More than 800 athletes aged between 12 and 20 years-old from 19 countries have gathered in the Brazilian city for the event which will feature 12 sports.

The event begins just six months after the conclusion of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and will conclude on Saturday (March 25).

The Opening Ceremony was attended by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven and a number of leading Brazilian Paralympians.

Among them was Brazil’s most decorated Paralympian Daniel Dias, who sensationally won nine swimming medals at Rio 2016, including four golds.

Jose Luis Campo, who was re-elected unopposed as the President of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) at the organisation's General Assembly, told the athletes this event could be a stepping-stone to Tokyo 2020.

"The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games may just be three and a half years away, but athletes you should not see them as out of reach," he said.

"You should be hugely motivated that many athletes who have competed in this event, starting with the first edition in Venezuela in 2005, have gone onto not just compete at the Paralympics, but win medals on the biggest stage of all."

The 12 sports to make the programme include athletics, boccia, five and seven-a-side football, goalball and judo. 

Powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming and table tennis are also on the programme, as are wheelchair basketball and tennis.

Prior to the Opening Ceremony, the first sporting action took place in the seven-a-side football tournament.

In the opening fixtures, Argentina comfortably beat Venezuela 5-1 in Group A, while hosts Brazil defeated Colombia 2-1 in Group B.

The last edition of the Games was held in 2013 in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

More than 600 athletes from 16 countries competed across 10 sports.

Brazil topped the medal table while 15 countries reached the podium at least once during the Games.