2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics: Sports, Athletes & What to Know
MILAN (AP) — The Winter Paralympics are officially underway in Italy, kicking off Friday with an opening ceremony in Verona. The Games, running through March 15th, will showcase the incredible athleticism of over 600 Para athletes competing for a record 79 sets of medals across the Milan Cortina region.
This year’s Paralympics feature six distinct sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling. Each sport presents unique challenges and demands specialized skills from its athletes, who compete in classifications based on their functional ability.
The Milan Cortina Games mark a significant moment for Para sports, with a record number of athletes and medals up for grabs. Memorable moments from the 2024 Paralympics offer a glimpse into the dedication and spirit of these athletes.
Understanding the Paralympic Classifications
Across the skiing disciplines – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, and Para cross-country skiing – athletes are categorized into three primary groups: standing, sitting, and vision impaired. Athletes in the sitting category utilize specialized monoskis or sit-skis, designed for stability and maneuverability on varied terrain. Vision impaired athletes race with a guide, connected via radio communication, who provides crucial directional information. Crucially, guides too receive medals for their contributions.
Within each of these broad categories, further divisions exist based on the athlete’s specific functional ability. A complex results calculation system, factoring in individual abilities, ensures fair competition, allowing athletes from different divisions to race against each other.
A Closer Look at the Six Sports
Para Alpine Skiing: A Legacy of Competition
Introduced at the inaugural Winter Paralympics in 1976, Para alpine skiing remains a cornerstone of the Games. Athletes compete in five events – slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and super combined – with 30 medal events total (15 for men and 15 for women). The competition will be held on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a venue recently used for the Winter Olympics.
Athletes in the sitting category employ a specialized monoski, featuring a shock absorber to navigate uneven terrain.
Para Biathlon: Precision and Endurance
Para biathlon combines the physical demands of cross-country skiing with the mental focus of target shooting. Athletes complete ski courses and then pause to shoot at five metal targets from 10 meters away. Missed shots result in time penalties or penalty loops. There are three events in each class – 7.5-kilometer sprint, 12.5-kilometer individual, and sprint pursuit – totaling 18 medal events. Athletes with upper-limb disabilities may receive assistance from coaches in positioning the rifle, while those with visual impairments rely on acoustic targets. The sport debuted for athletes with physical disabilities in 1988 and for those with visual impairments in 1992. Competition will be held at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.
Para Cross-Country Skiing: A Test of Stamina
Also taking place at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Para cross-country skiing features 20 medal events. Athletes compete in sprint, 10-kilometer interval start classic, and 20-kilometer interval start free events. A mixed 4×2.5-kilometer relay and an open 4×2.5-kilometer relay round out the program. Separate courses are designed for athletes in the sitting category, with lower gradients to accommodate the demands of sit-ski propulsion.
Para Ice Hockey: A Thrilling Spectacle
Para ice hockey, born from rehabilitation efforts in Sweden in the 1960s, debuted at the 1994 Winter Paralympics. Athletes with physical disabilities in their lower limbs compete using double-blade sledges and specialized sticks with spikes for propulsion and blades for puck handling. Matches consist of three 15-minute periods. The sport is mixed gender, though only a few teams – Japan and Slovakia – include female players. Competition will be held at the Santagiulia arena in Milan, with eight teams vying for the championship.
Para Snowboard: Carving a New Path
Introduced at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics as part of the alpine skiing program, Para snowboard features banked slalom and snowboard cross events. Athletes with lower-limb impairments can utilize prosthetics or modified equipment. In banked slalom, athletes complete two runs, with the best time determining the ranking. Snowboard cross involves heats of four athletes racing simultaneously, with the top two from each heat advancing. The events will be held in Cortina.
Wheelchair Curling: Strategy and Precision
Celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Paralympics, having first appeared in 2006, wheelchair curling is a mixed-team event for athletes with physical disabilities. Players can choose to deliver the stone independently or with a teammate providing stability. Athletes may also use an extender to increase speed and direction. The Games feature both a mixed doubles and a traditional mixed team competition, taking place at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Matches consist of eight ends, two fewer than Olympic curling games, and sweeping is not permitted.
The 2026 Winter Paralympics promise to be a showcase of athletic achievement, determination, and the power of the human spirit. As CBS News reported, the Games are a testament to the enduring legacy of the Paralympic movement.