Paralympics Showcase Human Spirit

The 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, ended in a blaze of glory March 19. For ten days, from March 10-19, the event offered the world examples of courage, integrity, and hope.

Leading the national totals in number of medals was the Russian Federation, with 13 gold, 13 silver, and seven bronze, for a total of 33. Next was Ukraine with seven gold medals, nine silver, and nine bronze, for a total of 25. Germany took home 18: eight gold, give silver, and five bronze.

The United States captured seven gold medals, two silver, and three bronze.

The Paralympic Games were an unprecedented success in terms of television audience. For the first time, image rights were bought on all five continents, including Africa. Some media outlets offered simultaneous live coverage on the Internet as well. There were more than 140 hours broadcast from the Torino 2006 Winter Paralympics, including 130 hours live, the Paralympics website noted ( www.paralympic.org ).

The Torino Winter Games also saw several "firsts":

Torino 2006 was the first to include Wheelchair Curling; Two new National Paralympic Committees--Mexico and Mongolia--were involved for the frist time; Australia sent its first female athlete to the Winter Games' The Torino Games marked the first time the factor system was used in all Alpine and Cross-Country Skiing event; For the first time, Alpine and Nordic Skiing athletes competed in three classes: sitting, standing, and visually impaired, Gerd Schoenfelder of Germany became the first athlete in Alpine Skiing to sweep 17 Paralympic medals; ParalympicSport.TV provided the first Internet television broadcast of Paralympic Games. About 20,000 enthusiastic volunteers from around the world worked hard to make the Games a success.

However, the Paralympics are about more than winning medals. They demonstrate the power of the human spirit, inspiring others.

Said Tyler Walker, a bilateral amputee from Franconia, New Hampshire, in an interview with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reporter Valentina Roberto, "I think that the Paralympic Games are a great opportunity to talk about disabilities and the wonderful lifeand freedoms that people can enjoy despite what physical limitations they may have&Most places around the world are not accessible, and many people think that people with disabilities are enough of a minority that they do not have to worry about them. However, I have a disability, and I have far more influence over the international community than the vast majority of people will ever hope have. The public needs to see that we are just peoplethe only difference being is that we use different equipment and different means to go about our lives."

Monica Bascio, Evergreen, Colorado, who suffered a spinal cord injury, in an interview with reporter Valentina Roberto, urged, "My message to anyone considering a start in sports is to get involved! I think one should try anything and everything and keep active for both the physical and mental exhilaration that sports can provide, whether in a recreational or a competitive milieu."

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