The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. The Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece, several months before the Olympic Games. This ceremony starts the Olympic torch relay, which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Through 2022, the flame would continue to burn in the cauldron for the duration of the Games, until it was extinguished during the Olympic closing ceremony. In 2024, electric lighting and mist were used to create a simulated flame for the Olympic cauldron, with the actual flame kept in a lantern exhibited at an adjacent location. That lantern was then taken by French swimmer Léon Marchand from Jardins des Tuileries and ceremonially "transferred" to the Stade de France at the start of the Closing Ceremony: there it was finally extinguished just after the IOC president declared officially closed the Games.
The 2014 Winter Paralympics, the 11th Paralympic Winter Games, and also more generally known as the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, were an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), held in Sochi, Russia, from 7 to 16 March 2014. 45 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) participated in the Games, which marked the first time Russia ever hosted the Paralympics. The Games featured 72 medal events in five sports, and saw the debut of snowboarding at the Winter Paralympics.
The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags, and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee to promote the Paralympic Games.
The Ice Cube Curling Center is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Sochi, Russia, that opened in 2012. It is a component of the Sochi Olympic Park.
The Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi is the organization responsible for the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. It was established on 2 October 2007 by the Russian Olympic Committee, the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports, and the Administration of the City of Sochi.
The 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics venues are divided between two "clusters" located in and around Sochi, Russia.
Aileen Neilson is a Scottish wheelchair curler. She is the first woman to skip a wheelchair curling team in either the Paralympic Games (2010) or World Championships (2011).
Selina Gasparin is a Swiss biathlete.
The opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics took place at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on 7 February 2014. It began at 20:14 MSK (UTC+4) and finished at 23:02 MSK (UTC+4). It was filmed and produced by OBS and Russian host broadcasters Channel One and VGTRK. This was the first Winter Olympics and first Olympic Games opening ceremony under the IOC presidency of Thomas Bach. This was also the second consecutive Winter Olympic opening ceremony to be held in an indoor stadium.
Monaco competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, from 7 to 23 February 2014. Monaco's team consisted of five athletes plus one alternate for bobsleigh, competing in two sports.
Yekaterina Aydova is a Kazakhstani speed skater, born in Karaganda. She competed at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 World Sprint Championships in Salt Lake City, the 2014 World Sprint Championships in Nagano, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Song Na is a Chinese biathlete. She was born in Heilongjiang. She competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, in the sprint and individual competitions.
Brazil sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014. This marked the country's first entry into the Winter Paralympic Games. Brazil sent two athletes, snowboarder Andre Pereira in Alpine skiing and Fernando Rocha in cross-country skiing. The country's best performance in any event was 15th, achieved by Rocha in the 15 km sitting competition.
Kazakhstan competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014.
Croatia competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014.
Czech Republic competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014.
Iceland sent a delegation to compete at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia from 7–16 March 2014. This was Iceland's third time participating at a Winter Paralympic Games. The Icelandic delegation consisted of two alpine skiers, Erna Friðriksdóttir and Jóhann Þór Hólmgrímsson. Jóhann finished 23rd in the men's sitting giant slalom, while Erna finished 10th in the women's sitting slalom and 9th in the women's sitting giant slalom.
Spain competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014.
Switzerland competed at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, held between 7–16 March 2014.
The opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Paralympics took place at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on 7 March 2014. It began at 20:14 MSK (UTC+4) to match the time to the year.
