Paralympics: 1st Haitian at Winter Games vows to show country's potential

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Ralf Etienne, the first winter Paralympic athlete to represent Haiti, wants his appearance at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games to change preconceived notions of his country and inspire the next generation.

"A lot of people attach Haiti to chaos," he said. "Haiti made me, and here I am here today. This is a representation of what Haiti has to offer...There's a lot of Haitians like me, they just need opportunity," the 36-year-old said in an interview at the Cortina d'Ampezzo Paralympic Village.