Winter Paralympics start in Sochi
The Games will feature 575 athletes from 45 countries, competing for 72 sets of medals in five sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. Also, for the first time in Paralympic history, a para-snowboarding competition will be held.
Russia will be represented by 78 athletes from 17 regions, including two Tatarstan representatives: Marta Zaynullina and Rushan Minnegulov. The entire delegation will count 195 people, the largest one since Russian team has started participating in the Paralympics.
The opening ceremony will take place at Fischt stadium at 8 PM. Valery Redkozubov, World Alpine Skiing Championship among blind people bronze medal winner, Russian Cup holder in 2012-2013, European and World Cups winner, will carry Russian flag.
Channel One will broadcast the opening ceremony.