Pyeongchang Paralympics Draw to a Close

Published on 2018/03/19 | Source

Volunteers for the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang pose for a photo in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province on Sunday. /Yonhap

The Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang ended with a celebration at the closing ceremony on Sunday, after a 10-day run in which athletes proved that disabilities are no barriers to them.

The first Winter Paralympics in the country received a great response from the public. The organizing committee said some 345,000 tickets were sold and some 742,000 people visited to look around Pyeongchang and nearby Gangneung.

Fireworks explode over the Olympic stadium in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province during the closing ceremony on Sunday. /Yonhap

Some 567 athletes from 49 countries competed for 80 gold medals, making it the largest Paralympics, and athletes from 201 countries won gold medals.

China, Croatia and Kazakhstan and Korea won their first Paralympic gold medals in curling, alpine skiing and cross-country skilling.

Skier Shin Eui-hyun poses for a photo with his family on Sunday. /Yonhap

Shin Eui-hyun won Korea's first gold medal in the men's cross-country skiing on Saturday. Korea finished 16th on the medal table with one gold medal and two bronze medals.

Shin's next goal is to participate in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. He aims to compete in handcycling.