Posted June 19, 2014
To mark the three-month anniversary since the closing ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi Russia, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has launched an online short film, Sochi 2014 – Breaking Down Barriers, that features highlights from March’s event. The film celebrates some of the greatest sporting moments, as well as the passionate crowds and the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies.
After selling a record 316,200 tickets, attracting a record worldwide global television audience, and witnessing some top-class athletic performances, IPC President Sir Philip Craven described Sochi 2014 as “the best Paralympic Winter Games ever.”
A total of 72 medal events took place across five sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country
skiing, ice sledge hockey, and wheelchair curling. Para-snowboard made its Paralympic debut as part of the alpine skiing program; the gold medals winners were Evan Strong from the United States and Bibian Mentel-Spee from the Netherlands. Team USA beat Russia 1-0 to take gold in a thrilling ice sled hockey competition, and Canada claimed its third successive Paralympic gold in wheelchair curling. Host Russia topped the medal table winning 80 medals, 30 of which were gold.