Looking forward to 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea!

The first Olympic Winter Games was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924 and the 22nd edition was celebrated in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. 

PyeongChang is the host city for the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in 2018. LINK

[Source: Jeongseon-gun]

"Pyeongchang county is the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Two main ski resorts in the area, Alpensia and Yongpyong, will host most of the events. Alpensia has the main Olympic Village, hosting the ski jumping, luge, bobsleigh and cross-country skiing, while Yongpyong, which is one of northeast Asia’s better ski resorts, will host the downhill slalom events. The ceremonies will be held in a purpose-built temporary stadium about two kilometres from Alpensia Olympic Village.

The town of Hoenggye (횡계) serves as a transit hub for both ski resorts and provides cheaper eating options, a bit of nightlife, and basic accommodation such as Boutique Olive, which has clean, reasonably priced condo rooms." 

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/gang-won-do/yongpyong-ski-resort/introduction#ixzz4L1WUlAlt

News feeds to wrap up Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

News feeds to wrap up 2016 Paralympic Games...

10 Personalities Who Left Their Mark on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/news/10-people-who-left-their-mark-on-the-rio-2016-paralympic-games


10 Unforgettable Sporting Moments at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/news/10-unforgettable-moments-of-paralympics-sport-rio-2016-highlights


Curtain Comes Down on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with, of course, a Massive Party
https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/news/rio-2016-paralympic-games-closing-ceremony-music


Rio 2016: Queen Hails 'Magnificent' Paralympians on Homecoming
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37415310


Rio 2016: Paralympics Come to an End with Festive Closing Ceremony
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-19/rio-paralympics-come-to-an-end-with-festive-closing-ceremony/7857580


Paralympians Back in UK as Date Set for Double Celebration
http://news.sky.com/story/date-set-for-two-day-olympic-and-paralympic-celebration-10585457

Tatyana McFadden wins Fourth Gold medal and is honored for exemplary spirit!

Tatyana McFadden, age 27, a member of US Paralympic Team, won her fourth Gold medal yesterday during the womens 800m T54 competition. This was her sixth event during the Rio Games. Today, McFadden will participate in the marathon along Copacabana Beach.

Two days beforehand, McFadden and Ibrahim Al Hussein of the Refugee Team were honored by IPC as models of the "spirit and values of the Paralympic Games at Rio 2016." Each will receive a special gold medal during the closing ceremony.

McFadden was born in Russia with spina bifida; she was paralyzed from the waist down and left int an orphanage under the care of the State. She learned to walk on her hands when a wheelchair was not available.

At age six years, she was adopted and moved to the USA. In high school, McFadden was named as a principal in a lawsuit asserting rights of students with disabilities to have equal access to sport. The result...McFadden was the first athlete to win the marathon grand slam and repeated this achievement three times. In Lyon, France, she won all events in which she competed during the 2013 world championships.

Source: abcnews.go.com

Story source

Paracyclist from Iran dies from injuries sustained during accident

The IPC reported today that paracyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad, age 48, died from complications following an accident on a curved descent while competing during the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. 

The experienced athlete previously competed in the London Games in 2012. Golbarnezhad is being honored by the Iranian delegation and fellow competitors in Athlete's Village. His body will be returned to Iran.

Source: wildgratitude.com

The IPC is investigating conditions on the mountainous trail at the time of the accident. Piers Jones, Sports Director of the cycling governing body said, "We're looking to gather as much information as we can and as quickly as possible."

More info

Live Updates and News from Paralympic Games in Rio!

News links for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games...

Live Updates from Rio, https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/news

Medals earned by SPORT and DATE and medal counts by COUNTRY. See, https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/schedule-results/info-live-results/rio-2016/eng/zz/engzz_general-general-schedule.htm

Athlete PROFILES by SPORT. See, https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/ones-to-watch

Search ATHLETE BIOGRAPHIES by SPORT, https://www.paralympic.org/rio-2016/biographies

NBC News - Sports, Paralympic features, http://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/triumphs-crashes-rio-2016-paralympic-games-n648621

Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical disabilities celebrated the opening of 2016 Paralympics with inspiring performances, an extreme wheelchair speeding down a ramp to somersault in the air, while others joined a samba circle. Delegations entered the stadium carrying puzzle pieces. Together, 1,600 pieces assembled to represent a human heart in celebration of the theme. “The heart knows no limits. Everybody has a heart.”

[Source: theglobeandmail.com]

The president of the IOC, Philip Craven, who lost use of his legs due to a fall, likened the challenges overcome by paralympians to recent economic challenges facing Brazilians. Craven said, "In a country which has faced major challenges of late, Paralympians will switch your focus from perceived limitations — to a world full of possibility and endless opportunity." 

Brazilian Paralympic swimmer Clodoaldo Silva lit the Paralympic cauldron after overcoming many steps, which transformed into ramps. An enthusiastic crowd embraced the notion of life without limits. 

Visit USParalympics.org/Rio2016 for more information on Team USA at the Paralympic Games, including athlete bios, schedule and live streaming. Follow the U.S. Paralympic team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

[Sources: USParalympics.org, AP Wire]

Largest Paralympic Team to Compete for USA in Rio

During the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the USA will be represented by 289-members. This is the largest US Paralympic team and includes 35 military veterans and active duty, guides and pilots for the visually impaired. Athletes will compete for medals in 20 sports; three athletes will compete in 2 sports. 

New spots were allocated by the IPC following suspension of Russia's paralympic team. According to U.S.Paralympics, "The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be the largest edition of the Games yet, with an estimated 4,350 participating athletes. Athletes from more than 176 countries will compete in 528 medal events in Rio." [Source]

How may you view the Games?

NBC Olympics will combine to present more than 70 hours of coverage of the Rio Paralympic Games across NBC, NBCSN, and the NBC Sports app beginning on Wed., September 7 and ending on September 18. On most days, NBCSN primetime programming will air from 7 – 9 p.m. ET; daytime from 2 – 5 p.m. ET; and late night from 1 – 5 a.m. ET.

In addition, the USOC will provide live online coverage at TeamUSA.org.