Paralympic Games The opening ceremony was OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES a breathtaking celebration of Paralympic sport based on the AT THE VIII PARALYMPIC GAMES Games' theme "Awaken the Mind - Free the Body - Inspire the Spirit". Actor Louis Gossett Jr.'s narration he extinguishing of the the position of a watch hand. "Go 11 by Susanna Reiff* based on this motto reached a high Olympic flame in Salt Lake and up, up, up," one can hear a point when Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a TCity was an emotional guide shout on the cross-country 13 year-old boy who has lost both of moment. "It's all over now," is what track. In biathlon competitions, visu­ his legs and competes in triathlon, many felt. But that was not quite true ally impaired athletes use an spoke about his dream of participat­ as the second part of the Salt Lake acoustic rifle system, which allows ing in the 2004 Paralympics in 2002 celebrations was yet to come: them to adjust the rifle aim according Athens. "My spirit thinks I'm a regu­ the VIII Paralympic Winter Games. to audio cues heard through a head­ lar boy - and an athlete," said Immediately after the end of the set. As the athlete aims the rifle Garcia-Tolson. "My spirit soars." Eric Olympic events the crucial transition towards the target, the frequency of Weihenmeyer, the first blind man to period began for the Salt Lake the sound signal increases. The successfully climb Mount Everest Organizing Committee (SLOC). The Paralympic version of ice hockey is carried the Paralympic torch to a Olympic Village was transformed into played on sledges and is therefore podium - guided by his dog - to then the Paralympic Village, called ice sledge hockey. hand it over to Muffy Davies and Olympic signage was Players use two sticks Chris Waddell, the best American replaced by the with a hooked wooden monoskiers. They jointly lit the Paralympic logo, and blade at one end (for puck Paralympic cauldron, accompanied venues were prepared handling and ambidex­ by the rejoicing of 45,000 specta­ for another nine days of trous shooting) and a pick tors. Perfect entertainment was pre­ competition. Then, on at the other end to propel sented by soul star Stevie Wonder, 7 March, Rice Eccles themselves forward. pop-violinist Vanessa Mae and Stadium was again filled Four hundred and sixteen Wynonna. with a unique spirit when athletes from 36 nations On the following day, the spotlight was the Paralympic flag was competed in this year's purely on sport. The biathlon events, raised and the Salt Lake Paralympic Games. For which were all scheduled for 8 March, Paralympic Games were Andorra, Chile, the People's were dominated by the German team, opened. Republic of China, Croatia, with Verena Bentele, Josef Giesen and Alpine skiing, nordic Greece and Hungary, it was Wilhelm Brem winning gold in their skiing (biathlon and their debut at Paralympic respective classes and Frank Hofle Hockey match on luges between Estonia (in biue) and Sweden (in yeliow). cross-country) and ice Winter Games. Whereas being awarded the bronze medal in sledge hockey were the the amount of participating the visually impaired class. were the teams from the United Spectators at the Salt Lake sports on the programme countries reached a new In the cross-country competitions, States and Norway. They fought a Paralympics quickly discovered the for the Salt Lake climax, the number of Norway, Russia and Germany were tough gold medal match, which excitement of Paralympic sport. 85 Paralympics. All of them competitors was consider­ the most successful teams. Ragnhild turned out to be a "down-to-the-wire percent of 250,000 available tickets are equivalents of the ably less than in Nagano Myklebust from Norway won gold in thriller". After three rounds and a were sold. Events such as the Olympic sports with in 1998. "The qualification all four races of the cross-country score of 3:3, penalty shooting had to opening ceremony and the ice slight modifications to standards for Salt Lake City competition in her class (LW 12) plus determine the winner: The newcomer sledge hockey finals were among the accommodate the needs were quite high to ensure a gold medal in Biathlon. Two of the USA or the gold medallists of "most wanted". For many, who could of Paralympic athletes. the elite level of perfor­ most successful Alpine skiers were Nagano, the Norwegian team? not afford to watch the Olympics, the Visually impaired athletes mance. In addition, ice Martin Braxenthaler from Germany, Finally, the USA supported by a huge Paralympics were an ideal opportu­ are for instance compet­ sledge racing was not who wrapped up a dominating week crowd of fans carried home a victory. nity to be part of the Salt Lake 2002 ing together with a guide included on the programme with his fourth gold medal, and There is no doubt that this was a celebration for only five or ten dollars who leads them through for 2002," explains Carol Michael Milton from Australia who game that will forever live in the per ticket. "What an amazing experi­ the course of the race. Mushett, IPC Technical Philip Craven, IPC president, and Mitt Romney, SLOC president, also won gold in all Alpine events. hearts and minds of every player and ence. The athletes were the great­ Directions are given by at the opening ceremony. Officer. The heroes in the ice hockey rink fan involved. est," a spectator said. 14 15 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library Paralympic Games be broadcast worldwide. In addition, On 12 March, an outcry of disap­ were not enough nations that prac­ Games were an important milestone US broadcasters committed them­ pointment and disillusionment went ticed the sport and the IPC had to in Paralympic history. Thanking the selves to cover the Games. "The through the Paralympic family, when encourage its members to promote Organizing Committee, the volun­ amount of programming allowed the first doping case in the history of the sport first on a national level teers and the people of Utah, he fans to follow the Paralympic Winter the Paralympic Winter Games was before it can apply again to be said: "Your spirit and dedication, Games as never before, " said Mitt announced. The German nordic included in the Paralympic Games. your friendliness and hospitality, your Romney, SLOG president and GEO. skier Thomas Oelsner was tested The Salt Lake Games were an positive after winning the gold medal important milestone from an organi­ in the men's standing biathlon com­ zational point of view as the Salt petition. Oelsner, who had partici­ Lake Organizing Committee was the pated in two previous Paraiympics first Organizing Committee to be and who is one of the most success­ responsible for both Olympic and ful and respected athletes on the Paralympic Games. "This concept German team, had to return his has been very successful and will be medals and was suspended from a model for all future Organizing any competition for the next two Committees," said IPG president years. Oelsner officially denied to Philip Craven. Athens 2004 as well have taken any forbidden substance, as Turin 2006 have already adopted but respected the IPC's decision. It this structure in which there is one was also for the first time in Winter Paraiympics Department within the Paraiympics that the IPC was able to Organizing Committee structure with conduct out-of-competition doping the responsibility to coordinate the tests, none of which were found to Paralympic-specific tasks of all other be positive. departments. Synergies can thus be Security, which was one of the main used more efficiently as for instance topics for the Olympic Games, the requirements for accreditation or played only a minor role for the venue management are basically the Paraiympics. Potential risks were same for Olympic and Paralympic constantly assessed before and dur­ Games. ing the Games, but there was no A unique feature of Paralympic sport need for frequent car checks, metal is the classification system which detection controls and police pres­ American Candice Cable in the 7 OI<m sit ski. Canadian Brian McKeever, double gold medallist, guided by his brother Robin. enables athletes to compete on an ence like at the Olympics. equal level. Classification is based on The IPC looks back on a relatively Such public support is still relatively such as "Oh, I could never have the functional abilities of competitors short history of its Winter Games. The Shortly after the Salt Lake tireless effort and harmonious new to Paralympic Games. Many raced the hill down like you did. " The according to the degree and type of first Winter Paraiympics took place in Paraiympics, the IPC announced the cooperation have made these remember the relatively empty simple answer of the athlete: "Of their disability. Consequently, there is 1976 in Ôrnskôldsvik (Sweden) with sports that will be featured at the Paralympic Winter Games the best stands at the Games of the XXVI course not, because I am an elite not only one men's Alpine downhill only visually impaired and amputee next Paralympic Winter Games in ever!" Olympiad in 1996 in Atlanta. To bring athlete and you are not - regardless event, but there are eight. In the athletes from 14 countries. Comparing Turin 2006. Besides the traditional With the extinguishing of the school children to the venues was of the fact that I use a sit ski or ski Biathlon events, competitors only the number of athletes and participat­ sports of alpine skiing, nordic skiing Paralympic flame the 2002 celebra­ often the only way organizers saw to on one leg only.