said.
Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, pays tribute to Bahman Golbarnezhad, the Iranian cyclist who died yesterday after crashing in the men's C4-5 road race.
Nuzman said: "I want to send a message to the athletes of Iran, our prayers are with you. We are extremely sorry for your loss."
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