Rio 2016 Paralympics: When do Games start and which Team GB athletes are competing? Schedule, dates and how to watch

THE Paralympics kicks off another 12 days of brilliant sporting action in Rio de Janeiro today.

It’s been just two weeks since another riveting edition of the Olympic Games came to a close.

The 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro went down a storm, with Team GB running out as the second best nation in the world.

Our home heroes won an astonishing 27 gold medals, 23 silvers and 17 bronze gongs, to take home an outrageous 67 in total.

But just before you start to reminisce, don’t! We’ve still got two weeks of Paralympic action to keep the adrenaline pumping.

SunSport runs down everything you need to know about the Paralympic Games, and where our Brit stars will be looking to clinch even more gold.

WHEN & WHERE?

SO, let’s get down to business. The 2016 Paralympics will also be hosted by Rio, with the opening ceremony taking place TODAY.

Specifically, you can see all the razzmatazz from the Maracana at 9.30pm tonight.

The first events start tomorrow, with huge sports such as the wheelchair basketball, football and athletics all getting underway.

The Games will run until Sunday September 18, with a few gold medals still to allocate and the closing ceremony, of course.

All in all there will be an astonishing 526 golds at stake, spanning 22 sports.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

THIS year’s Paralympics will be broadcast by Channel 4.

The broadcaster have been selling the fact hugely on their many platforms, including E4 and All 4 among others and have put a lot of money behind what they are calling ‘the Superhumans’.

If TV’s not your thing, then tune in to BBC Radio, who will be broadcasting audio of the action-packed Games.

TEAM GB: THE LOWDOWN

SO let’s take a look at Team GB… Can they follow up on their stunning 2012 antics, or even outperform them?

There will be 258 Brits over in Rio, across 19 of the 22 available sports.

After 120 gongs in London, finishing third behind China and Russia, beating that will be some ask.

Swimmer Ellie Simmonds is certainly one to keep an eye on after winning a remarkable four golds at the 2008 and 2012 edition – including two when she was just 13.

Then there’s sprinter Jonnie Peacock who will hope to get his hands on gold, too.

Wimbledon wheelchair champion Gordon Reid will be taking part in Rio, while cyclist Dame Sarah Storey will be back on show on the bike.

Incredibly, Storey used to be a Paralympic swimmer before switching sports, due to repeated illnesses caused by the pool.

Elsewhere big names such as wheelchair athlete David Weir will be hoping to get their hands on the gold in Brazil.