June 26th 2010, Sochi, Russia – Four-time 2010 Paralympic Games gold medalist and Sochi 2014 Ambassador, Irek Zaripov, paused in his training to speak to a group of children with disabilities about the upcoming Paralympic Games in Sochi, the history of the Paralympic Games and Russian Paralympic success at Vancouver 2010. The event was part of the Paralympic Awareness program, driven by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee in preparation for the XI Paralympic Games in Sochi.
More than 20 pupils from the Sochi rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities – including several that play in a football team – came to the Sochi 2014 Joint Information Center to meet the Russian Paralympic hero. Nikolay Zamkovoy, Editor-in-Chief of a newspaper for children at Solnyshko, which publishes articles written by children with disabilities, also took part in the meeting.
During the meeting, Irek Zaripov spoke about his sports career including his victories at Vancouver 2010 and about the personal qualities that are essential in a real champion. Nikolay Zamkovoy spoke about his experience of the Paralympic Games and told them about the accessible environment that has been established in Canada.
At the event, the children performed a dance for the meeting with Irek Zaripov and Nikolay Zamkovoy and the young footballers showed a video of their training sessions.
The young guests also took part in a quiz about the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The winners received prizes from MegaFon and Volkswagen Group Rus, Sochi 2014 General Partners.
After the meeting, Irek Zaripov visited the Sporting Glory of Sochi Museum that was opened at the start of June by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge. During the visit, Irek donated an autographed statuette. At the museum, he also met school children from Sochi and told them about the values of the Paralympic Movement that guide him both in sport and life.
Meeting Irek taught the children an important lesson about bravery and ambition. As a souvenir of the meeting, the children received autographed photos of the Paralympic Champion.
For more information contact: Xenia Reizhevskaya on +7 925 999 2551
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Your complete source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
