Statement - Canadian Paralympic Committee statement on Rio budget cuts

OTTAWA, Aug. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Today the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) provided a progress report on preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games set for Sept. 7 to 18.

The IPC has announced that September's Paralympic Games will take place as planned, despite major budget cuts, and will act as a catalyst to positive social change in Brazil and Latin America.

According to the IPC, the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee's budget to deliver the Paralympic Games is not at the level they originally committed to. Despite this, the Paralympic Movement's global governing body remains confident of the impact the Games will have on making for a more equitable society.

The IPC's progress report can be viewed here: https://www.paralympic.org/news/rio-2016-paralympic-games-deliver-positive-societal-change

The Canadian Paralympic Committee released the following statement in response to the IPC progress report:

"It is very positive to hear that the Brazilian Government and the City of Rio de Janeiro have committed to and confirmed additional funding for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

We will continue to review the areas of cuts on the operational side of the Games and adjust our plan accordingly while working with our national sport bodies to ensure an optimal preparation and competition environment for our athletes. We are confident in our plans to date and our resources are allocated to ensure we can address issues as needed.

Our goal remains to focus on performance and minimize distractions for Team Canada's athletes and coaches, ensuring that they receive a quality environment to compete in."

     - Gaétan Tardif, President, Canadian Paralympic Committee

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee: Paralympic.ca

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SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications & Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] x224 / Cell: 613-725-4339, Email: [email protected]; Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 243 / Cell: 613-298-4927, Email: [email protected]