The Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games are set to commence this Friday with a ceremonious opening at the historic Verona Arena. This 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater recently hosted the Olympic closing ceremony and now serves as a significant venue for this major event.
Key Details About the 2026 Paralympics
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics. The Games will feature a compact program compared to the Olympics, covering just nine days of medal events. The Paralympic Games will host a total of 665 athletes and distribute 79 medal sets, both of which are record highs for the Winter Paralympics.
Event Venues
- Cortina d’Ampezzo – Alpine skiing, snowboarding, wheelchair curling
- Tesero – Nordic skiing (cross-country and biathlon)
- Milan’s Santagiulia Arena – Para hockey with adapted sleds
Notably, this edition of the Games will not include several sports such as figure skating, speed skating, and sliding events. Among the 79 medal events, 68 will be in various skiing categories split into standing, sitting, and visually impaired divisions for both genders. Additionally, eight medals will be awarded in snowboarding.
Team Composition and Achievements
Canada will field a team of 50 athletes, closely matching their previous squad that achieved 25 medals during the Beijing Games in 2022. The Canadian team includes notable athletes like:
- Natalie Wilkie: Secured two gold medals in Beijing
- Mark Arendz: A veteran with 12 career medals
- Ina Forrest: Competing for her fifth consecutive medal at age 63
- Greg Westlake: Making his sixth Paralympic appearance at age 39
Controversy Surrounding Participation
Despite past controversies, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to participate under their national flags, a decision that has sparked international backlash. Ukraine has announced a boycott of the opening ceremony in response, and several countries, including Canada, have opted not to attend the event.
Viewing Information
Fans can catch the Milano-Cortina Paralympics through various channels. Daily broadcasts on the CBC network will begin on Saturday at noon ET. For those looking to stream the event, all action will be available live and on-demand via the CBC Gem app. More details, including the full broadcast schedule, can be found on the CBC’s dedicated Paralympic website.
