By Nick Butler

A film marking three months since the Closing Ceremony of Sochi 2014 has been launched by the IPC ©Getty ImagesA short film entitled "Sochi 2014 - Breaking Down Barriers" has been launched by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to mark three months since the conclusion of the Games. 


The IPC claimed the three-minute film celebrates some of the "greatest sporting moments, as well as the passionate crowds and the spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies from the Sochi 2014 Games".

Despite a build-up overshadowed by political concerns over whether the Ukrainian team would participate so soon after the Russian annexation of Crimea, the event was met with widespread approval, with IPC President Sir Philip Craven declaring them the "best Paralympic Winter Games ever" at the Closing Ceremony.

A record 316,200 tickets were sold, attracting a record worldwide global television audience as viewers from around the world, with 72 medal events take place in total across the five sports of Alpine and Nordic skiing, biathlon, ice sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. 

Russia finished at the top of the medals with a total of 80 medals, 30 of them gold. 

Germany finished in second place with 15 medals of which nine were golden, while Canada finished third with seven golds and 16 medals. 



Among other highlights, the Games saw the Paralympic debut of Para-snowboard as part of the Alpine skiing programme, with the first gold medals winners being Evan Strong of the United States and Bibian Mentel-Spee of The Netherlands.

Other notable performers included Russia's Roman Petushkov winner of six gold medals out of seven events in biathlon and cross-country skiing, and German sit-skier Anna Schaffelhuber, who five golds from five events in Alpine skiing.

Although Russia enjoyed a dominant performance, they did not have things completely their own way, however, as they were defeated 1-0 by the US in a thrilling ice sledge hockey gold medal match.

Canada, meanwhile, claimed their third successive Paralympic gold in wheelchair curling.

Attention has already now turned towards the next Paralympic Games, in Rio in 2016, while the next Winter version is due to be held in the Pyeongchang in 2018.