Under the deal, which also also sees the Japanese auto maker become a sponsor of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (BPC), Nissan will provide more than 2,000 vehicles that speficially meet the needs of athletes competing in Rio 2016. 

Of this total, 270 cars will be adapted to carry physically impaired and other people with special needs with 150 vehicles able to carry a single chair and another 120 to carry two chairs. 

"Having Nissan as the first sponsor of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games is to start a partnership that has as its main link the convergence of philosophies," said Andrew Parsons, the President of the BPC.

"With Nissan's experience in providing mobility to handicapped, through their adapted vehicles, we can give athletes more autonomy until the Rio de Janeiro Games."

Like the 4,500 vehicles that Nissan will deliver to the Olympic Games in 2016, the 2,000 cars for the Paralympic Games prioritise clean energy, either ethanol or electricity.

"It is highly gratifying to see that a company like Nissan, which is already a partner of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, sees Paralympic Games with equal importance and is committed to help us deliver the Games with excellence and to promote the Paralympic and Olympic sports in Brazil and in South America," said Carlos Nuzman, the President of Rio 2016. 

As part of their sponsorship, Nissan will also launch a special programme to help aspiring young Brazilian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. 

"Our commitment to Brazil goes beyond increasing our operation in the automotive industry, because we want to add to the country's solid opportunities for socio-economic development," said Christian Meunier, the President of Nissan do Brasil. 

"By sponsoring the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we have as main objective to provide mobility for all, besides providing the cleanest fleet in the history of the Olympics.

"After all, as well as athletes, Nissan is also bold and driven by challenges."

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