On Sunday, February 23, the XXII Olympic Winter Games came to a close.
And what an event it was.
At an estimated $51 billion, the 2014 Olympics officially became the most expensive Olympic Games ever. Though it was marred with some technical difficulties, safety concerns, and human rights protests, the games still proved to be a national sensation, almost completely taking over both new and pop culture for the past two weeks.
Most will agree that this will certainly be a Winter Olympics to remember.
And while it might be a little sad to see it all pass, the international competition isn’t done quite yet. In fact, we’ve only reached the halfway point. That is because March 7 marks the start of the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games.
Through Ice and Snow
Just like the summer Paralympics, the winter Paralympics happen every four years, following shortly after the Winter Olympics. This will be the 11th Paralympic Winter Games.
The Paralympics uses the same facilities as the Olympics, and features many of the same winter sports, albeit, modified for those who have a disability. In total, 44 countries will be represented in the Paralympics, including first-time participants Brazil, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.
Speaking of new additions, para-snowboarding will make its debut this year.
The Sports
The sports that are being competed in are:
- Alpine skiing*
- Biathlon
- Cross-country skiing
- Ice sledge hockey
- Wheelchair curling
*Para-snowboarding falls under the alpine skiing category.
Within each of these sports are different variations to accommodate different disabilities. For example, in alpine skiing, there are competitions for athletes who have visual impairment, athletes who will be standing, and athletes who will be sitting.
The Dream
The 2012 Paralympic Games in London turned out to be by far the most watched games in Paralympic history. Building off that as well as the momentum of the Sochi Olympics, this Winter Paralympic Games is poised to be a huge success.
If you would like to watch the Paralympic Games, the best place to do so is the official Paralympic YouTube channel. You can also check your local TV listings for show times.
To learn more about the games and the athletes participating, visit the Paralympic website here.
And for all other 2014 Winter Paralympic updates and happenings, make sure to come back here to the Rollx Vans blog.
Will you be watching the 2014 Winter Paralympics? What event are you most excited about? Any favorite athletes?