Winter Paralympic Games: everything you need to know about Milano Cortina 2026

"It will be bigger than ever before, with more than 600 athletes from 56 countries expected to take part. El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Portugal will compete for the first time. There will be 79 different medal events in six different sports, with mixed doubles in wheelchair curling a new addition since Beijing 2022."

"Andrew Parsons, said the Games would deliver world-class sport [that is] highly competitive. Sport that will surprise you. And most importantly, sport that will have a life-changing impact on everyone who witnesses it."

"Events are limited to the six sports listed above but, as with all para-sports, they are broken down into different categories reflecting the disability of the athletes. Alpine skiing, say, includes five different events which are then broken down into men's and women's categories and then further by classification."

The 14th Winter Paralympics marks the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics. Over 600 athletes from 56 countries will participate, including five nations making their debut: El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Portugal. The Games will feature 79 medal events across six sports: para-alpine skiing, wheelchair curling, para-snowboard, para-biathlon, para-cross country skiing, and para-ice hockey. Mixed doubles wheelchair curling is a new addition since Beijing 2022. The International Paralympic Committee president emphasizes the Games will deliver world-class, highly competitive sport with life-changing impact. Milano Cortina hosts the Games across multiple venues, with the opening ceremony in Verona and competitions at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Tesero, and Milan. Para-sports are organized into multiple categories reflecting athletes' disabilities, creating separate competitions within each sport.

Read at www.theguardian.com