The Real World Cup Story – Paraplegic Kicks Off the World Cup 2014

The World Cup in Brazil is huge news right now, but the one bit that isn't being talked about much is how the games began today, and what it means!

A paraplegic kicked off the first ball!

Yes, you read that right, a paraplegic who couldn't move their legs, kicked the first ball to start the World Cup!

Juliana Pinto, a 29-year-old paraplegic, kicked the ball with the help of a mind-controlled exoskeleton!  It's more of a nudge, but considering what it took to make it happen, this is huge news!  Doing something like this outside of a controlled environment like a lab or hospital is a huge achievement.

Thanks to the Walk Again Project, there's good news for the disabled who can't walk, or move their arms.  Bridging the brain and machines has been worked on for a long time, and things are really coming together now, and this is an amazing thing.  Enjoy, and share.

Here's the behind-the-scenes video: