Paralympics: Chef de mission proud of how far NZ paralympian sport has come on the world stage

Former wheelchair racer Ben Lucas will attend the chefs de mission seminar starting in Rio next week. Photo / NZME.

The progression of paralympic athletes into the country's mainstream sporting coverage is a key aim of chef de mission and former wheelchair racer Ben Lucas in the countdown to Rio.

New Zealand was ranked first in gold medals per capita at the London Games with six, courtesy of swimmers Sophie Pascoe (three), Mary Fisher and Cameron Leslie and cyclists Phillipa Gray and Laura Thompson (pilot).

Lucas competed at the Atlanta and Sydney Games where he was flagbearer and captain of the New Zealand team, and has worked in the paralympic and disability fields since.

He will attend the chefs de mission seminar starting in Rio next week.

"New Zealand is doing an incredible job. We punch above our weight in sports where we're represented. It's reflective of the high-performance environment around our athletes. I've been fortunate enough to attend recent swimming and cycling meets and the professionalism of New Zealand's team coaches, support staff and athletes have come such a long way since I competed in 2000.

"I'm stoked with where paralympic sport is. The coverage is fantastic. Would we be getting interviewed about this 20 years ago? Probably not. The world is seeing they are athletes first and foremost in their own right. They're doing incredible things that motivate and inspire."

The Games have developed from 400 athletes from 23 countries at Rome in 1960, to 4294 athletes from 164 countries at London in 2012. New Zealand first attended in 1968. Organisers sent their biggest team to Sydney in 2000 and earned their most medals (25 - eight gold, 10 silver and seven bronze) at the Games split between New York and Stoke Mandeville in 1984. Lucas doesn't expect New Zealand to have its biggest team at Rio, but says attendees will impressed by the logistics.

"The Olympic Park is well advanced, including the velodrome, pool, tennis courts and indoor arenas where wheelchair rugby will be held. The villages comprise 27 high-rise condos which are all structurally complete. They're removing the last couple of cranes and are now fitting out the interiors and doing the landscaping.

"The transport infrastructure that is being put in place is significant and will be a tremendous legacy."

Lucas was also impressed with the disability access, a mandatory pitch for any host bid, and downplayed concerns about the water quality from a New Zealand perspective, because so few athletes would be involved.

"It's always in the back of your mind [in terms of the wider event]. Our medical director is fully aware of the situation but I'm unsure if we'll have any presence on water at Guanabara Bay or Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. We do have a flatwater kayaker [Scott Martlew] who hasn't qualified yet."