One Year Out

In one year the Paralympic Winter Games cauldron will be lit in Vancouver, Canada. Expect great things from Team USA!

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In the debut of wheelchair curling at the 2006 Winter Paralympics, Augusto Perez and Wes Smith discuss their next move.

On March 12, 2010, seven years of preparation will culminate in the Opening Ceremonies of the tenth Paralympic Winter Games. To get ready for this prestigious event, second in size only to the Olympics, new buildings and infrastructure have been built. While Vancouver has been preparing for the Games since 2003, many of the elite athletes representing their countries have been preparing even longer.

History

The first official Paralympic Winter Games took place in Sweden in 1976. More than 300 athletes from 23 countries competed that year. Since then, the Winter Paralympics have grown to include approximately 480 athletes representing 39 countries.

The 2006 Paralympic Winter Games were in Torino, Italy, where athletes competed in 58 medal events. Russia dominated with a medal tally of 33, including 13 gold, the most of any country. The United States, which sent the largest delegation, brought home 12 medals, 7 of which were gold.

The United States was not as dominant at the 2006 Winter Games because of the significant reduction in the number of disability classes in Alpine and Nordic skiing. The reductions were introduced to increase the standard of competition. A number of top contenders are now turning professional in their respective sports in order to dedicate themselves to training, a feat unheard of years ago.

Team USA

The United States will send more than 55 of its best athletes to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games to participate in Alpine and Nordic skiing, sled hockey, and wheelchair curling. The team is looking to improve upon its success from four years ago. While veterans will continue to lead the way to gold, the U.S. is expected to be a much younger team next year with a number of up-and-comers joining the national squads.


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