The best of the 2014 Paralympics
As the Paralympics come to a close, we take a look at some of the best photographs from the games in Sochi. The Paralympics follow the February 7-23 Sochi Winter Olympic Games for which Russia spent more than $50 billion on hosting and related infrastructure in the Black Sea resort.
- A giant ice breaker ship enters the arena carrying russian soprano Maria Guleghina during the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Fisht Olympic Stadium on March 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
- Allison Jones of United States competes in the Women’s Downhill Standing during day one of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on March 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
- United States athletes huddle before the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group A match between the United States and Italy at Shayba Arena on March 8, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
- Gold medallists Kelly Gallagher of Great Britain (R) and guide Charlotte Evans celebrate during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Super-G – Visually Impaired during day three of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on March 10, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
- Course slippers make their way down the course as the first race is delayed due to heavy fog during day four of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on March 11, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
- Czech Republic goalkeeper Michal Vapenka celebrates after teammate Michal Geier (not pictured) scored their second goal during the Ice Sledge Hockey classifications match between the Czech Republic and Italy at the Shayba Arena during day seven of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games on March 14, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)
- Referee Jonathan Morrsison falls over Greg Westlake of Canada during the Bronze Medal match between Canada and Norway on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
- Yoshihiro Nitta of Japan reacts after finishing his leg in the 4 x 2.5km Mixed Relay cross-country on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
- Competitors ski in the Mixed 4 x 2.5km Relay Cross-Country Skiing event during day eight of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Laura Cross-country Ski & Biathlon Center on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
- Marco Zanotti of Italy competes in the Men’s Giant Slalom Standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
- Markus Salcher of Austria competes in the Men’s Giant Slalom Standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Rosa Khutor Alpine Center on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
- Joshua Sweeney of the United States scores past Vladimir Kamantcev of Russia during the Ice Sledge Hockey Gold Medal game between the United States and Russia on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena on March 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
- Russia’s Svetlana Konovalova competes during Women’s Biathlon 10 km Sitting at XI Paralympic Olympic games as part of the in Rosa Khutor on March 11, 2014. (Krill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
- Russia’s Svetlana Konovalova competes during Women’s Biathlon 10 km Sitting at XI Paralympic Olympic games as part of the in Rosa Khutor on March 11, 2014. (Krill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
- China’s Shishuai Cheng competes in the Men’s 1 km Sprint Standing at XI Paralympic Olympic games in the Laura stadium near Sochi on March 12, 2014. (Krill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
- Armenia’s Mher Avanesyan (LW 5/7-1) competes in the Men’s Alpine Skiing Slalom Standing during the XI Paralympic Olympic games at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center near Sochi on March 13, 2014. (Krill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
- United States’ Rico Roman (L) and Russia’s Dmitrii Lysov (R) warm up before Sledge Hockey Final match between Russia and USA at XI Paralympic Olympic games in the Shayba stadium close to city of Sochi on March 15, 2014. (Krill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
- Heath Calhoun of the U.S. skis during the men’s alpine skiing Super-G sitting event of the Super combined at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, March 14, 2014. (Christian Hartmann/REUTERS)
- Norway’s Birgit Skarstein skis during the women’s 1 km sprint cross-country sitting event at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games in Rosa Khutor, March 12, 2014. (REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk)
- Germany’s Anna Schaffelhuber competes in the first leg of the women’s sitting slalom event at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, March 12, 2014. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
- Ukraine’s Vitalii Sytnyk skis during the men’s 20 km cross-country standing at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games in Rosa Khutor March 10, 2014. (REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk)
- Ukraine’s flag-bearer Mykhaylo Tkachenko arrives in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, March 7, 2014. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
- A Russian soldier looks at a Ukrainian flag during a medal ceremony at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games in Rosa Khutor, March 9, 2014. (REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk)