RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Iranian cyclist Sarafraz Bahman Golbarnezhad has died after crashing in the C4-5 event at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, the first such death at the games since they began in 1960, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has said.

“The IPC confirm that Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 1040 on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course,” the International Paralympic Committee said.

“The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

“The ambulance diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra da Tijuca where he passed away soon after arrival.”

An investigation into the accident has been launched.

“As far as we’re aware it is the first fatal accident in a Paralympics,” the IPC’s director of communications Craig Spence told Reuters in an emailed response.

It was Golbarnezhad’s second race in Rio. He finished 14th in the C4 time trial on Wednesday.

The cyclist took up the sport in 2002 and also participated at the London 2012 Paralympics.

“He was an exemplary Paralympic sportsman who, with love and energy, tried his best to promote the name of Iran and to make all of us proud and at the end he gave his life for this,” said Golbarnezhad’s national Paralympic Committee.

“All members of the Iranian cultural and sports camp here express condolences to his family and the Iranian nation. The name of Bahman Golbarnezhad will be inscribed in the proud history of Iranian Paralympics.”

The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Athletes Village.

The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the village and at the Riocentro venue where Iran play Bosnia in the sitting volleyball final today.

“This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic movement are with Bahman’s family, friends and team mates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” said IPC president Philip Craven.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what has been a great Paralympic Games here in Rio.”

A moment of silence will be held during Sunday’s closing ceremony.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO — An Iranian cyclist died after crashing in a road race at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Saturday.

He was Bahman Golbarnezhad, aged 48, the International Paralympics Committee said.

It said he received emergency treatment on the course and was transported to a Rio hospital where officials said he died.

“This is truly heart-breaking news, and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman’s family, friends, and teammates, as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee of Iran,” IPC President Philip Craven said in a statement.

The IPC said it believes this is the first death in a Paralympics.

The IPC said Golbarnezhad crashed about 10:40 a.m. local time on a mountainous stretch of the road cycling course. The IPC said he suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

The cause of the crash was not clear, and officials said it was being investigated.

“The Paralympic family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games,” Craven added.

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-staff in the Paralympic Village, and at the venue where Iran faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a men’s sitting volleyball final on Sunday.

A moment of silence will also be held at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Maracana Stadium.

“This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement.” Carlos Nuzman, head of the Rio Olympic organizing committee, said in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.”

A Paralympic biography said Golbarnezhad was born in Shiraz, Iran. He also competed in the London Paralympics but didn’t medal. He was competing in the C4-5 races for athletes with lower limb impairments or amputations.

This was his second race in Rio. On Wednesday, he finished 14th in a time trial.</s>Rio 2016: Paralympics come to an end with festive closing ceremony

Updated

Rio de Janeiro has closed the first Paralympics on South American soil in a blaze of fireworks and Samba for what will be remembered as the people's Games.

The closing ceremony took place at Rio's famed Maracana stadium on Monday (AEST), with festivities highlighted by a giant conga-line of athletes snaking its way around to the cheers of thousands of fans, who danced in the stands to Brazilian funk music.

Retiring Australian co-captain Kurt Fearnley took centre stage as his election to the International Paralympic Committee Athletes' Council was announced.

Fearnley had ended his Paralympics career earlier in the day, with the wheelchair racing veteran finishing second in the men's marathon, missing out on a fairytale gold-medal finish by one second.

Curtis McGrath, who won gold in the KL3 canoe sprint last week, was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag into the stadium, while Ricardinho, who scored the winning goal for Brazil in the five-a-side football final, did the same for the host nation.

After being booed in his brief appearance at the opening ceremony, Brazil's interim President Michel Temer did not attend.

And Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike took the Paralympic flag in a symbolic handover to the next host city.

A minute's silence was observed to mark the death of Iranian para-cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad in the men's road race, the first tragedy of its kind in Paralympic Games history.

It overshadowed a Paralympics that dealt with both a funding and doping crisis to be a success, saving the Games experience for the Brazilian public after the scandal-marred Olympics.

Four weeks ago ticket sales stood at 12 per cent, but a late surge made Rio the second-best attended Games in history, behind London with 2.1 million tickets sold.

Affordable prices for a recession-battered country and the #FillTheSeats social media campaign to buy tickets for local disadvantaged children that even Prince Harry got behind has made Rio a Paralympics for the people.

Organisers shrugged off a doping controversy that left Russia banned from competition on the eve of the Games, and last minute private sponsors also ensured the cash-strapped event could go ahead.

Australia achieves another top-five finish

Snapping up 22 gold medals, 30 silver and 29 bronze, Australia has now achieved a top five finish at every Games since Barcelona 1992.

Australia's gold medal effort was fifth behind China's tally of 107, Great Britain's 64 gold medals, Ukraine's 41 and USA's 40.

Fearnley was not the only Australian athlete to be making their Paralympics farewell, with Evan O'Hanlon hanging up his spikes after he was denied a hat-trick of sprint gold medals.

O'Hanlon passed the baton on to young bucks like Scott Reardon, Isis Holt and James Turner.

Teenagers carved up the Rio pool, with rookies Tiffany Thomas Kane and Lakeisha Patterson and 17-year-old London Paralympian Maddison Elliot all clinching gold.

Wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott became one of a handful of Australians to win gold medals in two sports after switching from wheelchair basketball.

And sport-hopping para-cyclist Jessica Gallagher became Australia's first athlete to win a medal at both a summer and winter Games.

Australia's men's wheelchair rugby team extended their golden Paralympic reign when they beat world number one America by a single point, 59-58, in a double overtime thriller final.

The Steelers flew the flag for team sports after the Rollers, the widely fancied men's wheelchair basketball team, crashed out in a shock quarter-final loss to Great Britain.

Australia won gold medals in the Games' two debut sports para-canoe and para-triathlon, and took the final two titles in sailing's Paralympics farewell.

Legally blind Katie Kelly and her sighted guide and Sydney 2000 Olympics silver medallist, Michellie Jones, teamed up to take victory in the inaugural women's para-triathlon on Rio's iconic Copacabana beach.

Veteran sailors Liesl Tesch and Dan Fitzgibbon became the first sailors to win back-to-back gold medals and sonar trio Russell Boaden, Jonathan Harris and Colin Harrison also secured a final victory before the sport is dropped from the Paralympics program ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.

AAP/ABC

Topics: paralympics, sport, brazil

First posted</s>An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Rio Games, officials said.

Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries despite an attempt to take him to the hospital for treatment, officials said.

"He unfortunately passed away," International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence told AFP.

Golbarnezhad's accident occurred during the more than two-hour C4-5 road race for athletes with varying disabilities but still able to bicycle.

He was in the first section of a mountainous descent when he fell.

"The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest," the IPC said in a statement.

"The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival."

Paralympic officials said Golbarnezhad's family in Iran had been informed and the Iranian team was also told the news during a meeting at the Athletes' Village.

The cyclist, who wore a prosthesis on his left leg, took up the sport in 2002 and competed at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"This is truly heart-breaking news," IPC president Philip Craven said.

"The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio."

Brazil's top official for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, Carlos Nuzman, called it "very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran."

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village, while the Paralympic flag was to be at half mast during Sunday's sitting volleyball gold-medal match between Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A minute of silence will be held during Sunday's closing ceremony.

Iranian Paralympic officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The British Paralympic team tweeted: "We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran."</s>A Paralympic cyclist has died after he crashed during a mountainous road race in Rio today.

Iranian Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, reportedly broke his neck after losing control on a downhill section of the course during the C4/C5 event.

He suffered a heart attack as he was being transferred to hospital and later died in intensive care.

'It is with deep sadness and regret that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirms the death of the Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad,' a spokesman said.

'Golbarnezhad, 48, was involved in a crash at around 10.40am on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course.'

The 48-year-old, from Shiraz, was initially treated on the scene and was then taken to Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra.

'He unfortunately passed away,' IPC spokesman Craig Spence told AFP.

The athlete's family, who are in Iran, have been informed and the Iranian team was brought together in the Athlete Village to be told the news.

Officials are now investigating the crash which occurred during the event for athletes with upper or lower limb impairments.

The race began at Pontal and used many of the same roads as the Olympic event earlier in the year.

But it did not include the Vista Chinesa circuit and its treacherous descent where Holland's Annemiek van Vleuten crashed into the curb and suffered concussion.

The race also ended in controversial fashion when two competitors collided just yards from the finish line.

Australia's Alistair Donohoe and Ukranian Yahor Dementyev jostled and nudged each other as they fought for the gold.

But the resulting crash saw them both fall on the tarmac.

This left the race wide open for Daniel Abraham from Holland to claim gold.

Brazil's Lauro Chaman came in second and Italy's Andrea Tarlao finished third.

It was Golbarnezhad's second race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He took part in the time trial C4 race and finished 14th on Wednesday.

Officials and hundreds of fans have paid tribute to the Iranian athlete.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: 'This is truly heart-breaking news and the thoughts and condolences of the whole Paralympic Movement are with Bahman's family, friends, and teammates as well as the whole of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Iran.

'The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio.'

Carlos Nuzman, President of Rio 2016, said: 'This is very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman's family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.'

Brian Cookson, UCI President, said: 'I am devastated to hear about the death of Iranian rider Bahman Golbarnezhad. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most sincere condolences.'

The British Paralympic team tweeted: 'We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad's passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran.'

Following Golbarnezhad's passing the Iranian Flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village.

The Paralympic flag will also be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and at the Rio Centro venue where Iran on Sunday will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sitting volleyball gold medal match.

During tomorrow's Closing Ceremony a moment of silence will be held.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO: An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday in Rio after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Games, a Paralympic official said.

Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries after being taken to hospital, officials said.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO: An Iranian Paralympic cyclist died Saturday in Rio after an accident in the road race on the penultimate day of the Games, a Paralympic official said.

Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries after being taken to hospital, officials said.</s>RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -- (Marketwired) -- 09/18/16 -- As the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games draw to a close this evening, and our athletes enter the stadium with Aurelie Rivard (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) proudly carrying our flag, I join more than 35 million Canadians in congratulating all the members of Team Canada on their accomplishments and contributions to sport.

Over the past 11 days, Team Canada has personified the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality. They have represented Canada with integrity and passion. They have shown us unforgettable moments of perseverance and triumph.

Every athlete who qualified for the Canadian Paralympic Team did so with some help. Our Government is proud to support our Paralympic athletes, and we stand with their coaches, support staff, families, friends and communities to help them on their journey.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the Closing of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Contacts:

Ashley Michnowski

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough

Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

613-697-8016

ashley.michnowski@canada.ca</s>The best images from day 10 of the Paralympic Games, featuring all the action, reaction and emotion from the penultimate day in Rio</s>RIO DE JANEIRO — Man’s best friends and their owners have embraced the Olympic spirit by taking part in Brazil’s first Dog Olympic Games.

 Dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes competed for medals in diving, jumping, swimming and running at Toto’s Park Club in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca.

A 9-month-old beagle named Mima took home the gold medal in aquatic jumping. Mima’s owner, Aura Stella, said, “I didn’t even know she had all this talent.”

Sunday’s event coincided with the final day of the Paralympic Games in Rio.
The 2016 Summer Paralympic Games close in Rio de Janeiro.