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ITALY – Lida Castelli and Marco Balich for Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games’ Closing Ceremony
The Paralympic Closing Ceremony to be performed at
Sochi’s Fisht Stadium on Sunday March 16th will be a spectacular finale to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games,
one of the most successful ever.
The thrilling show is titled “Reaching the Impossible” and will celebrate the magnificent achievements of the
Paralympic athletes, who have shown the world the impossible is possible through strength of spirit and a
relentless pursuit of sporting victory.
The Direction has been assigned to the Italian Lida Castelli – Artistic Director and Director of Sochi 2014
Paralympic Closing Ceremony – among the few women worldwide to lead the artistic direction team of a Games’ Ceremony.
Once Again, Marco Balich, the renowned Italian Olympic Producer and Creative Director of worldwide large-
scale events, will lead the Executive Production team of Sochi 2014 Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
During the Press Conference at Sochi Main Media Center held this morning, Lida Castelli (image) said “In developing
the creative concept for the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, we wanted to show that dreams can be achieved,
that with strength, passion and a change of perception IMPOSSIBLE can become I’M POSSIBLE. We start with the geometric shapes of abstract art and classic video games, travel to a wondrous
world of bubbles and snow, and end with a joyous finale in celebration of the incredible athletes who’ve made
the Games so memorable. I hope you enjoy the journey to ‘Reaching the Impossible’ “.
Marco Balich (image), Executive Producer of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, added “As Executive Producer of the 3rd
Sochi 2014 Games Ceremonies, I am very proud to have guided an international team of hundred of talented
professionals to create and produce such beautiful and exciting shows each of them celebrating the Olympic and Paralympic spirits and sport values.”
The extraordinary key creative and production team is composed by: Konstantin Ernst, Chief Creative Director,
Doug Jack, Associate Artistic Director, Matteo Oioli, Set & Props Designer, Kenrick Sandy, Choreographer,
Gianmaria Serra, Co-Executive Producer.
Aleksey Chuvashev, a rowing Paralympian and medalist at London 2012 will be a central hero of the Ceremony.
Demonstrating the wonders of strength and courage, during a section of the Ceremony he will climb a rope
with only his hands to a height of 15 meters.
To the backdrop of the music by Russian composer Alfred Schnittke, the Ceremony will be opened by
memorable choreographed pieces performed by members of the Russian Wheelchair Dance Sport Federation
together with trapeze artists in distinctive illuminated costumes, who form abstract shapes in the air. This
segment is produced by the creative duo of Konstantin Vasiliev, coach of world and European champions in
wheelchair dance sport, and Phil Hayes, world-renowned aerial choreographer.
A key theme in the buildup and staging of the Paralympic Winter Games, the Closing Ceremony will once again
showcase the principle of inclusiveness in action. Among the top performers on the night will be renowned
tenor Jose Carreras, Russian singers Nafset Chenib and Diana Gurtskaya, conductor Aleksey Petrov, pianist Oleg
Akkuratov and a dance troupe of 210 Cossacks directed by a choreographer Nikolay Kubar.
Over 460 artists, who for the past months have been working hard rehearsing, will take part in the Closing
Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
The Closing Ceremony will be broadcast live in Italy on RaiSport2, from 5 to 7,25 pm (Italian Time), while a
summary of the event will be broadcast on Raitre channel from 00,20 am to 1,20 am.