(ATR) The Paralympic flame will be ignited once more this week in South Korea to start the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics.
The opening ceremony on March 9 marks the beginning of the 10-day competition that features more than 670 athletes competing across the six winter para sports of alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice hockey, snowboard and wheelchair curling.
It is expected that the athletes from North and South Korea competing in PyeongChang will march together during the March 9 ceremony, following the model set during the Olympics opening ceremony on Feb. 8.
North Korea recently accepted an invitation from the International Paralympic Committee and South Korea to have athletes participate in the Winter Paralympics. If the North Korea’s participation is confirmed it will mark the debut of the country in the Winter Paralympics.
PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic mascot Bandabi now gets its turn in the spotlight with the arrival of the Paralympics. Bandabi is an Asiatic black bear that is symbolic of the strong will and courage that Paralympians display on a daily basis.
The nearly 700 athletes competing in PyeongChang will be jockeying to reach the podium in the 80 medal events available. The competitors will go for gold in many of the same venues used by their Olympic counterparts just a few weeks ago.
The IPC announced on March 1 that it would live stream more than 300 hours of event coverage from PyeongChang through its website www.paralympic.org.
"For the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, the IPC website and other digital channels will be providing our most comprehensive and in-depth coverage to date," said IPC communications director Craig Spence.
"We are delighted to be partnering with the Olympic Channel on this project. Together with TV broadcasters, we will ensure that the Paralympic Winter Games can be watched from anywhere in the world and that the performances of the Para athletes can inspire and excite billions of people."
The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics conclude on March 18.
IAAF Council Meets in Birmingham
Leaders of the International Association of Athletics Federations convene in Birmingham, England at the conclusion of the IAAF Indoor World Championships.
The 213th IAAF Council meeting is being held at the Birmingham City Council House March 5-6 and will be followed by a press briefing in the council chamber that is open to all media.
The 27 elected members of the council will discuss the outcomes from the championships in Birmingham as well as updates on the suspension of Russia’s national federation.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe said the IAAF would not take the decision of the International Olympic Committee to lift Russia’s doping suspension into account in regards to its own reinstatement process. Russia has been suspended from the IAAF since November 2015.
Eight neutral Russian athletes were cleared last week to compete at the indoor championships.
Written by Kevin Nutley
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