Greece first joined Paralympic competition at the 1976 Summer Paralympics, and made their Winter Paralympics debut at the 2002 Winter Paralympics. They have participated in every Summer Paralympics since, and missed the Winter Paralympics only once, in 2006. This made Sochi their third appearance at a Winter Paralympics. While Greece have won over 90 medals at Summer Paralympics, they have never won one in Winter Paralympics competition. The 2014 Winter Paralympics were held from 7–16 March 2014, in Sochi, Russia; 45 countries and 547 athletes took part in the multi-sport event. Efthymios Kalaras was the only athlete sent by Greece to Sochi. He was chosen as the Greek flag-bearer for the parade of nations during the opening ceremony, and the closing ceremony.