in hopes to leave behind a different type of legacy at the Paralympic Gam

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Of the nearly 4,000 athletes competing in the Rio Paralympics, all but two are doing so for their country.Syrian swimmer Ibrahim Al Hussein and Iranian-born discus thrower Shahrad Nasajpour make up the first refugee team at the Paralympics.All the years I dedicated to sports did not go in vain, said Al Hussein, who lost part of his right leg in a bombing in his Syrian hometown.I think we were trying to show that the values that the (Paralympics) holds is to provide opportunities regardless of the circumstances of individuals with impairments, said chef de mission Tony Sainsbury, regarding the creation of the refugee team. Those opportunities exist for them provided that they can demonstrate that they are of the right standard of potential.Sainsbury said athletes must meet three criteria to be considered. They need to be officially recognized as a refugee, who had sought and was granted asylum. They needed to return from Brazil to the nations where they sought asylum, and they had to prove a credible performance, he said.Mohamad Alabed, who lived in the same area as Al Hussein, fled Syria and now resides in the Netherlands. He said while he doesnt know Al Hussein personally, everyone knows of the heroic Syrian swimmer.While neither refugee competitor medaled, Al Hussein hopes to leave behind a different type of legacy at the Paralympic Games. He says he feels having represented the refugees of the world and having the word `refugee circulated throughout the world is the most important thing I could have done.I am a refugee, that was out of my hands, he said. I was injured, that was out of my hands, I am an athlete, this is my choice.---Shannon Ryan is a journalism student at Penn State University. Penn State and Georgia are partnering with The Associated Press to supplement coverage of the 2016 Paralympics. Authentic Russell Martin Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Authentic Roger Clemens Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. http://www.cheapbluejaysjerseys.us/ ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Authentic Roy Halladay Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Authentic Kevin Pillar Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. The Buffalo Bills on Tuesday signed veteran safety James Ihedigbo, who has a familiarity with coach Rex Ryans defensive system.Ihedigbo played two seasons, 2009 and 2010, for the New York Jets when Ryan served as head coach. He played in 29 games over that span, all as a reserve.The Bills have been searching for a starting safety opposite Corey Graham since Aaron Williams was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1. Veteran backup Robert Blanton has started the past two games in Williams place.The Bills released safety?Duke Williams?in a corresponding move.The 32-year-old Ihedigbo spent the past two seasons with the Lions, the first season-and-a-half as the teams starting strong safety.He and Glover Quin were considered one of the best safety tandems in the league in 2014, but Ihedigbo was rreplaced in the lineup by Isa Abdul-Quddus midway through the 2015 season.dddddddddddd It was a season Ihedigbo called humbling, and he told ESPN without a doubt he believes he can still be a NFL starter.By the end of the 2015 season, Ihedigbo was playing on some special-teams units -- the same role he had when he started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Jets.Ihedigbo has played with the Jets, Patriots, Ravens and Lions and won a Super Bowl in Baltimore. In his career, he has made 332 tackles with nine sacks, eight interceptions, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.ESPNs Mike Rodak and Michael Rothstein contributed to this report. China Womens NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '