2014 Winter Paralympics

De **2014 Winter Paralympics** (Russian: Зимние Паралимпийские игры 2014, romanized: *Zimniye Paralimpiyskiye igry 2014*), de 11th Paralympic Winter Games, wey dem sanso know am more generally as de **Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games**, na ebe international multi-sport event give athletes plus disabilities govern by de International Paralympic Committee (IPC), dem hold insyd Sochi, Russia, from 7 to 16 March 2014. Na 45 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) participate insyd de Games, wich mark de first time Russia ever host de Paralympics. De Games feature 72 medal events insyd five sports, wey dem see de debut of snowboarding for de Winter Paralympics.

Na de lead-up to dese Paralympics be met plus concerns wey dey regard Russia ein military intervention insyd de nearby Crimean peninsula of Ukraine de month before de opening of de games. De head of Ukraine ein NPC state say e go pull ein athletes if de situation escalate, while de United Kingdom den United States choose dem no go send governmental delegations to de Games. De crisis ultimately get no impact for athlete participation top, buh na members of de Ukrainian team stage symbolic protests of de crisis during de Games (wey dey include most notably, all buh de country ein flagbearer wey dey tap out of de opening ceremony ein parade of nations).

Plus 80 medals, 30 of dem be gold, de host country of Russia win de most medals during dese Games, wey dem set record for de most medals win by single country during single Winter Paralympic Games. Additionally, Russian skier Roman Petushkov win de most individual gold medals insyd Winter Paralympic history, plus six golds across skiing den biathlon events. However, dey follow de Games, de IPC discover evidence say na Russia ein performance be aid by wider state-sponsored doping program. Dis result insyd restrictions for de participation of Russian athletes during subsequent Paralympics.

## Bidding process

As part of formal agreement between de International Paralympic Committee den de International Olympic Committee dem first establish insyd 2001, de winner of de bid for de 2014 Winter Olympics sanso be host of de 2014 Winter Paralympics. Dey follow de second den final round of voting for de 119th IOC Session insyd Guatemala City, Guatemala for 4 July 2007, na dem award de city of Sochi, Russia de 2014 Winter Olympics den Paralympics.

## Organization

### Venues

As plus previous Paralympics, de 2014 Winter Paralympics use chaw of de same venues na den use by de Olympics, dey situate within de Sochi Olympic Park den de resort of Krasnaya Polyana. Despite de IPC dey believe say na Russia get "zero track record in terms of accessibility"—dey give dat de Soviet Union pass on hosting de 1980 Summer Paralympics after dem claim no disable athletes live insyd Russia, na dem build de venues to de IPC ein standards, na organizers be quick make dem fix sam of de issues point out by officials during audit of de venues insyd January 2014, wey IPC spokesperson state say dem be "confident and expect everything to be ready for Games time." Organizers den de IPC hope say de Paralympics dema legacy go make Sochi role model give inclusive design thru out de country, den IPC presido Philip Craven go as far as dubbing Sochi de first accessible city insyd Russia, wey dey commend de country ein changed stance for disability top since 1980.

### Sochi Olympic Park (Coastal Cluster)
Na dem build de Sochi Olympic Park by de Black Sea coast insyd de Imeretin Valley, about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Russia ein border plus Abkhazia. De venues be clustered around central water basin plus synchronized fountain, wey dey allow all indoor venues make e be within walking distance. Of dese, de venues dem use during de Paralympics include:

* Fisht Olympic Stadium – ceremonies (opening/closing) 40,000 spectators
* Shayba Arena – sledge hockey, 7,000 spectators
* Ice Cube Curling Center – wheelchair curling, 3,000 spectators

### Krasnaya Polyana (Mountain Cluster)

* Laura Biathlon & Ski Complex – Biathlon, Cross-country skiing
* Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort – Alpine skiing
* Rosa Khutor Extreme Park – Snowboarding

## Mascots
Na dem show shortlist of 10 Olympic den 3 Paralympic designs to de public for 7 February 2011, while na dem reveal de winners for 26 February 2011. De Paralympic mascots, Ray of Light den Snowflake, represent contrasts den inclusivity: dema fictional backstories portray dem as respectively dem cam to Earth from hot planet den cold comet. After Ray of Light overcamel ein struggle make e adapt to winter environment, he bond plus Snowflake thru shared passion give winter sports.

## De Games

### Opening ceremony
Na dem hold de opening ceremony of de Games for Fisht Olympic Stadium for 7 March 2014. Dem entitle am "Breaking the Ice", na dem theme de ceremony around equality den "breaking" barriers, wey dey feature ballet sequences set to music by notable Russian composers, dem animated segments by Aleksandr Petrov base for de story of de firebird top. Insyd ein opening speech, IPC presido Philip Craven praise Russia for finally dem fulfil ein "dream" of hosting de Paralympics after previously dem pass on de opportunity insyd 1980. He call upon spectators make dem get "barrier-free mind", wey he state say "the sport you witness here will change you. Not just for now, but forever." Na de Paralympic cauldron be jointly lit by Russian Paralympians Olesya Vladykina den Sergey Shilov.

### National Paralympic Committees wey dey participate
Athletes wey dey represent forty-five National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) compete for de 2014 Winter Paralympics, increase of one NPC over 2010.

Brazil, Turkey den Uzbekistan make dema Winter Paralympic debut insyd Sochi, while Hungary den South Africa, wey participate insyd Vancouver, na dem no send any athletes.

### Sports
Na dem hold competitions insyd de 2014 Winter Paralympics insyd five Winter Paralympic sports, plus 72 medal events for total. Na fresh for 2014 be de addition of snowboarding events, wich na dem incorporate into de alpine skiing program.

*  Alpine skiing (32)
*  Biathlon (18) 
*  Cross-country skiing (20)
*  Ice sledge hockey (1)
*  Wheelchair curling (1)

### Calendar

### Closing ceremony
Na dem hold de closing ceremony of de 2014 Winter Paralympics for 16 March 2014 for Fisht Olympic Stadium. Dem entitle am "Reaching the Impossible", na dem theme de ceremony around inclusivity, wey dem feature sequences wey dey pay tribute to Russian abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky, den Alexey Pajitnov ein classic video game *Tetris*. During ein closing remarks, deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak state say de Games cam turn "catalyst for our efforts to create a barrier-free environment in Russia", wey he promise say "this important work will continue throughout our vast country." Sir Phillip Craven congratulate Russia for dem host wat he deem to be de best Winter Paralympic Games, wey he state say de Games ein participants had "shown the world that absolutely anything is possible and that life is about amazing capabilities and not perceived deficiencies."

## Medals
Na dem unveil Sochi ein Paralympic medal design insyd May 2013 alongsyd ein Olympic equivalent. De design dey incorporate "patchwork quilt" of diamonds, sam of wich be translucent, wey dey contain designs wey dey reflect Russia ein regions, wey sanso dey contain inscriptions insyd braille.

### Medal table
 *   Host nation (Russia)

## Broadcasting
Insyd February 2013, dey follow ein successful broadcast of de 2012 Summer Paralympics, British broadcaster Channel 4 announce insyd February 2014 say e obtain de broadcast rights to further Games, wey dey include de 2014 Winter Paralympics, den 2016 Summer Paralympics. Channel 4 plan make dem broadcast more dan 45 hours of coverage from Sochi. Na dem provide Australian coverage by de Australian Broadcasting Corporation, wey dey include live online streaming. However, aside from de opening ceremony (wich na dem broadcast live), na television coverage be limited to daily half-hour highlights show.

## References


## External links
**2014 Winter Paralympics** at Wikipedia ein sisto projects

*  from Commons
*  from Wikinews
*  from Wikivoyage
*  from Wikidata

* Official website Archived 22 July 2014
* International Paralympic Committee