We will have to get used to it: Russia can no longer conceive of organizing a major sporting event without succeeding in a medal raid. After finishing at the top of the nation rankings at the Sochi Olympic Games, she seems determined to do it again on the Paralympic field. After just one day of competition, Saturday March 8, the Russian team is already at the head of the field, with 12 medals, including four gold.
To his credit, four of the first five titles awarded in biathlon. And the prospect of continuing its momentum over the coming days, with a delegation of 64 athletes, competing in 72 events.
Beyond just the accounting result, these first Winter Paralympic Games organized in Russia could well change for good the place and image of people with disabilities in Russian society. This, at least, is the official discourse.
On the eve of the opening, Vladimir Putin gave the press a long interview, published in full on the Kremlin website. The Russian president discusses in detail and precision the situation of the disabled sports movement in his country. He explains, for example, that the number of disabled people participating in sport has doubled over the last three years, reaching 500 today. "Our goal now is to create the conditions for more than 000 million people with disabilities can engage in physical activity on the horizon,” said Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president also ensures that the bonuses granted in the event of an Olympic title are identical to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 4 million rubles, or approximately €80.000. Finally, he says that Russia has committed to training no less than 2015 technicians specializing in the training of disabled sports athletes by the end of 1400.
Nice speech or real progress? Sergei Shilov, a Russian cross-country skier, chosen to light the flame during the opening ceremony on Friday March 7, already imagines the Sochi Games as a “catalyst”. He explains: “The most important thing is to break the stereotypes maintained by able-bodied people. In Soviet times, the official policy was that there were no disabled people, and suddenly they came out of nowhere and started demanding attention. The Games of Sochi will allow a great leap forward. " To have.
