More than 20 pupils from the Sochi rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities - including several that play in a football team - came to the Sochi 2014 Joint Information Centre to meet the Russian Paralympic hero.

Nikolay Zamkovoy, editor-in-chief of a newspaper for children at Solnyshko, which publishes articles written by children with disabilities, also took part in the meeting.

Zaripov, 27, spoke about his career, including his victories at Vancouver 2010 - where he won two gold medals in the cross country skiing and two in the biathlon - and about the personal qualities that are essential in a real champion.

Zamkovoy spoke about his experience of the Paralympic Games and told them about the accessible environment that has been established in Canada.



At the event, the children performed a dance for the meeting with Zaripov and Zamkovoy and the young footballers showed a video of their training sessions.

The young guests also took part in a quiz about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the winners receiving prizes from MegaFon and Volkswagen Group Rus, two of Sochi's Tier One sponsors.
 
After the meeting, Zaripov visited the Sporting Glory of Sochi Museum that was opened last month by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge.

During the visit, Zaripov donated an autographed statuette.

At the museum, he also met school children from Sochi and told them about the values of the Paralympic Movement that guide him both in sport and life