Sit on Ice Sleds and Chase the Olympic Dream | Teen Ink

Sit on Ice Sleds and Chase the Olympic Dream

June 7, 2023
By Anonymous

As one of the world's most fierce and fastest collective sports, ice hockey, especially Para ice hockey (or Sledge hockey), requires remarkable physical strength and flexibility of the players. This makes it one of the spectator sports that can offer the audiences the most enjoyable experience in the Winter Paralympic Games.

Most of the players are disabled from their waists down. The sleds used are specially designed with ice skates attached to the bottoms. The hockey sticks they use are also different from the ordinary ones, whose blades are covered with sawtooth patterns to make it easier for the players to push through on ice. During the game, the player must control the ice hockey with the support of the shaft, and must make shots immediately at appropriate positions. That means the tactic cooperation among the teammates is required as they are needed to make successful shots as many as possible and prevent the attacks and passes of the opponents at the same time. As the players must sit on the sleds, a remarkable strength of the upper body, the ability to maintain balance, and the flexibility of the movement are needed during the game, which is the reason why it become the most fierce and fastest sports.

The team members are handicapped by their physical disability and by the resulting hardships of life, many of whom also have a large family to feed, which is another burden for these players to deplore about.

Fortunately, they have fallen in love with this challenging sport soon after their early involvement. They found it helpful and interesting as team cooperation can rid them of their loneliness resulted from self-isolation, low income for the lack of games, and a widening gap between them and their families. More importantly, this game can offer them a chance to realize their Olympic dreams.   


The author's comments:

As one of the world's most fierce and fastest collective sports, ice hockey, especially Para ice hockey (or Sledge hockey), requires remarkable physical strength and flexibility of the players. This makes it one of the spectator sports that can offer the audiences the most enjoyable experience in the Winter Paralympic Games.


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.