научная статья по теме IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE Языкознание

Текст научной статьи на тему «IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE»

Impossible Is Possible

Attitudes toward people with an impairment have changed among Russian society. The Paralympic Winter Games have become a catalyst for the efforts to create a barrier-free environment in Russia. The Games are over, but this important work will be continued throughout our vast country.

All Paralympic Winter Games venues were made fully accessible for people with an impairment - including parking, building entrances and exits, and spectator seating.

All buildings where Paralympic athletes lived were equipped with ramps, elevators with accompanying sound, wide hallways and accessible bathrooms and showers. In addition, signs with Braille or raised letters were specially installed for visually impaired athletes.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games - which were record-breaking in terms of athletic performances, ticket sales and media coverage - came to an end on March 16 at the Fisht Stadium with a spectacular Closing Ceremony.

Through the theme of "Reaching the Impossible", the Closing Ceremony illuminated how dreams can be achieved through strength and passion to change the perception of "impossible" to "I'm possible."

IPC President Sir Philip Craven addressed the stadium during the Closing Ceremony, saying: "The Paralympic Spirit has united and infected us all. Proud Paralympians - your inspirational athletic performances have redefined the boundaries of possibility.

"You have shown the world that absolutely anything is possible and that life is about amazing capabilities and not perceived deficiencies.

"With record numbers of highly enthusiastic spectators supporting you all, you have shown what real grit and determination looks like. Through record TV audiences and media coverage, you have opened up the eyes of the world to what the human spirit can achieve."

The Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony, "Reaching the Impossible", which began at exactly 20:14 Moscow time at the Fisht Stadium, concluded Russia's first ever Paralympic Winter Games. The Ceremony celebrated the astonishing Paralympic athletes and illustrated that the impossible can become possible, thanks to strength of spirit and persistent aspiration for excelling.

Wheelchair athlete Alexey Chu-vashev, medal winner in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, played the role of the central hero. Using only his hands, he climbed a 15-metre rope and placed an symbolic apostrophe between the English letters "I" and "M", changing the "IMPOSSIBLE" (НЕВОЗМОЖНО) to "I'M POSSIBLE" ("НЕТ, ВОЗМОЖНО!") and proved once again that impossible is really possible.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympics certainly showcased that motto, as Russia topped the standings with 30 golds and 80 total medals at the Games. Russia has set a new medal record for

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the Winter Paralympics, surpassing Austria's previous record performance in 1984 by 10 medals.

Russian skier and biathlete Roman Petushkov - who demonstrated

unbelievable results scoring six gold medals in the Games - was also given an honourable role at the ceremony. The 36-year-old athlete was watching the show sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the International Paralympic Committee.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak spoke, saying: "These Games have gone far beyond sports competitions. They showed what people from different countries and nationalities, different cultures and traditions are capable of when they are united by a single goal and an inspired dream."

For the duration of the entire ceremony, with the help of various elements, organizers emphasized that "impossible" is just a word, a barrier, that prevents people from looking to the future and making positive changes, while in reality the impossible is actually possible.

The first Paralympic Winter Games in Russian history concluded an extensive series of Olympic and Paralympic events held by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee over

the past seven years. Over nine days of competition at these Paralympic Games, 547 Paralympic athletes from 45 countries took part, competing for 72 sets of medals in five Paralympic sports. The Games were widely televised in Russia, - with Russian TV channels broadcasting a total of 180 hours.

It is safe to say everyone's expectations were surpassed and more, as a record 316,200 tickets were sold and Russian fans were boisterous and loud across all venues.

Sources:

www.sochi2014.com www.paralympic.org www.olympic.org

Составитель Полухина О.В.

Сведения о составителе: Полу-ххииннл- Ольга Викторовна, редактор журнала «Иностранные языки в школе», Москва.

E-mail: editor@flsmozaika.ru Ключевые слова: I'm possible, Paralympic Games, a new medal record, the Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony.

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