The capital RB meets its compatriots – the heroes of the Paralympic Games-2010

On Wednesday, March 24, the airliner with the heroes of the Paralympic Games-2010 in Vancouver – the Bashkir sportsmen Irek Zaripov, Cyril Mikhailov and Irek Mannanov – on board has landed at the airport of Ufa at 4:35 in the morning. The great army of the relatives, coaches, representatives of Ministry of youth policy, sport and tourism RB, friends and journalists were meeting them there. It should be noted Zaripov and Mikhailov have ten awards on their score: Zaripov won four golden and one silver medal and Mikhailov – three golden and two silver medals. At that the whole national Russian team has won 12 golden medals at the Games.

After numerous scansions, the sea of flowers and colorful transparencies Bashkir champions gave a small news-conference, opened by Minister of youth policy, sport and tourism RB Alexander Nikerin:

“Today we gathered here to meet our heroes, who defended the honor of Republic of Bashkortostan and the whole of Russia at the Paralympic Games-2010 in Vancouver. On behalf of the Government RB and our President Murtaza Rakhimov I’d like to congratulate our brave sportsmen again! We all remember the failure of our national team at the Olympic Games-2010 in Canada, so we have to be proud of the achievements of our Paralympic athletes. Some people say the Paralympic Games means something defective but I have to say these are the people, who really deserve the attention we are paying to them by their bravery and heroism”.

Irek Zaripov shared his impressions: “This is my second Paralympic Games and the first were in Turin. I was honestly working hard during the whole four-year cycle, by 100%. I am happy everything has happened so successfully and I am fully satisfied with the organization of the Games”.

Cyril Mikhailov said many thanks to his coaches: “I’d like to say great thanks to our coaches, our really “golden” coaches, without whom we would have never be able to gain such success!”