Nearly half of Canada's Paralympic team has a BC connection

Mar 8 2018, 8:01 am

Nearly half of Canada’s athletes competing in this year’s Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang are connected to British Columbia.

According to viaSport,Ā a provincial agency responsible for supporting and developing athletes in British Columbia, the total number of athletes with a BC connection has doubled since the 2014 games in Sochi,

With 24 of 55 Canada’s athletes having a BC connection, the province represents 44% of the team despite representing just 13% of the Canadian population.

ā€œThe incredible number of Team Canada athletes with a BC connection heading to PyeongChang for the Paralympics reflects our provinceā€™s commitment to ensure people living with a disability have quality opportunities to participate in and thrive via sport,ā€ said viaSport CEO, Sheila Bouman in a press release on Wednesday.

ViaSport credits, among other things, the B.C. government’s annual $50 million investment in sport as well as regional and provincial sports organizations with providing a clear pathway for athletes to improve their game until they can compete at a national and international level.

ā€œIt is an exciting time to be a British Columbian athlete,ā€ says Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. ā€œSo many of our athletes have been given the opportunity to follow their dreams of competing at the highest level, on the world stage.”

The Paralympic Games are a multi-sport event involving athletes with a range of disabilities. The first Paralympics took place in 1960, with the first Winter Paralympic Games being held in 1976. Since 1988, the Paralympics have been held in the same city as the Olympics.

The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics begin with the Opening Ceremony on Friday. Athletes will compete in the sports of alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, snowboard, and wheelchair curling. The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for March 18.

See also
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