IPC calls Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi ‘fantastic’

SOCHI, March 11 (Itar-Tass) - As the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia’s Sochi are half way through to the finish line the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) highly evaluated the Games. IPC Media and Communications Director Craig Spence told a news conference on Tuesday that he spent the whole day on Monday with IPC President Sir Philip Craven and they agreed on the high organization of Russia’s first ever Winter Paralympic Games. “I speak on behalf of the whole IPC and say that these Games totally exceeded our expectations in every single area,” Spence said. “Ticketing rate speaks for itself,” he said. “In Vancouver we sold over 230,000 tickets and over 300,000 here.” The previous Winter Paralympic Games were held in Canada’s Vancouver and Whistler in 2010. Spence also said that he spoke last night with Paralympic athletes in Rosa Khutor, located in the Mountain Cluster of the Games and “they absolutely love this experience.” “These Games are absolutely fantastic,” he said. “We have got I think five or six days to go and let us hope this can continue and that they will become the best Winter Paralympic Games,” Spence said. The 2014 Winter Paralympic Games kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Fisht Stadium on March 7 and will be closed at the same stadium on March 16. Over 1,350 Paralympic athletes from 45 countries are competing for 72 sets of medals in Russia’s Sochi.