The initiative, spearheaded by the National Paralympic Committee of Lithuania, was unveiled in June with a "Road to Rio" event in the capital city of Vilnius.

This was designed as a public farewell for the 13-strong team ahead of September's Games in which the Baltic nation's President Dalia Grybauskaite was among those attending.

Similar events took place in the home towns of team members, including a special Torch Relay and other activities designed to generate publicity.

The initiative was recognised by the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations.

“The Paralympic Games were never broadcasted live on Lithuanian television and not even one journalist was accredited at a Paralympic Games before Rio,” said Vilma Venckutonyte, initiator and project manager of the Lithuanian Paralympic PR campaign. 

“That is why there was a huge lack of information on Para-sports in Lithuania.

"I made a commitment to fill in this gap. 

"The Paralympic sports communication campaign had a breakthrough effect among society and on a state level.”

Lithuania ultimately won three medals at Rio 2016 in their best ever performance at the Paralympics.

Gold medals were secured by the men's goalball team and by Mindaugas Bilius in the men's F37 shot put.

Bilius also claimed discus silver in the same classification.