PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Finland to host 2015 World Wheelchair Curling Championships
Find out which seven teams have already qualified for the World Championships, which will be held in Lohja, Finland.

Austria and USA collect six alpine World Cup podiums
Downhill races see triple success for Austria and USA, as Switzerland and Germany also pick-up podiums at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Tignes, France.

USA announce para-Nordic skiing Sochi 2014 nominees
A total of 16 skiers and two guides named to Sochi 2014 team, including 10-time summer Paralympic Games medallist Tatyana Mcfadden and America's first ever Olympic or Paralympic biathlon medallist, Andy Soule.

Five things to know: Norway's sledge hockey team
Norway head into Sochi 2014 with a mix of youth and veterans hoping to medal for the sixth straight Paralympics.

Armenia: Six facts on the Sochi 2014 Paralympics
Armenia’s alpine skiers will hope to represent their country again at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games

Czech Republic: Eight facts on the Sochi 2014 Paralympics
Traditionally strong in skiing, the Czech Republic’s strongest medal chances are in ice sledge hockey at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games
Philippe Mees becomes new NPC Belgium President
Anne d’Ieteren will now serve as Vice President and Secretary General of the Paralympic Movement in Belgium.

Biathlon World Cup winners decided
All overall winners of the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup biathlon events are Russian following middle distance races at Oberried, Germany, on Sunday (26 January).
Three winter Paralympians put forth for IPC Athletes’ Council
Find out which ice sledge hockey player, alpine skier and Nordic skier will help form the collective athlete voice of the Paralympic Movement.
Shea, Dervaes and Mentel-Spee complete back-to-back wins
The U.S. pair of Mike Shea and Marc Dervaes completed back-to-back wins at the IPCAS Snowboard World Cup at the Big White Ski Resort, Canada on Sunday (26 January), whilst the Netherlands’ Bibian Mentel-Spee continued her unbeatable form.

IPC launches countdown campaign to Sochi 2014
With 50 days until the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, the IPC has begun a countdown campaign, revealing interesting facts about each country competing.
8 for 8: Norway preview
Norway are looking to medal for the sixth straight time in ice sledge hockey at a Paralympic Winter Games.

Canada add three snowboarders to Sochi 2014 team
2009 world champion Tyler Mosher, world championship bronze medallist Ian Lockey and newcomer John Leslie have qualified for the debut of para-snowboard cross at Sochi 2014.

Greece: Eight facts on the Sochi 2014 Paralympics
Greece has participated at the Winter Paralympics since 2002

Mentel-Spee maintains World Cup dominance in Canada
Wins for Mentel-Spee, Shea and Dervaes at penultimate World Cup meet of the season.
Russia returns to dominance at IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup
Sochi 2014 hosts claims 14 out of 18 possible podium positions in Oberried, Germany.

Turkey: Seven facts on the Sochi 2014 Paralympics
Turkey will make their Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014, having participated at the Summer Games since 1992.

Seventh heaven for Shingo Kunieda at Australian Open
Japan’s Shingo Kunieda picked up his seventh Australian Open crown, as Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and the USA’s David Wagner also won titles.

ISAF Sailing World Cup headlined by three No. 1s
The first major sailing event of 2014 will feature Paralympic gold medallists and world champions.

Five things to know: South Korea's sledge hockey team
South Korea have had a roller-coaster ride in this Paralympic cycle, finishing in second and seventh at the last two World Championships.