The Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) hosted the seventh edition of the Loterias Caixa Paralympic Festival on September 21, 2023, which saw a record attendance of 25,661 participants across 120 locations in all 27 Brazilian states. This event celebrated the National Day of the Struggle of Persons with Disabilities and the Day of the Paralympic Athlete, showcasing adaptive sports to children both with and without disabilities.
Among the attendees, 19,350 had disabilities, with a focus on promoting interaction and breaking down prejudices. Mizael Conrado, president of CPB and a two-time Paralympic champion, expressed satisfaction with the event's growth and the success of Brazilian athletes at the recent Paris 2024 Paralympics, where Brazil achieved its best-ever medal tally.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, Nigeria, the 11th Federation of African University Sports (FASU) Games commenced on September 23, 2023, featuring over 1,500 athletes from 43 countries. The event, co-hosted by the University of Lagos and Lagos State University, includes competitions in 17 sports and aims to foster collaboration among African universities.
FASU President Ashraf Sobhy emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and unity among participants, while Nigerian University Games Association President Mohammed Bawa encouraged athletes to explore potential careers in sports. The games will continue until September 29, 2023.