Organisers in Rio de Janeiro are hopeful the 2016 Paralympics can help further the cause of people with disabilities in Latin America as the region gets ready to host its first Games.

SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Parsons, President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (On how the Paralympic Games will help people with disabilities in Brazil):

"In the Paralympic Games athletes show their best, show their abilities and change the perception of people in a way that they don't have to preach to people. What they do in the field of play changes their perceptions and when you change their perceptions is when you can change the reality and the situation that people with disability have in Rio. I'm sure (the Games) will be a platform for change in this country, but also the region of Latin America and the whole world."

SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Parsons, President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (On if he is confident the rest of the preparation for the Paralympics will go smoothly):

"I'm very positive. I'm confident. We've been involved with the project since the bid so I'm very confident. In Brazil things happen in a different way compared to the rest of the world in terms of sometimes we do things at the last minute, but it works and it will work

SOUNDBITE (English) Karl Forsman, Swedish Paralympic swimmer (On the experience of swimming in the official Olympic and Paralympic pool and winning a race):

"I found it very beautiful here and it feels good to finally be here and try out the pool and come here with a good experience."