Sochi 2014 congratulates the Russian Paralympic team that led the medal count at the Turin Paralympics with a total of 33 medals, including 13 gold, 13 silver and 7 bronze, which could boost Sochi’s bid for the 2014 Olympic Games.
According to a media release by Sochi 2014 the Paralympic movement has had a strong following in Russia for almost 20 years. Also Russian athletes with disabilities participate in European and World Championships and numerous national sports events.
The budget allocated to the participation of disabled athletes in international competitions, including Paralympic Games, has increased tenfold since 1998, said the release.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Chief Executive Officer of Sochi 2014 said, “sport has a great potential to help integrate people with disabilities into society. While our achievements over the past two decades have been significant, a lot still remains to be done to improve the daily lives of people with disabilities in Russia. We believe that hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Russia will help us do just that, should the city of Sochi win that honour.
“All the sports venues built for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games would offer a long-lasting sports legacy to disabled athletes. What’s more, the increase in awareness of disabled athletes’ needs and the celebration of their success will leave the priceless legacy of acceptance and understanding for the entire nation”, said Chernyshenko.
