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6UntilafewyearsagoSochiRussiawasjustonemorelargelyanonymoustownnestledsomewhereintheheartofAsiabetweenthesprawlingBlackSeaandtheruggedCaucasusMountains.ButthatwasbeforeitwasannouncedthatSochiwouldbehostingthe2014WinterOlympicandParalympicGames.SincethentothousandsofyoungmaleandfemaleathletestheworldoverinanynumberofsportsSochiwillbecomesomecombinationofOzandtheproverbialpotofgoldattheendoftherainbow.ForthemembersoftheU.S.ParalympicSkiTeamthesedaysitseemsalmostimpossibletoengageinanyconversationaboutanysubjectwithoutinvariablyndingthemactivelytalkingSochiandthe2014Paralympics.UnlikeSaltLakeCityunlikeVancouverreallyunlikealmostanyParalympicgamesinmem-orytheseloomingSochigamesseemtohavetakenonalevelofimportanceandfocusinthemindsofprospectivecompetitorsthatfewotherseverhave.Onereasonforthatisnodoubttherelocationin2010oftheU.S.AdaptiveSkiTeamsfromundertheirformerparentorganizationtheUnitedStatesSkiandSnowboardAssociationUSSAtounderthewingofU.S.ParalympicsadivisionoftheU.S.OlympicCommittee.ButperhapsthebiggerreasonistheverypublicdisclosurebyU.S.ParalympicsthatthegoalofAmericanteamsgoingforwardstartinginSochiwastobringhomemoremedalsandearnmorepodiumsthananyteamandanycountryintheworld.Therehasbeeninotherwordsafargreateremphasisplacedonperformanceexcellenceandresultsin2014anobjectivethathasemergedassomethingofamission.AttheSochigamestheteamwillnditselfsquarelyunderthestronghandandwatchfuleyeofU.S.ParalympicsnottomentionitsenergeticfocusedanddeeplypassionateexecutivedirectorCharlieHueb-nerthegauntlethasclearlybeenthrowndown.SaidHuebnertopursueexcellenceittakesacomprehen-siveapproachincludingndingtherightathletesthroughtalentIDstrongcoachingsportsciencesportsmedicinetechnologysupportandcompetitiveopportunitiesagainstthebestintheworld.AndthataccordingtoHuebnerisexactlywhatallPara-lympicteamsarenowbeingsystematicallyaorded.ForthecoachesSochirepresentsagreatopportunityonsomanylevelsandmanyofthemcannotwaitforthegamestobegin.KevinJardineisonesuchcoach.HehasbeeninvolvedwiththeteaminsomecapacityduringanynumberofpreviousParalympicgamesandhesaidthatSochiwillpresentagreatop-portunityfortheU.S.athletestofocuslessonfamilyandfriendsandmoreonthetaskathand.Suretherearegoingtobefriendsandfamilymembersaroundtherealwaysare.SaltLakewasprobablytheworstinthatregard.ButinSochitheathletesarenotgoingtondthemselvesconstantlydistractedbythingslikeTVorworriedaboutsocialcommitmentstheymayhavemade.Theyregoingtobeabletoconcentrateandfocusmoreonwhywerethereandthegoalswevesetforourselveshesaid.NordiccoachJohnFarraisexcitedaboutSochibecausehesaiditrepresentsthersttimeinParalympichistorythattheU.S.teamwillbebringingsomethingmorethanahandfulofathletestocompeteintheNordicevents.UnlikepastParalympicswhichoperatedwithave-personcaponNordicteamsthese2014gameswillseesome15dierentNordicathletescompetingfortheU.S.eachrepresentingadierentskiingandsometimesshootingstyleandstrength.Itusedtobeyoucouldalmostnametheteamwithoutevenwatchingthemcompete.Butnotanylonger.ThisyearIthinkU.S.Paralympicsrealizedthatifweareevergoingtogrowoursportinthiscountryandareevergo-ingtobeabletocompeteconsistentlyinternationallywearego-ALLROADSLEADTOSOCHIThegoalofAmericanteamsstartinginSochiwillbetobringhomemoremedalsandearnmorepodiumsthananycountryintheworld.