The Scotsman

Fireworks mark start of huge Winter Paralympic­s

- By SALLY WARDLE

Snowboarde­r Owen Pick led out the Great Britain team at the opening ceremony for the Winter Paralympic­s in Pyeongchan­g.

The 26-year-old former World Championsh­ip silver medallist had his leg amputated while serving with the British Army in Afghanista­n eight years ago. The British team also includes partially-sighted skier Kelly Gallagher, who made history by becoming Britain’s first Winter Paralympic champion in Sochi four years ago.

A firework display over Pyeongchan­g Olympic Stadium heralded the opening of the biggest Winter Paralympic­s yet, with a 567 athletes from 48 countries taking part.

Athletes from Russia will also take part as “neutral Paralympic athletes” after their nation failed to satisfy the Internatio­nal Paralympic Committee over doping concerns.

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