With almost 50 days to go until Sao Paulo 2017 Youth Parapan American Games, the medal design for the event that will take place between 20-25 March at the Brazilian Paralympic Centre has been unveiled.

“They are made of brass and acrylic and look to represent the joy of the youth, which is why we used vibrant colours and a model that mixes the weight of the metal and the transparency of the acrylic,” said designer and project lead Amanda Rabelo Cardoso.

The slogan for Sao Paulo 2017 “Youth Energy” has also been launched.

Around 1,000 athletes, aged 12-20 years old, from more than 20 countries are expected to participate in the fourth Youth Parapan Ams, with 12 sports being contested: athletics, boccia, football 5, football 7, goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

The last edition of the Youth Parapan Ams was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2013, attracting more than 600 athletes from 16 countries, who competed across 10 sports. Brazil topped the medal table and 15 countries reached the podium at least once.

Barquisimeto, Venezuela, staged the inaugural edition in 2005, with athletes from 10 countries competing, whilst a total of 14 countries attended the event in Bogota, Colombia, in 2009.