THE 16th Summer Paralympic Games ended on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan, with Nigeria finishing 33rd on the medals table with four gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
China finished tops at the end of the 12-day championship with 96 gold, 60 silver and 51 bronze medals, as Great Britain followed with a distant 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze medals.
Nigeria finished as the fourth best on the continent as Tunisia which placed 28th emerged Africa’s best at Tokyo 2020 with four gold, five silver and two bronze medals.
Algeria, which placed 29th on the medals table, finished as Africa’s second best with four gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
Morocco followed, having placed 30th on the table with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals, while South Africa finished fifth in Africa and 34th on the medals table with four gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Meanwhile, president, International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, in his closing ceremony speech said: “Together, against the odds, we did it.”
“The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games have not just been historic — they have been fantastic.
“In 12 magical days, athletes gave the world confidence, happiness, and hope. Athletes broke records, athletes won hearts, athletes opened minds. Importantly, athletes changed lives.
” The ceremony itself lasted about two hours and — as has been the case for much of the Olympics and Paralympics — took place in a near-empty stadium without spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
