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Para-athletes Brave Slopes and Snow in Thrilling Openers
3 Mar
Summary
- First medals awarded in Para-Alpine skiing and Para-biathlon events.
- Davy Zyw, with MND, becomes first snowsport athlete of his kind.
- Russian athletes compete under national flags after ban lifted.
The Winter Paralympic Games commenced with a flurry of activity, awarding the first medals in Para-Alpine skiing and Para-biathlon. Athletes competed in visually impaired, standing, and sitting downhill skiing events at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.
The Para-snowboard program also began, featuring qualifying rounds for the snowboard cross. Scotland's Davy Zyw, believed to be the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease (MND) to compete, made a historic appearance in the men's UL event.
In a notable development, six Russian athletes are competing under their nation's flags after the International Paralympic Committee lifted its previous ban, a decision that has generated discussion. Meanwhile, the wheelchair curling mixed doubles continued, with Great Britain facing world champions Japan.
