2014 Paralympic Winter Games, Sochi; 7-16 March 2014

[Marengo]

Following the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics,

the 2014 Paralympic Games will take place in Sochi from March 7-16, 2014.

Advance information concerning the schedule, athletes, the sports and much more can be found at

the official website: Sochi 2014 Paralympics - Paralympic Tickets, Sports & Schedule - Sochi 2014 Paralympic winter Games

Enjoy and happy posting!

[LadyFinn]

Crown princess Victoria will attend at Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games on 9th-10th March.
H.K.H. Kronprinsessan Victoria - Sveriges Kungahus

[sjetajiem]

I understand that Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will attend the Sotchi Paralympic Games from March 7 till March 16th.

[fairy tale]

Princess Märtha Louise attends the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi 10 - 14 March.

[Marengo]

The Earl of Wessex was supposed to attend from the 11th of March onwards. Depending on how things will escalate in the Ukraine, it wouldn't be surprising if some officials (or even teams) will be forced by their governments to stay home.

[Molly2101]

Edward is no longer attending.

BBC Breaking News ‏@BBCBreaking2m
Prince Edward will not go to Sochi Paralympic Games in Russia on advice of UK government, Buckingham Palace says. http://bbc.in/MGHbPy

[Dman]

Too bad. These countries really need to get it together. Make you sick and upset to turn on the news because if it's not one thing, it's another.

Then again, there are so many things that has to come to pass.

[tommy100]

I suspect several other royals may cancel their plans to attend.

[cepe]

Originally Posted by tommy100

I suspect several other royals may cancel their plans to attend.

depends on their governments position. UK are not sending ministers and therefore cant send the representative of the Head of State.

[LadyFinn]

Annika Sönnerberg, the Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the swedish court, said today to Expressen that there hasn't come any changes to crown princess Victoria's plans to attend at the Paralympics.
Victoria till Sotji - men prins Edward ställer in Nyheter Expressen

I think the decision of Victoria's trip is taken just before it, consulting the swedish government.

[Marengo]

The Dutch officials, among them Princess Margriet and Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven, won't be going to Sochi.

Schippers en prinses Margriet niet naar Sotsji - nrc.nl

[LadyFinn]

Crown princess Victoria has cancelled her trip to the Paralympic Games.

Ulrika Näsholm from the press department says that the decision was made with negotiations with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/vict...mpics-i-sotji/

[polyesco]

Its also no longer on the Norwegian Royal Website, Martha Louise was due to attend
kongehuset.no - Offisielt program

[LadyGabrielle]

I just dont underdtand why Putin is doing this. We just had the winter Olympic games and the theme I thought was that Russia wanted to be seen as part of a better world where everyone is trying to get along. At least that is what I understood during the opening ceremonies. Russia wanted all the world to see that she is ready and willing to be a part of a friendship with other countries. This is a direct contradiction. Sorry all, Im just confused.

[casualfan]

Originally Posted by LadyGabrielle

I just dont underdtand why Putin is doing this. We just had the winter Olympic games and the theme I thought was that Russia wanted to be seen as part of a better world where everyone is trying to get along. At least that is what I understood during the opening ceremonies. Russia wanted all the world to see that she is ready and willing to be a part of a friendship with other countries. This is a direct contradiction. Sorry all, Im just confused.

This post won't be about the Paralympics, so sorry to the mods.

I bet Putin is furious that this is going on just after he spent 50bil on the Olympic games.

But the truth is that Russia has defined itself for the better part of 200 years as the leader of Eastern Europe and a counterweight to Western power in Europe and Asia. A big part of that is the Ukraine (and other Eastern European nations), of which a big part of the population is ethnically and linguistically tied to Russia and historically part of a buffer for Russia.

Putin didn't want to lose that.

[Molly2101]

This is a real shame but I can completely understand the countries reasons for not sending representatives. It's not safe for the person attending either, and if I had been Sophie or Daniel or any spouse I would not have wanted my other half to go.

[LadyGabrielle]

I apologize to the mods. I got carried away. This is about the paralympic games. Shall we continue?

[Marengo]

A very logical reaction, there are few who do not get carried away with this matter, once started.

But indeed, let's focus on the event itself and not on the Russian politics.

[Tiggersk8]

Can I provide an answer that covers both?

Rick Hansen, for those who don't know who he is, he went around the World in his Wheelchair in the late 80's on his Man in Motion tour and also considered a Canadian hero for all he's done for Disabled awareness and research into Spinal Cord Injuries, said something rather interesting the other day....

He's afraid those venues will be for the most part empty because it's the Paralympics. He said reality wise, Russia is still very much at least 30-35 years behind the rest of the Major/G8 Countries when it comes to awareness of just what Disabled people can do. Rick mentioned a good deal of that simply has to do w/the Culture, and while things are improving, it's at the level where Canada/USA/UK/other similar Nations were in the late 80's. He's also worried that because "Oh, it's only the Paralympics." security won't be as tight and the Paralympics end up being the true target of Terrorists. Frankly, and I hate saying this, I've had my own suspicions about that too.

I've checked the website of the show he was on where he said this, but all there is, is a listing of the guests on each day. When Rick Hansen says something like this though, and combine what's going on in the Crimea/Ukraine right now, I know I pay attention.

I really hope he's wrong.

Apparently the CBC will be covering the Opening Ceremonies live Friday starting at 2pm EST. Already better coverage than the CTV Super Group of Networks provided of both Vancouver and London Paralympics combined!!

[fortimo]

Märtha-Louise cancelled her trip to Sochi:
Mrtha Louise avlyser turen til Sotsji - sport - Dagbladet.no
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