Team Canada Competes

On February 27, 1998, Canada’s Paralympic team departed for Nagano, Japan, to participate in the world’s sixth Winter Paralympic Games. Canada has participated in every Paralympic Games, and is considered a world leader in the integration of athletes with a disability.

Team Canada’s leader, Patrick Jarvis from Calgary, Alberta, is a former paralympic athlete and team manager. Jarvis’s experience at every level of the Paralympic Games made him the ideal leader for this year’s team.

The Nagano Paralympic Games were the first-ever winter Paralympics to be held in Asia. The Games took place from March 5 to 14.

Athletes and officials of the 1998 Winter Paralympic Games were housed in the Paralympic Village, using the same accommodation facilities as those for the Winter Olympic Games. Paralympians also competed in the same sports facilities used by Olympians. The opening and closing ceremonies were held in Nagano City at the ice sledge racing facility, the M-Wave, one of the world’s largest covered rinks.

Although Canadian athletes were eligible to compete in the five Winter Paralympic sports (34 events), Team Canada’s 32 athletes competed in only four. A total of 11 Canadian athletes competed in the Alpine events, one athlete in the Biathlon, five athletes in the Cross Country, and 15 athletes in the Sledge Hockey events. The Ice Sledge Speed Racing events saw no participation of Canadian athletes.

All Biathlon events were held at Toyosato, located in Nozawa Onsen Village, 56 km from the Paralympic Village. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and shooting. Athletes with lower-limb disabilities who are unable to compete standing use a sit-ski, or chair-ski. Skiers who are blind or partially sighted ski with a guide, who provides the competitor with verbal instructions on his or her direction and slope. Twice during the 7.5-km course the competitor must stop and fire five shots at a designated target. Every missed shot results in a time penalty.

The Cross Country events were held at Kamishiro, in Hakuba Village. Hakuba Village is located 39 km from the Paralympic Village and lies at the foot of the Japanese Alps and the Mountains of Hakuba. Cross Country events include races of 2.5 km (sit-skiers only), 5 km, 10 km, 15 km (sit-skiers only) and 20 km. An athlete’s equipment will depend on his or her disability.

The Ice Sledge sports incorporated the use of two state-of-the-art skating facilities. Ice Sledge Hockey was played at the Aqua Wing in Nagano Sports Park, Higashiwada, in Nagano City -- 11 km from the Paralympic Village. Ice Sledge Hockey is played by athletes who have lower-limb disabilities. Seated on a "sledge" equipped with skate blades fixed to the bottom, players grip miniature hockey sticks in both hands. One end of the stick has picks, which players use to propel themselves forward. The other end is used to shoot and pass the puck.

Ice Sledge Speed Racing was held at the M-Wave in Asahi, Mamejima, in Nagano City. This sport is similar to speed skating but has been adapted for athletes who have lower-limb disabilities. Using picks similar to ski poles, athletes propel their sledge forward. This event requires enormous upper-body strength and coordination. Racers compete on a skating oval, which makes balance and speed essential to this sport.

Alpine Skiing consists of four disciplines: the Downhill, Super Giant Slalom, Giant Slalom and Slalom. All Alpine events took place at Mount Higashidate in Yamanouchi Town, located in the centre of Joshinetsu National Park, 56 km from the Paralympic Village. Skiers who are blind ski with a guide who, as in the Biathlon event, provides the competitor with verbal instructions. Sit-skiers are seated on a single ski and use outriggers (ski poles with small skis on each tip). Stand skiers may also use outriggers, depending on their disability.

The Canadian team ended the 10-day competition with 15 medals (one gold, nine silver and five bronze), its best-ever performance at the Winter Paralympics and the same total as its Olympic compatriots last January. Germany finished atop the medal standings with 44, Japan followed at 41 and Norway was third at 40. Canada placed 10th -- four positions better than in 1994, when the team earned eight medals.

For more information, contact the Canadian Paralympic Committee, (613) 748-5630; fax: (613) 748-5731; or check out its website at http://www.paralympic.ca.