Google welcomes 2016 Paralympics with new Doodle

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Google is highlighting the start of the 2016 Paralympics with a new Doodle that pays tribute to the various athletes and sporting events that will be on display.

Released Wednesday, the first day of the Paralympics in Rio, users who visit Google's homepage will be treated to a colorful slideshow showcasing events such as volleyball, soccer, weightlifting, swimming, track and field and more.

According to Google, the Paralympics, which started with a group of British WWII veterans, has turned into "the world's largest sporting event for athletes with physical disabilities, drawing 4,500 athletes from 176 countries worldwide."

"Today's Doodle celebrates the opening of the 2016 Summer Paralympics and highlights the incredible feats of athleticism the participants will demonstrate in Rio. They'll go for gold during a year of firsts: Rio, the first Latin American city to host the Paralympics, will debut canoeing and paratriathlon among the more than 500 existing events," the internet giant also noted.

The Paralympics are set to take place from Sept. 7 to Sept. 18.