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RIO DE JANEIRO. — The 2016 Paralympics began yesterday with Rio’s Maracana Stadium again the iconic setting for the opening ceremony of a Games staged against a backdrop of austerity and doping. Less than three weeks after the flame was doused on South America’s first Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro welcomes 4 300 Paralympians seeking their own slice of sporting glory. Stars include Iranian power-lifter Siamand Rahman, Britain’s wheelchair racer David Weir and China’s blind sprinter Liu Cuiqing.

Two new events — canoe-kayak and tr athlon — make their appearance on the 22-sport menu, with competitors from 161 nations — but not one Russian amongst them. — AFP.