Lillehammer 1994
The motto of the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games was the clear statement ‘No Limits’. Under this banner, a total of 471 athletes (381 men and 90 women) representing 31 countries proved that nothing could stop them from taking on the 1,050m high Hafjell, one of the toughest courses to be used at Paralympic Games.
From 10 to 19 March, the athletes competed in five sports: Alpine Skiing, Ice Sledge Racing, Nordic Skiing (Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing) and the sport of Ice Sledge Hockey was introduced to the Paralympic Winter Sports Programme for the first time.
At the Opening Ceremony on 10 March, the delegations were welcomed to Norway officially by Her Majesty (HM) Queen Sonja of Norway and the Games were opened as the Paralympic flame was lit by Helge Bjørnstad and the athlete’s oath taken by Cato Zahl Pedersen.
One of the star athletes of the Games was Cross-Country skier Ragnhild Myklebust of Norway. Following outstanding performances at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games (five gold and two silver medals) and in Tignes-Albertville in 1992 (two gold medals), Myklebust put on a show for her home crowd, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing and Ice Sledge Racing.
The Norwegians also emerged as overall winners on the medal tally with 64 medals, in a close race with Germany who also won 64 medals but four less gold medals. The USA came in third with 43 medals, including 24 gold.
The Games were represented by an emblem depicting the sun people. This image portrayed the ideas of power, vitality, strength and energy, all of which are characteristics of the athletes who took part. These characteristics were also to be found in the mascot Sondre, the troll. Sondre, who was also an amputee, was designed by Tor Lindrupsen and selected following a competition of several artists. The name for the mascot was chosen in a separate competition and derives from the great skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim.
