PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Andre Cintra](/sites/default/files/images/140115171903055_andre3_0.jpg)
Three countries to make Winter Paralympic debuts
Six athletes will have the opportunity to represent their country for the first time on the Paralympic Winter Games at Sochi 2014.
![New Zealand Sochi 2014 welcome ceremony](/sites/default/files/images/140306064314760_476775743_0.jpg)
Sochi 2014 welcome ceremonies finishing up in village
All 45 countries are having their national flags raised in the Paralympic Village in the mountains.
![Tokyo aerial view](/sites/default/files/images/140122120158848_180386446_0.jpg)
Badminton, taekwondo move forward in Tokyo 2020 process
Two sports have been selected by the IPC Governing Board to remain in contention for being a part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
![Seung-Hwan Jung](/sites/default/files/images/131028090517453_1504_637383902968864_1203933317_n.jpg)
Samsung launches Sochi 2014 campaign
Top Paralympians are recording Samsung video blogs from Sochi, while interactive Samsung demos are being set up in the Olympic Park.
![Evan Strong](/sites/default/files/images/131008135224361_182597472_0.jpg)
Sochi 2014 preview: Snowboard
Snowboard is one of the most hyped-events for Sochi 2014, as it is set to make its Paralympic Winter Games debut.
![ParalympicsGB Team Launch for Sochi 2014](/sites/default/files/images/140306133415854_ParalympicsGB%2BTeam%2BLaunch%2Bfor%2BSochi%2B2014_0.jpg)
Millie Knight to be Great Britain’s youngest flag bearer
At just 15 years old, Millie Knight will carry Great Britain's flag at the Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony.
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula selected as Australia's flag bearer
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula will carry Australia's flag at the Opening Ceremony of his final Paralympic Winter Games.
![Jon Santacana Maiztegui of Spain and his guide Miguel Galindo Garces compete in Vancouver](/sites/default/files/images/130212181403414_97909388.jpg)
Vancouver 2010 refresher
Heading into Sochi 2014, look back at all the medal winners from the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics.
![Sochi 2014 Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony](/sites/default/files/images/140305193505058_476783743_0.jpg)
Paralympic Flame Ceremony lights up Sochi
The Paralympic Torch Relay has made its way to the mountains in Sochi and was celebrated on Rosa Khutor’s live site stage.
![Marc Dorion and Brad Bowden from the Team Canada Sledge Hockey Team arrive in Sochi for the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.](/sites/default/files/images/140301082434631_Canada%2Barrive_0.jpg)
Canadians to benefit from 300 hours of coverage from Sochi 2014
Unprecedented coverage includes more than 90 hours of fully accessible TV broadcasts and more than 250 hours of digital streaming across all CPC Broadcast Consortium platforms
Todd Nicholson: Welcome to Sochi 2014
The Chairperson of the IPC Athletes' Council would like to take a moment to welcome all of the athletes to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
![Russia's Roman Petushkov takes lead over teammate Irek Zaripov](/sites/default/files/images/120211141834674_64%2BZaripov3%2B65PETUSHKOV1%2Bccl_0.jpg)
Sochi 2014 preview: Biathlon and cross-country skiing
Host nation Russia are expected to dominate the Nordic skiing events at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
![A picture of a man and a woman in wheelchairs](/sites/default/files/images/130306134005738_richardgray_15483524520.jpg)
Finnish couple find sparks on wheelchair curling ice
Markuu Karjalainen and his wife Sari will compete for Finland in Sochi as husband and wife after meeting in 2008 through wheelchair curling.
Chuck Aoki: Phrases you only hear at the Paralympics
The American wheelchair rugby star shares what you can expect to hear at the upcoming Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
![Agitos at Laura Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Centre](/sites/default/files/images/140305164702336_476624451_0.jpg)
IPC confident Sochi 2014 will smash viewing records
More broadcasters covering the Winter Paralympics than ever before should help beat previous record of 1.6 billion set in Vancouver.
!['Shayba' Arena in Sochi](/sites/default/files/images/140113145530907_shayba_0.jpg)
IPC launches new-look homepage for Sochi 2014
A mobile-optimised version of Paralympic.org has also been launched ahead of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
![Jessica Long](/sites/default/files/images/130403175945419_151276851.jpg)
NBC’s Sochi 2014 on-air cast to include Jessica Long
NBC have announced their commentators for the Paralympics, which includes four Paralympians and several veteran announcers.
![Paralympic Torch Relay Day 1](/sites/default/files/images/140304141045531_12831193243_15c34db8c4_c_0.jpg)
Torch Relay arrives to Volga Federal District
Four more Russian cities were able to view the Paralympic Torch Relay.
![Sochi 2014 Paralympic cauldron](/sites/default/files/images/140304192523479_476612877_0.jpg)
Sochi to reopen Olympic Park exhibits
Throughout the Paralympics, fans will be able to enjoy sponsored exhibits and hospitality houses to take in the full Sochi 2014 experience.
IPC President arrives in Sochi ahead of the Games
Sir Philip Craven is ready to attend the biggest ever Paralympic Winter Games and the first Paralympics in Russia.