Milano Cortina 2026: Athletes count down to the action

Italy’s rich history, culture and architectural grandeur will take centre stage at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony as the first-century Arena di Verona comes to life with a wash of colour. For the first time, the Opening Ceremony will be held in a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Winter Paralympians from across the globe are excited to get the party started.

Italian flagbearer and Para alpine skier René De Silvestro lives in a tiny village just kilometres from his competition venue at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.

“It’s a very big honour. I’m very proud of this,” he said.

De Silvestro can’t wait to hit the slopes in front of a home crowd.

“It’s a really big boost for me because there will be family and friends watching,” he said.

“I grew up here so for me it is the best place in the world. I’ve been skiing here since I was a little boy.”

De Silvestro took silver in the men’s giant slalom sitting event, and bronze in the men’s slalom sitting event at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. 

“I want to do my best and do better than I did in Beijing,” he said. “I’m hungry for the gold.”

Teammate and fellow flagbearer Chiara Mazzel, 29, also grew up surrounded by Italy’s majestic Dolomite mountains in the Trentino region, about an hour and a half’s drive from the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.

“It’s a very emotional thing,” she said. “I’m very, very happy.”

Her goal is to “go very, very fast”. And she says she is relaxed about that prospect, thanks to the competition experience she has banked since her debut Games.

“In Beijing, I was at the beginning of my career,” she said.

The best energy

Para alpine skier Enrique Plantey will be Argentina’s flagbearer ahead of his fourth Winter Games.

"It's beautiful. It's one of the big things I've experienced in life. It's an honour, a big responsibility,” he said.

"I have a lot (of expectations). I don't want to go crazy, but I bring all the best energy here.”

Ilma Kazazic is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only athlete at Milano Cortina 2026. The Para alpine skier said she hopes the team will expand at future Games. For now, she says it is a privilege to carry her nation’s flag. 

“It’s a feeling that is hard to explain and describe. I’m so proud,” she said.

It is Kazazic’s fourth Paralympic Games. She said she was skiing for a top-10 finish.

“Every time it’s a little bit different and I improve,” she said.

“I am enjoying competing with the other girls and cheering for each other.”

Japanese wheelchair curler and flagbearer Aki Ogawa loves the spectacular scenery around Cortina, describing the town as “cute and cosy”.

She made her debut competing at Vancouver 2010 and this year will compete in the inaugural mixed doubles competition.

She said carrying the flag would be a joyful moment.

“I’m excited to compete,” she said. “I want to make the final and get a medal.”

Village life

Team USA wheelchair curlers Sean O’Neill and Dan Rose have been settling in to life at the Paralympic Village in Cortina, ahead of their first matches in the mixed team competition.

“It couldn’t be better. It’s super comfortable here,” O’Neill said.

“It’s getting more and more real. More and more nerve-racking as we get closer.”

Rose said the team was newly formed and members hail from all over the USA.

“Our team wasn’t announced until the end of November, so it’s been a really quick ramp up for us, to have a lot of training camps together,” he said.

“We’ve really been focusing on coming together as a team. We hadn’t all played together before... so just locking in that team chemistry, how we are on the ice, off the ice,” O’Neill said.

“It’s both a marathon and a sprint.”

The pair are impressed with the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

“I was blown away,” O’Neill said. “We came out, up the ramp, looking out over the ice... I was getting chills.”

They are looking forward to playing in front of the biggest crowds of their sporting careers.

“It will be the first time we have played in front of more than five people watching,” O’Neill said. “We’ve got tons of family and friends coming over. It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be awesome.”

Youth and experience

Two-time Paralympian Mingyhu Hwang, 31, hopes the third time will be the charm – and the podium finish he has been waiting for.

“I’m ready... feeling relaxed and calm,” the Republic of Korea Para alpine skier said. “I’ve been doing image training, visualisation.”

Norwegian Para snowboarder Niklas Lohne-Hansen, 18, can’t wait to make his Paralympic debut and is gearing up for many “pinch-yourself” moments.

“I’m a bit nervous. It’s the first time,” he said.

“It’s unreal. I want to enjoy it as much as possible.”

Where to watch and listen to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org