PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![a male Para alpine skier rounds a gate](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/180313162251173_Theo%2BGmur%2BPyeongChang%2B2018.jpg?itok=jy2DL0XJ)
Winter Paralympics preview: Para alpine skiing day two
Super-G races provided some of the best performances at January's World Championships and now take centre stage on Sunday at Beijing 2022
![A man lifting a bar on a bench press](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/51719459689_339651d945_c.jpg?h=fa15e057&itok=HOm-d-Ar)
St. Louis gets ready for USA's biggest Para powerlifting event
Parapan American Open Championships to take place at Logan University, home of USA Para Powerlifting from 8-11 July
![Three Para ice hockey players in red jerseys celebrating with fist bumps.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/rsz_51502232797_ca7620ec29_o.jpg?itok=AJZAav3k)
China announces 18-member squad for Beijing 2022
Jing Yu is the only female athlete on the squad and the third female Para ice hockey player to take part in the Paralympic Games
![A group of Para ice hockey players on sledges celebrating the victory with a group hug.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/rsz_51264154192_1e1a662ac8_o.jpg?itok=nI0Hdb8e)
Slovakia reveals a history-making squad for Beijing 2022
Slovakia is making its Paralympic debut with the 15-member squad only 12 years since starting Para ice hockey in the country
Down memory lane: The beginning — 1976 and 1980 Winter Games
The first official World ski competition for disabled athletes, featuring downhill and cross-country skiing, was held in 1974
![Lauren Woolstencroft](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-01/Lauren%20Woolstencroft.jpg?h=7bdeb4e6&itok=mP99DNJj)
Vancouver golden girl Woolstencroft recalls historic haul
‘My goal wasn’t to win five gold medals… but I thought it was possible’
![Ragnhild Myklebust and Kevin Coombs OAM holding the certificates as the first two recipients for the PLY initials](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/PLY-Paralympic.jpg?h=9e1255a3&itok=8ZBduSv0)
IPC introduces PLY post-nominal titles to recognise Paralympians
PLY can be added alongside the Paralympians’ name on official documentation, social media, cv, business cards or anywhere else their name may be used
![Zahra Nemati](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/161007104533877_zahra.jpg?itok=IA1Mjn7o)
IPC unveils shortlist for 2022 International Women’s Day awards
Candidates named across Leadership, Emerging Leadership and NPC/IF categories
![A male sit skier in a Para alpine skiing competition](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/GettyImages-1365191203_0.jpg?itok=Xyt_V0DL)
Winter Paralympics preview: Para alpine skiing day one
Six gold medals up for grabs as the men's and women's downhill kick off the Para alpine skiing action at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre
![a group of Para ice hockey players in a heap on the ice](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/180323124045818_USA%2Bwin%2Bgold%2B3.jpg?itok=k8A1hxtz)
US Para Ice Hockey team looking to continue dominance
Stars hoping to see Para Ice Hockey on the same level as Olympic Ice Hockey one day
![China's Haitao Wang celebrates the gold after defeating Norway in the Curling Mixed medal match at the PyeongChang 2018 Games.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Wang%20Haitao.jpg?h=6d12aafb&itok=40qquqL5)
China look to build on home advantage
Though its Wheelchair Curling team starts as firm favourites at Beijing 2022, China will be hoping for medals from their other athletes as well
![A female swimmer in the pool, hanging onto a rope with both hands before the race start.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/rsz_ellie_challis_backstroke_start_%232_bpsm_2022.jpg?itok=Qtt8hhuA)
Challis and Clegg in top form as Brits dominate in Aberdeen
Aberdeen 2022 sets the bar high with epic performances and lots of records at the start of the Para Swimming World Series season (17-20 February)
![EYEING ONE LAST HURRAH: Brian McKeever is the most decorated cross-country skier in Paralympic history.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Brian%20McKeever%201.jpg?h=2bf3dcb0&itok=P13E7QYj)
Canadian star Brian McKeever hoping to go out a winner
'I never did this sport for the recognition. I did it to see what I could get out of my body.'
![A man with a moustache swimming in the pool.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/20022022_Para_Swimmong-36.jpg?h=c2cbf6c8&itok=S0oppQow)
Australian stars in form at the home World Series
The three-day event (18-20 February) in Melbourne is the second of five stops in the Para Swimming World Series 2022
![A firework display inside the stadium during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Oylmpic%20Winter%20Games%20closing_1.jpg?h=d90f3529&itok=bOCjXzfT)
Over to Paralympians to hog limelight at Beijing
The spectacle is set to be held across five venues begins on 4-13 March
![Oksana Masters](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Oksana.jpg?itok=wuc4R4Vl)
Ever-inspiring Oksana aims for Masterly act at Beijing
'I feel like this is literally going to be my Paralympic journey as an athlete coming full circle. I wanted to get to the 2008 Beijing Summer Games so bad. And I failed to make it.'
![Annemie Schneider](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Annemie%20Schneider.jpeg?h=5a065303&itok=XBtka_1K)
Golden girl Annemie Schneider recalls Royal seal of approval
'King Carl Gustaf of Sweden told me that he was very proud to present such an excellent athlete with a gold medal'
![Latvia's wheelchair curler Polina Rozkova in action](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/Rozkova%201.jpg?h=e8be44fc&itok=ic94RkO4)
Rozkova hopes Ice Cube will inspire history-making Latvia
‘We need to do it now. It is the right time’
![A male shooter with a rifle in a shooting range](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-02/GettyImages-603213074.jpg?h=088fef50&itok=QbHVGDSK)
Changwon to host annual World Cup through to 2025
Competition marks first multi-year agreement for World Shooting Para Sport and will take place at shooting range of the 2018 ISSF World Championships