Welcome ceremony: Canada’s Paralympic team keen to follow Olympic success
PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Republic Of — Canada’s team at the Pyeongchang Paralympics is keen to follow the path of excellence laid down by their Olympic counterparts last month.
Less than two weeks after Canada’s Olympic team left South Korea, the Paralympic team of 55 athletes and guides watched the Maple Leaf go up at the traditional flag-raising ceremony at the athletes village Wednesday night.
They spoke of being inspired by the Olympic team’s record 29-medal performance. They talked about how they can’t wait for their chance.
“I think people are surprised how close we are with a lot of the Olympians, especially people who train . . . in some of the more dominant training centres,” said para hockey player Greg Westlake. “We’re side by side, all the Olympians all year long, and then they go to their Games and we go to ours. I had friends compete in those Games . . . when you see them stand on the podium, singing the anthem, it gives you those goosebumps.”