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Sochi 2014: 7 things you should know about the Paralympics
A general view is seen of fireworks over Fisht Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Fisht Olympic Stadium on March 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
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Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
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A woman is photographed in front of the Olympic caludron following the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Fisht Olympic Stadium on March 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
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Harry Engels/Getty Images
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Sochi is back for round two with the Paralympic Winter Games starting Friday.
Although the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine has prompted some resistance from athletes, the games will feature a record-breaking number of 547 athletes from 45 countries throughout the week of March 7-16.
Here are seven things you should know about the Paralympics:
1. BREAKING THE ICE
The theme of this year's opening ceremony,"Breaking the Ice," is an effort to "break down barriers and stereotypes faced by people around the world every day," according to the Paralympic Movement.
Nevertheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin opened Friday's festivities against the backdrop of his country's military action in Crimea. Ukraine delivered a pointed message by sending out only a single flag-bearer to represent the 23-member team in the athletes' parade, an apparent protest over the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
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2. RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
A record-number of countries will take part in the 2014 Paralympics. Five-hundred forty seven athletes from 45 countries will compete for 72 gold medals — making it the largest number of countries since the event's debut in 1976, according to BBC.
3. THE EVENTS
The Paralympic Games occurs every two years in the summer and winter and includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. For the winter games, five competitive sports — Alpine skiing, ice sledge hockey, biathlon, wheelchair curling and cross country skiing — will be judged by the International Paralympic Committee at Fisht Stadium in Russia.
4. THE CONFLICT
The White House recently announced that the U.S. has decided that it won't send a presidential delegation to the Paralympic Games. The decision was part of Russia's ongoing advances in Ukraine, reports AP.
On Sunday, British Prime Minister David Cameron also expressed the inappropriateness of having UK ministers attend the games in Sochi, given the circumstances, according to BBC. His decision was later criticized by a member of the International Paralympic Committee.
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Ukraine's Paralympic chief said on Friday his team would quit the Winter Paralympic Games if Russia invaded his home country
5. MEET TEAM U.S.A.
Get to know the faces and stories behind Team U.S.A. here and follow live Sochi 2014 updates via Twitter at @Sochi2014. The first to compete for Team U.S.A? That would be Josh Sweeney, Amy Purdy, Jon Lujan and Tatyana McFadden. Read more here and follow them on Twitter for updates:
Check out Paralympics Instagram feed for more updates from Russia.
6. AMY PURDY TO STAR ON 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'
You can expect 34-year-old Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy to make her debut on the popular television show, "Dancing with the Stars" once she has competed for the Paralympics. She's currently on "double-duty," as she competes for the winter games and brushes up on her dance skills in time for the show. She'll be flying out to Los Angeles the day after the snowboarding event in Sochi.
Follow Amy Purdy on Instagram at @AmyPurdyGurl
“The timing is perfect...I think it’s so great that I can be here and represent my country and the sport that I love and other people with disabilities, and I’m able to use that as a platform for what we’re doing over here,'" Purdy told writer Greg Bates.
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7. IS CANADA THE COUNTRY TO BEAT? THEY SAY YES.
In winter 2010, Canada snatched a record 19 medals. And even with a lot of new players this year, the Canadian Paralympic Committee has high hopes for its team, according to the spec.
Canadian chef de mission Ozzie Sawicki told the spec:
"I think the biggest change that's happened is over the period of time between now and Vancouver, we've seen a lot of younger athletes that have come to the fore....The advantage that we have is we have a lot of senior athletes that have been in a good position to mentor those young up-and-comers."
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