IPC on Track to Meet Doping Control Goals

(ATR) The International Paralympic Committee remains on track to complete 1,500 doping tests at the 2016 Paralympics.

Exact figures of how many tests have been conducted so far were not released, but organizers say the full number of tests will be done. IPC communications director Craig Spence told Around the Rings the doping control figure is the largest for a Paralympic Games.

Spence added that since tests are done on an "intelligence led" basis publishing the number of tests could tip off athletes and team officials.

During the Rio 2016 Olympics there were concerns over lax security and volunteers not showing up to help perform doping controls. Spence said the IPC "benefited from the test event [that was] the Olympics" and have seen no issues with doping controls.

"That helped iron out some of the problems, and I think we were able to learn and fix things that maybe didn’t work so well in the Olympics," Spence said. "Things are going a lot smoother than expected."

Paralympic Park More Kid Friendly

Rio 2016 is working with local schools to make sure youngsters come to the Paralympics but don’t miss school.

Rio public and private schools are in session during the Paralympics, unlike the month-long holiday schools got during the Olympics. With school and work during the day, attendances at the Paralympics have been much higher during the afternoon sessions instead of the morning.

"Our effort is bringing them together with the teachers and with a program, not just come for fun but to learn something [at the Park]," Mario Andrada, Rio 2016 communications director, said to ATR. "We have programs to keep kids happy in live site and help keep them closer to the food part of the park."

Andrada added that storytelling, arts and crafts, and other kid friendly activities have been implemented during the Paralympics. Rio 2016 has brought 36,000 students from private schools and an additional 30,000 students from public schools to the Paralympic Games.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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