The Opening Ceremony for the 2016 Paralympics fast approaching, the Bermuda Paralympic Association (BPARAS). BPARAS is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) representing Bermuda on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) wish Bermuda’s Jessica Lewis and Yushae DeSilva-Andrade well in Brazil.
The aim of the BPARAS is to encourage all physically challenged persons to participate in sports and reach their full potential in their chosen field of sport.
BPARAS was formed in 1994 and has had representation in every Paralympics since 1996 (Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London). Bermuda has been represented by 3 equestrian athletes: Phyllis Harshaw, Kirsty Anderson (now Swart), and Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell. Jessica Lewis, a Wheelchair Track Athlete, was our sole delegate at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The Rio2016 Paralympic Games takes place from September 7-18, 2016. 4000 athletes from 176 countries compete in 23 Sports. Bermuda will be represented for the first time in two sports.
Lewis will be in action the day after the opening ceremony in the T53 Women’s 100m Heats. Seven of the top T53 Women’s 100m competitors are only separated going into the event by .53 of a second.
Angela Ballard has the fastest time of 16.46, with Hongzhuan Zhou has a time of 16.99, Lewis’ time ranks fifth of 16.81.
Lewis has the 13th fastest qualifying time for the T53 Women’s 400m of 1:00.88, Ballard has the fastest time of 54.69 and Ballard also has the fastest qualifying time in the T53 Women’s 800m, with Lewis having the 12th fastest qualifying time of 2:04.59.
DeSilva-Andrade will be making her first Paralympic appearance in Rio in the sport of Boccia. After a total of six International events, DeSilva-Andrade is ranked 32nd in the BC2 Individual Division.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for nine sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to develop sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
The IPC motto is “To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and Inspire and Exite the World.”
www.islandstats.com will be in Brazil to bring you all the action along with interviews with the two Bermudians.
Today www.islandstats.com brings you the schedule for both Lewis and DeSilva-Andrade.
Opening Ceremonies: - September 7th
Lewis Schedule
September 8th:
100m T53 Heats @ 12:30pm
100m T53 Final @ 6:54pm
100m T53 Medal Ceremony @ 7:43pm
September 10th:
400m T53 Heats @ 12:31pm
September 11th:
400m T53 Final @ 5:30pm
400m T53 Medal Ceremony @ 6:42pm
September 17th:
800m T53 Heats @ 10:16am
800m T53 Final @ 5:42pm
800m T53 Medal Ceremony @ 6:28pm
DeSilva-Andrade Schedule:
September 13th:
11:15am-12:30pm and 6:15pm-7:30pm
September 14th:
4pm-5pm
September 15th:
Quarter-Finals @ 1pm
Semi-Final @ 5:30pm
September 16th:
Bronze Medal Game @ 11:20am
Gold Medal Game @ 3:45pm
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