Russia on Sunday laid on a glittering closing ceremony in Sochi to draw the curtain on the Winter Paralympic Games hailed as the “best ever,” but held under the long shadow of the unrest in Crimea.
The ceremony took place on the same day as, just across the Black Sea from Sochi, Crimea voted to secede from the Ukraine in a controversial referendum.
The closing ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi marked the end of the elite sporting event that began on Feb. 7 as the fire in the Olympic cauldron was extinguished and the flag given to the next Winter Olympic hosts Pyeongchang in South Korea, bringing to a close a journey that began in 2007 when Russian President Vladimir Putin won the right to host the Winter Games.
Putin, who spearheaded the bid to host the Olympic Winter Games and the Winter Paralympic Games, was present in the VIP stands at the closing ceremony, but — in line with protocol — did not make any comment.
The hosts basked in the glory of easily topping the medals table with 30 golds, well ahead of second-placed Germany, who won nine. Ukraine also performed strongly, coming fourth with five golds.
In a huge compliment to Russia, International Paralympic Committee resident Sir Philip Craven closed the Games by declaring them the “best Paralympic Winter Games ever.”
He said that the Paralympic spirit had “united and infected us all in Sochi” and the Games were so special that “no one wants them to end.”
Craven added that with the Paralympics, Sochi had been “transformed into a barrier-free city” and had become a model for the rest of Russia.
“Do you sense a greater degree of liberation? Well I do, I can tell you,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak in his speech said that both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi “will long stay in the hearts of people all over the planet.”
“We prepared seven long years for this spectacle and all our obligations were fulfilled right on time,” Kozak said. “The time has come to say goodbye, but we will meet again. [You are always] Welcome in Russia.”
The closing ceremony began with a dazzling choreographed routine of wheelchairs as dancers soared on wires high above and continued with dancers defying disabilities to perform astonishing routines like Cossack dances in an out of wheelchairs.
Perhaps the biggest highlight came when Russian Paralympic star Alexei Chuvashev rose from his wheelchair to climb a pole high above the stadium’s field.
Chuvashev lost both his legs during an operation against militants in Chechnya in 2008, but has overcome the loss to become a top Paralympic rower, winning bronze at London 2012 in adaptive rowing.
Using his vast upper body strength, he climbed the pole toward vast letters hung above the stadium spelling the word: “Impossible.” When he reached his destination, Chuvashev nudged an apostrophe into position to make the word read: “I’m possible.”
The eclectic closing ceremony mixed rock music, images inspired by artists like Russian abstract master Wassily Kandinsky and classic tracks by the likes of Sergei Prokofiev.
Yet the Games never escaped the shadow of the crises in Ukraine, with Ukrainian athletes covering their medals with the palms of their hands at award ceremonies in a symbolic, but low-key protest at Russia’s incursion into Crimea.
Putin had earlier thanked sporting officials “for keeping the Paralympics away from politics,” while Kozak said that both Winter Games had showed off a new “modern Russia.”
Despite Moscow’s success in staging the sporting events, for many, these Games will always be linked with the controversy over Russia’s actions in the Ukraine.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely