The Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics are now under a year away while they will mark the first time ever that Russia has hosted a Paralympic Games, having never staged the Summer or Winter edition of the event before.

"Through their inspirational and exciting performances, athletes have the perfect platform here to change Russia's view of people with an impairment and make for a more integrated society," said Sir Philip at the Sochi 2014 Chefs de Mission seminar currently taking place in the city.

"Ten days ago I was in Red Square celebrating 'One Year to Go'.

"Prime Minster [Dmitry] Medvedev made it very clear to me that the Paralympic Games will be a major vehicle for cultural change in Russia.

"Very few events can lead to such seismic shifts in attitudes like this however the Paralympic Games have a track record for doing so.

"Athletes are at the heart of the Paralympic Movement and they are critical to the success of the Games.

"They are getting better and stronger by the day and I am confident that those who will follow these Games around the world will be inspired and excited by their performances."


Sochi 2014 will be the biggest Winter Paralympics to date Winter Games with a record 700 athletes from 45 countries are expected to contest 72 medal events in the five sports - alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling.

It will also Para-snowboard will make its Winter Paralympic Games debut as part of the alpine programme.

But Sir Philip says next year's Games should not just be about getting more people taking part but building on previous successes.

"Due to the difference in size and scale of the summer and winter Games, it would be wrong for me to ask Sochi to replicate what London produced last year when they hosted the best ever summer Games," said the IPC President.

"Instead Dmitry Chernyshenko and his team, as well as the Russian Paralympic Committee, need to build on the success of the Vancouver Games.

"To achieve this I am sure they will use Vancouver as a benchmark and take some of the key learning points from London - such as spirit, passion for sport and spectator experience - to ensure the Games here are hugely successful.

"I was pretty much blown away by the venues and my excitement for next year's Games has now grown ten-fold.

"The jewel in the crown for me was the 7,000 seat Shayba Arena which will stage 20 ice sledge hockey matches.

"If I was an ice sledge hockey player I'd want to take to the ice straight away and get playing."

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