2010 Winter Paralympics

Over 500 athletes from 44 countries around the world have once again descended on Vancouver Canada, for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games, (officially known as the X Paralympic Winter Games). After a separate torch relay and opening ceremony, competitors faced off in five different sports: Sledge hockey, Wheelchair curling, Alpine skiing, Biathlon, and Cross-country skiing - the last three broken into classes of sitting, standing and visually impaired. Currently Russia is leading the medals race, with Canada and Ukraine tied for second place. The Winter Paralympics continue until the Closing Ceremony on Sunday March 21st. Collected here are some scenes from this year's games. (40 photos total)

Torchbearer Daniel Wesley carries the Paralympic flame during the Torch Relay at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at BC Place on March 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

Flame attendant Martie Wyse transfers a flame from a fire started by Algonquin elders into a portable lantern during the start of the Paralympic torch relay on Victoria Island in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pawel Dwulit) #

Betty and Rolly Fox, parents of Terry Fox, light Daniel Wesley's torch during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at BC Place on March 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Animal spirit Sumi performs during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at BC Place on March 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

The Paralympic flame burns during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at BC Place on March 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Members of team Canada arrive during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver, Friday, March 12, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Jonathan Hayward) #

Alana Nichols of the USA practices during a training run for the Sitting Women's Downhill competition prior to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on March 10, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

Tomas Kvoch #21 of the Czech Republic battles for the puck against Byeong-Seok Cho #27 of Korea during the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group A Game between the Czech Repulic and Korea on day five of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at UBC Thunderbird Arena on March 16, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Norway skip Rune Lorentsen, left, delivers a stone as Geir Arne Skogstad, right, steadies his wheelchair and Lene Tystad, center, watches while playing Japan during the paralympic wheelchair curling competition in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Daryl Dyck) #

Nicolas Loussalez-Artets of France rounds a curve in the Men's Sitting Giant Slalom during Day 5 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on March 16, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

(Left to right) Silver medalist Gerd Schonfelder of Germany, Gold medalist Adam Hall of New Zealand and Bronze medalist Cameron Rahles-Rahbula of Australia celebrate on the podium after the Men's Slalom Standing event during day 4 of the Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on March 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Adam Hall of New Zealand celebrates with his mother Gayle Hall after winning the Men's Slalom Standing event at Whistler Creekside on March 15, 2010. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Santino Stillitano #1 of Italy is scored on for the second time by Kjell Vidar Royne #13 of Norway (R) during the third period of the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game between Norway and Italy on day three of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver, Canada. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Monica Bascio of USA competes in the Woman's 10k sitting event at Whistler Paralympic Park on March 14, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Switzerland's Chiara Devittorri-Valnegri falls at the finish during the women's 15km cross-country standing in Whistler, British Columbia on March 15, 2010. (REUTERS/Andy Clark) #

Patrick McDonald of the United States touches the center of the scoring circle before the Wheelchair Curling Round Robin game between the United States and Germany on day three of the 2010 Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) #

Laurie Stephens of USA makes a run in the Women's Sitting Giant Slalom during Day 5 of the 2010 Winter Paralympics on March 16, 2010. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

Alana Nichols of the United States celebrates her gold medal in the women's alpine skiing giant slalom sitting during the medal ceremony at the Winter Paralympic Games in Whistler, Canada on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Dominic Favre) #

U.S. athlete Monte Meier passes a gate during the second run of the Men's slalom standing of the 2010 Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on Monday, March 15, 2010. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Dominic Favre) #

Irek Zaripov of Russia celebrates winning Gold in the Men's 15k Sitting Cross Country skiing event during Day 3 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Alexi Salamone #21 of the United States looks up during the first period of the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group A Game between the United States and Japan in the 2010 Winter Paralympics on March 16, 2010. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Valery Kupchinskiy #43 of Russia is led by guide Viacheslav Dubov as he competes in the men's visually impaired 20km free cross-country skiing race during Day 4 of the Winter Paralympics on March 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Lauren Woolstencroft of Canada celebrates after winning the Women's slalom standing of the 2010 Winter Paralympics on Monday, March 15, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Dominic Favre) #

Linnea Ottosson Eide of Sweden crashes out in the Women's Slalom Sitting event in the Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Bart Bunting, right, of Australia, and his guide, Nathan Chivers, ski in the men's giant slalom visually impaired event during the Winter Paralympic Games in Whistler, British Columbia on March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) #

Andy Yohe #9 of the United States carries the puck during the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group A Game between the United States and Korea on day two of the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games on March 13, 2010. The United States defeated Korea 5-0. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) #

Ralph Green of the United States competes in the Men's Slalom Standing event during day 4 of the Winter Paralympics on March 15, 2010. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Tokedal Trygve Larsen of Norway tucks, cresting a hill, in the Men's 15k Sitting Cross Country skiing event in the Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Wheelchair Curling Round Robin games take place on day three of the Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) #

Takayuki Endo #10 of Japan reacts after his team was defeated 6-0 by the United States during the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group A Game on day five of the Winter Paralympics on March 16, 2010. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

David Warner of South Africa clears a gate during the Men's Standing Slalom on Day 4 of the Winter Paralympics on March 15, 2010. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

Claudia Loesch of Austria leans into a turn in the Women's Slalom Sitting event during the Winter Paralympics on March 14, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Lou Gibson of Canada shoots in the Men's 2.4km Pursuit Sitting Biathlon on Day 2 of the Winter Paralympics at Whistler Paralympic Park on March 13, 2010. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Werner Winkler #7 of Italy (center) celebrates his goal against Roger Johansen #1 (left) and Stig Tore Svee #8 of Norway (right) during the first period of the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game between Norway and Italy during the Winter Paralympic Games at UBC Thunderbird Arena on March 14, 2010. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Iuliia Batenkova of the Ukraine wipes her eye after winning a silver medal in the women's 15-kilometer free standing cross country ski race in Whistler, British Columbia on Monday, March 15, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) #

Haitao Du #5 of China competes in the men's standing 20km free cross-country skiing race during Day 4 of the Winter Paralympics on March 15, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Josh Dueck of Canada celebrates finishing second in the Men's Slalom Sitting event during day 3 of the Winter Paralympics at Whistler Creekside on March 14, 2010. (Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) #

Gold medalist Verena Bentele #28 of Germany celebrates her win with her guide Thomas Friedrich after competing in the women's visually impaired 15km free cross-country skiing race during Day 4 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #

Lyudmyia Pavlenko of the Ukraine competes in the women's sitting 10km cross-country skiing race during the Winter Paralympics at Whistler Paralympic Park on March 14, 2010. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

Team Canada celebrates their 10-1 victory over Sweden during the Ice Sledge Hockey Preliminary Round Group B Game between Canada and Sweden on day three of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games at UBC Thunderbird Arena on March 14, 2010. (Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) #