The 15th edition of the Paralympic Games is to start on Wednesday with the opening ceremony at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The Slovak team has high expectations and hopes to earn more medals than in London 2012. Four years ago, Slovakia earned six medals - two golds, one silver and three bronze ones. "I believe our athletes will earn at least eight medals, in order to be better than in London," said the leader of the Slovak team Samuel Roško.
Since its independence in 1993, Slovakia has taken part in five Summer Paralympic Games and has altogether collected 48 medals. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games were the most successful ones for the country, having collected 12 medals including 5 gold. In Rio, the Slovak team will consist of 28 disabled athletes and one pilot of a cycling tandem. As many as seven athletes will represent the country in both table tennis and boccia, which is a sport similar to pétanque contested by athletes with more severe physical disabilities. Five athletes will compete in cycling, three in shooting and two in track and field and also in archery. Swimming as well as riding and bench press competitions will each see one Slovak athlete competing for medals.
Just a few week ago, the 2016 Summer Paralympics faced enormous financial problems and no one was sure if the games would actually take place. After the end of the 2016 Summer Olympics, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduard Paes promised to allocate 47 million USD for the games and the Federal Brazilian government another 31 million USD. Thus, disabled athletes from across the world will fight for medals in Rio for twelve days until September 18th.
