Romania first participated in Paralympic competition at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany, but did not make another appearance until the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta. Their only prior appearance at the Winter Paralympics was four years prior, at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics. Although the nation has won medals at the Summer Paralympics, they have yet to win a medal at the Winter Paralympics. 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. Laura Valeanu was selected as the only athletes in the Romanian delegation to Sochi. She was chosen as the Romanian flag bearer for the parade of nations during the opening ceremony and for the closing ceremony.