Paralympic Games in Rio next month face 'major budget cuts'

The Paralympics will go ahead in Rio next month, but organizers said Friday that deep budget cuts mean a venue will close down, facilities will be dismantled and the workforce will be reduced.

Poor ticket sales have compounded existing financial challenges in recession-battered Brazil that have been impacting the Summer Olympics, which closes Sunday.

Rio now has less than three weeks to prepare for the Paralympics, the pinnacle of the disability sport calendar. Rio organizers report ticket sales of just over 290,000 for the Sept. 7-18 Paralympics.

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"At this point, it is difficult for us to expect the full venues that we saw in Beijing or London, or expect to see in Tokyo in four years' time," International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven said Friday.

The IPC said it has already sought to reduce costs over the past year and the new, deeper "major budget cuts" will affect every team and visitors to the games.

"Never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this," said International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven. "Since becoming aware of the full scale of the problem, we have focused all of our efforts on finding solutions to the problems."

The IPC has secured an additional $47 million US in funding from Rio mayor Eduardo Paes and said the government will bring in up to $31 million US of sponsorship from state-run companies.

Cuts will affect every team

The IPC said it has already been imposing cuts over the last year and the fresh ones are set to affect every team and visitors to the Games.

The workforce for the Paralympics will be downsized, and transport services cut and media centres closed. The wheelchair fencing competition will move to a new venue, allowing the Deorodo Olympic Park to be closed and dismantled.

Grants of more than $7 million US that the Rio organizers were due to make the 165 participating countries are almost a month overdue. The first athletes are due to arrive on Aug. 31 ahead of the Sept. 7-18 Paralympics.

"Currently we have around 10 countries who, even if the grants are paid, may struggle to cover the cost of their travel to the Games," Craven said. "The IPC is working with them to find solutions and ensure their participation here in Rio."

Canada will 'adjust our plans accordingly'

A statement by the Canadian Paralympic Committee says it was glad the events would be proceeding, even with some changes. 

"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," the statement reads. "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."

Britain's Paralympic body expressed concern that Rio's constrained budgets are setting back the games.

"London 2012 proudly showed the world what was possible, and we want Rio to be the next stage of that positive journey," the British Paralympic Association said. "The IPC's announcement makes clear that there is major risk to that."