Favorite Moments from the Opening Ceremonies

Medal Quest | 03/07/14 at 11:16 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies

· Precision marchers in red, white, and blue stepping in and out of each others’ lines, weaving intricate patterns and ultimately forming the Russian flag – and then bending in sequence to make the “flag” wave.  Later in the program, the marchers came back in blue, green and red to march again, this time forming the three Paralympic agitos – the name for the “swooshes” that make up the Paralympic logo.

 · A giant icebreaker – really huge! – making its stately way across the Olympic Stadium.  Hundreds of dancers with ice “shards” scattered as it plowed across, symbolizing the Sochi Paralympics’ goal of breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.

 · And, of course, the arrival of Team USA in 2014’s distinctive “ugly Christmas” sweaters.  The US athletes looked ready to roll, with competitions in curling, sled hockey, biathlon, and alpine skiing starting tomorrow!

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Transformation

Medal Quest | 03/07/14 at 08:03 p.m.

Transformation

Opening Ceremonies for the 2014 Paralympics are over, and in many ways they were just fabulous – lights, sounds, hundreds of dancers and acrobats, flying ladies and computer graphics, fireworks inside and out of the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

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The Ukraine Question

Medal Quest | 03/07/14 at 06:30 p.m.

Overshadowing the 2014 Paralympics has been, and still is, the question of Ukraine. With the threat of a Russia-Ukraine war hanging and world leaders scrambling, the Ukrainian delegation was torn: Should they withdraw in protest, or stay and compete in the Paralympic spirit of neutrality? 

This afternoon, just hours before the Opening Ceremonies, the announcement came: the delegation would participate. In a press conference, Valeriy Suskevich, Ukraine’s head of Paralympics, made a point of saying, “Don’t let us start a war during the Paralympic Games,” but he also promised his delegation would leave immediately if there was more conflict. 

So there was a moment of real drama when Ukraine was announced in tonight’s parade of athletes – and only one person emerged into the stadium wearing Ukraine’s distinctive blue and yellow. Flag bearer Mykhailo Tkachenko, a biathlon athlete, wheeled his way across the stage with a somber expression on his face. The crowd erupted in huge cheers – the only cheers that were louder were for their own Russian delegation – but Tkachenko never waved or acknowledged the crowd. 

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Setting Up at the Opening Ceremony

Medal Quest | 03/07/14 at 10:32 a.m.

ICE WARRIORS cameraman Scott Sinkler setting up for today's opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games. New video will be part of the revised version of ICE WARRIORS, including the USA sled hockey's team performance in Sochi.  In the meantime we will be sending photos and news every day.  Follow us and share!

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Team Ukraine will not withdraw from the Paralympic Games

Medal Quest | 03/07/14 at 07:00 a.m.

4 hours to Opening Ceremonies, and news reports say Ukraine's delegation will not withdraw from the Paralympic Games.  The International Paralympic Committee's president, Sir Philip Craven, who will preside over tonight's opening celebrations, was quoted as saying "The talking point of Sochi 2014 needs to be great sport and great athletes, not global politics."  The team will leave if there is an escalation of military conflict.

MEDAL QUEST will be sending pictures and reporting from the Fisht Stadium in Sochi later today, after the Paralympic flame is lit and the Games are officially started.

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Meet the Press

Medal Quest | 03/06/14 at 08:26 p.m.

MEDAL QUEST dropped in today at the official first press conference of Sochi 2014, a chance for Russian organizers to discuss what they called “barrier-free standards for the whole of Russia.”  This would be huge for any host country, but especially for Russia, which hasn’t had a strong record on accessibility.  In fact, someone outside the conference said that Russia did not even host a Paralympic Games after the 1980 Olympics – can this be true? 

Also announced:

· All 45 national teams have arrived in Russia, a record for the Winter Games.  That includes Ukraine’s team, although it’s still not clear if they will withdraw before tomorrow’s Opening Ceremonies.

· 547 -- the total number of athletes expected -- is also a Paralympic Winter Games record.

· Around 60 countries will broadcast the Paralympics, including new broadcasters NHK Japan, Rede Globo Brazil, and NBC USA.

USA Hockey’s Josh Pauls, who was part of the press conference, talked with ICE WARRIORS about being back at the Paralympics, what was different from Vancouver, and how awesome the Shayba Arena will be for the sled hockey competition.  Here’s Josh:

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THE ICE WARRIORS ARE READY

Medal Quest | 03/06/14 at 02:00 p.m.

We stopped by practice today to see Team USA get ready for the Games.  They went flat out for the whole time, racing around in speed laps, doing shooting exercises at both ends of the rink with Jen Lee and Steve Cash both in goal, working 40-second 5-on-5 drills from faceoffs, stopping only to swig water and listen to Coach Jeff Sauer.

ICE WARRIORS’ photographer was there -- and included in these exclusive pictures are first views of Steve and Jen’s newly-painted goalie helmets.  It’s a tradition that Paralympic and Olympic goalies re-paint their helmets as they want for the Games. 

Practicing Before the Games

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IN ROSA KHUTOR

Medal Quest | 03/05/14 at 08:32 p.m.

IN ROSA KHUTOR

As we came down the mountains, we stopped for a moment in Rosa Khutor, a village squeezed into a narrow valley at the base of the mountains.  Music was blaring and we walked into an outdoor party – a stage with folk singers and dancers, people enjoying themselves on a warm evening – at least 60 degrees F!  Here are a few pictures.

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Two Worlds

Medal Quest | 03/05/14 at 01:05 p.m.

Two Worlds

Here in Russia, the Games are a world in themselves, set off and apart.  Or maybe two worlds, to be more accurate:  the “coastal cluster,” where the Fisht Olympic Stadium is and where sled hockey and wheelchair curling will be played, and the “mountain cluster,” where nordic skiing, alpine skiing, and biathlon will be held. 

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ICE WARRIORS team arrives in Sochi

Medal Quest | 03/04/14 at 05:15 p.m.

The ICE WARRIORS team is in Sochi, where the Olympic Park is very quiet, waiting for teams and fans to arrive. The "HOT COLD YOURS" signs are still up to welcome the athletes, but the Paralympic "swooshes" have replaced the Olympic rings on the buildings. 

And our flight from Moscow included a group from Finland's wheelchair curling team, very friendly.

Mina Mojtahedi of the Finland curling team.

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Coming to PBS: ICE WARRIORS

Medal Quest | 01/28/14 at 12:44 p.m.

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“Thank you, London”

Medal Quest | 10/15/12 at 12:52 p.m.

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A Family Bonds in Racing

Medal Quest | 10/10/12 at 01:26 p.m.

For Tatyana McFadden, London 2012 is her third Paralympics, a chance to add even more medals.  For her sister Hannah, 16 years old, it’s a first-time experience.  Both are competing in the 100m sprint.

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“Athletes being athletes, there’re going to be accidents.”

Medal Quest | 10/09/12 at 11:52 a.m.

Cheri Blauwet, seven-time Paralympic medalist and now a medical doctor, has turned her skills to preventing athlete accidents.

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Ending on a Perfect 10

Medal Quest | 10/04/12 at 09:55 a.m.

Archers Jeff Fabry and Matt Stutzman knew, going in to the Games, that the competition would be fierce in each of their divisions.

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