Para Skiers Will Participate in German World Cup Event

Iran Sports Federation for the Disabled has said it will take part in the Para-Nordic Skiing World Cup in Germany, January 20-28.

“It is for the first time Iran is taking part in a Para-Nordic competition,” Isa Saveh-Shemshaki, head of the Para Skiing Association of Iran said. “The games also have Winter Paralympics quota and we hope our skiers can qualify for the Paralympic Games.”

“Skiers have reached fifty percent of their preparation so we do not expect to win any medals in Germany, but to qualify for the Winter Paralympics quotas,” he added.

According to Varzesh3, Hassan Mirzahosseini, Elaheh Qoli-Fallah, Mehdi Hosseinzadeh and Abolfazl Khatibi managed by Ahmad Kavian and Farzaneh Reza-Soltani will represent Iran at the German cup.

A delegation left Tehran on Tuesday heading to Oberried city in Germany to take part in the training camp of Cross-Country division for eight days. On the sidelines of the training camps, managers Kavian and Reza-Soltani will participate in professional Para-Nordic Coaching courses. The squad will start the competitions on January 20.

 Biathlon and Cross-Country

Para-Nordic Games are divided into two branches of biathlon and cross-country.

Cross-country skiing first appeared at the 1976 Winter Paralympics Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Depending on functional impairment, a competitor may use a sit-ski, a chair equipped with a pair of skis.

Athletes with visual impairment compete in the event with a sighted guide. Male and female athletes compete in short distance, middle distance and long distance (ranging from 2.5 km to 20 km) or participate in a team relay using classical or free techniques.

Cross-country skiing is governed by the International Paralympic Committee in collaboration with the World Para Nordic Skiing Technical Committee following modified rules of the International Ski Federation and is practiced by athletes in 24 countries.

Biathlon is a winter sport that combines skiing and rifle shooting. It was introduced in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1988 for athletes with physical impairment, and in 1992, athletes with a visual impairment also became eligible to compete.

The event consists of a course of 2 or 2.5 km, skied three or five times for a total race distance of 6 to 15 km.

Athletes with visual impairment are assisted by acoustic signals, which depending on signal intensity, indicate when the target is in range.

 Preparing for Paralympics

The 2017-18 season is pivotal for Para-Nordic skiers, with all events seen as qualification and preparation for the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympics Winter Games.

Those who qualify for the Winter Games will have one month off before the action kicks off in Pyeongchang.

With the motto of “Passion, Connected,” 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics will begin March 9 in Pyeongchang City, South Korea. Over 550 athletes from estimated 42 nations will attend. The closing ceremony is slated for March 18.