Rio to distribute Paralympic tickets to over 30,000 children

Rio De Janeiro, Aug 27: Rio De Janeiro authorities will distribute free tickets for next month's Paralympic Games to over 30,000 school children.

Under a joint initiative between the state government and the Rio 2016 organising committee, the students will also receive free transport to venues, lunch and a Paralympics T-shirt, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Children with deficiencies will be given priority in the allocation of tickets.

"The proposal aims to allow the kids to get to know new sports and experience the Paralympic values," the authorities said.

During this month's Olympic Games, Rio's state government distributed 55,000 tickets to school children for football, badminton, hockey, equestrian, shooting, canoeing, boxing, table tennis and weight lifting.

The Paralympics will be held from September 7 to 18.