The RIO 2007 Organizing Committee is proud and honored to hold for the very first time in history, an edition of the Pan American Games, along with the Parapan American Games. We are sure that, upon applying to the Parapan Games the same format used in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brazil and Rio de Janeiro have open new perspectives so that this iniciative will be repeated in the following editions of the Pan American Games.

Sport is an essential element for the integration among peoples. It is also a powerful tool for social insertion. With the support of the three levels of government - Federal, State and Municipal, along with the participation of the whole Brazilian society, we are certain that the III Parapan American Games Rio 2007 will be the starting point for the development of the paralympic sports in Brazil as well as in the Americas.

Pan American Greetings,

Carlos Arthur Nuzman

President of the Organizing Committee Rio 2007