Summer Paralympic Games 2016 begin in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro tonight with an opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium. Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will compete in 22 different sports. Of the total number of athletes set to take part, approximately 1,650 will be women. Canoe and triathlon will be included in the Games for the first time in Rio. The Indian contingent, largest-ever from the country, comprising 18 athletes, left for Rio on first of this month. They will feature in 10 disciplines.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had wished the best to the athletes. He said, the people of country will be enthusiastically cheering for them. He expressed hope that the athletes will give their best and make everyone proud. Games will culminate on the 18th of this month. Russian para-athletes, who finished second behind China in the London 2012 medals table, were last month barred from 12-day Games by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) following a World Anti-Doping Agency report which alleged a vast state-sponsored doping program.Six countries are sending athletes for the very first time, and Syrian swimmer Ibrahim Al-Hussein, who lost a leg in an explosion in his nation's civil war, and Iranian discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour make up a two-strong refugee team. China will have a record 308 athletes in Rio looking tobeat their 95 gold medals from London when they topped the table for the third straight Paralympics.