The spirit of inclusive sport comes to life at the Verona Arena
After recounting the extraordinary journey of the Winter Olympics, the editorial staff of Italian
Tradition continues to closely follow the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics, in the name of
values that have always represented Italy: tradition, talent and ability to transform sport into
a universal language.
One of the most important sporting events officially kicks off with the inaugural ceremony
of the year: the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, an event that celebrates the
courage of athletes and the strength of inclusion.
The commentary of the event is entrusted to the journalist Lorenzo Rota, who will accompany the audience in
an evening full of emotions, spectacle and symbolic moments.
The opening show combined music, art and stage performances, featuring
numerous protagonists of the international and Italian music scene, including Mimì Caruso, winner
of X Factor 2025, Stewart Copeland of The Police, composer Dardust and electronic trio Meduza.
The Verona Arena, the symbolic heart of the ceremony
The inaugural ceremony took place in the evocative Arena di Verona, one of the largest amphitheaters
still extant Romans and UNESCO heritage, chosen for its historical and symbolic value.
The show, which is expected to last about two hours, was built around the theme “Life in
Motion”, a message that tells the story of movement as a metaphor for life, resilience and
change.
Among the most anticipated moments of the evening was also the flyover of the Arena by pilots with disabilities, a
highly symbolic scene celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the first Paralympic Games
Winter and testifies to how much sport can exceed all limits.
The competitions will be distributed between: Milan, home of the para ice hockey competitions, Cortina
d’Ampezzo, where Paralympic alpine skiing and snowboarding will be held, Tesero, in Val di Fiemme,
theatre of cross-country skiing and biathlon competitions.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, which
will conclude ten days of sport and great emotions.
The numbers of the Paralympic Games
Milan Cortina 2026 will see the participation of approximately 660 athletes from over 50 countries, ready
to compete in six sports disciplines: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding
wheelchair curling. During the event, 137 gold medals will be awarded, in addition to the
silver and bronze. Twenty years after Turin 2006, Italy returns to host the Paralympic Games
Winter, offering the world a new opportunity to tell the story of sport as a tool of
inclusion, determination and social change.
Cover : sportdipiu
