IPC President: People will fall in love with Para sport at Milano Cortina 2026

Today (26 November) marks 100 days until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Italy will host the Paralympic Winter Games for the first time since 2006, welcoming around 550 athletes from 50 nations who will compete in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons shares his thoughts on the milestone, the legacy of the Games and what fans can expect when the Paralympics open at the historic Arena di Verona on 6 March 2026.

The IPC President on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games

IPC: Today marks 100 days until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. What does it mean for you to reach this milestone?

Andrew Parsons: It means we are approaching a long-awaited occasion, the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics. We are very excited after the huge success of the recent editions of the Games, at Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024. 

We have a lot of momentum and we are very excited. I am excited about what the Italians are preparing for our athletes. There will be stunning scenery, great venues, a lot of excitement and the Italian energy. 

The sport will be better than ever. We have seen the trends from the last few seasons. There will be young athletes, but also the household names. I can’t wait for the Games to start.

IPC: How do you see the preparation going in Italy?

AP: We are happy where we are with the preparations.

There is a lot of excitement in Italy about these Games. Italy is a very strong country in the Paralympic Movement. At Paris 2024, they finished sixth on the medals table and we’ve seen a strong growth in the last 20 years. Since Torino 2006, they have been growing a lot in the Paralympic Movement from an athlete perspective, but also how they use their success to drive change from an inclusion point of view.

Another edition of the Paralympic Winter Games in Italy provides the Movement with a great opportunity.

IPC: What can fans expect from the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics?

AP: I think fans can expect a life-changing experience. The athletes really do change the world with their performances. They change the way people perceive persons with disabilities and the way they perceive those who are different from them. In terms of driving inclusion and embracing diversity, the Paralympic Games is the event that can make this happen.  

Research from Paris 2024 showed that 73 per cent of the French population believes the people in the country have changed its views on persons with disabilities. Eighty per cent of the people think that their own views became more positive towards persons with disabilities. It brings change not only in infrastructure and legislation, but the Games also change the reality and how society perceives persons with disabilities.  

Away from the Games changing attitudes, the sport will take place at incredible venues – the most beautiful venues we have ever seen. The Dolomites will be a stunning backdrop, and if you’re in Milan, it is a spectacular city. The sport will be the best you’ve ever seen at the Paralympic Winter Games.  

The IPC President on the six Paralympic sports

IPC: What can fans look forward to in each of the six Para sports?  

AP: The six sports have their unique features, but what makes me passionate about the Paralympic Winter Games is that we see a lot of things that challenge what people think is possible. 

If you tell someone that you see a Para alpine skier, who has a vision impairment, racing down a slope at 100 kilometres per hour, people will say ‘No, that’s not true’. But turn on the TV or buy a ticket, and you will see it happening on the slopes in Cortina. 

The speed, the energy, and the teamwork in Para ice hockey are incredible. When you see the precision of wheelchair curling even without sweeping – the strategy behind every move - is amazing.  

When you think of Para cross-country skiing, the endurance and resistance of the athletes are unbelievable. And then you have Para biathlon where you combine that and the need to control your own breathing to be able to aim and shoot.  

Para snowboard is a very youth-oriented sport, but you will see the speed and athletes’ ability, competing with only one board. 

Milano Cortina 2026 offers a complete experience, a whole package with unique features of all six sports. I’m absolutely sure people around the world will love to see it. If they haven’t seen Paralympic winter sports before, they will fall in love.

IPC: How do you see the growth of Para sport around the world since Beijing 2022? 

AP: Beijing 2022 was an incredible Games. China now is a new player in winter sports. They topped the medal table on home soil, and I’m sure that the other powerhouse nations will try to compete and beat China this time at Milano Cortina 2026. The competition will be fierce and the performances will be incredible.

Milano Cortina 2026 will be the first edition of the Paralympic Winter Games since we transferred some of the snow sports to International Federations (Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing and Para snowboard to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, and Para biathlon to the International Biathlon Union).  It will be in their history books forever. All the International Federations are very excited – we are all excited. 

The IPC President on the power of the Games

IPC: What do you believe are the legacies of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games?

AP: There are two interesting facts.

Milan saw the Games as an opportunity to invest in making transport accessible. The metro system will soon be 100 per cent accessible. They are going from three of the five lines being accessible to all five lines, which is a great achievement.

Cortina has embraced the concept of accessible tourism. With its mountains and resorts, Cortina is a tourist destination. They are now seeing persons with disabilities as clients, which is fantastic. When we talk about accessibility, it is not only persons with disabilities who need improved accessibility. For example, we have seniors and we know that retired people travel a lot.

What makes this even better is that this is not only about Milano Cortina 2026. They have set up various working groups. The initial phase of the change of the new policies ends in 2028, which is two years after the Games. That is the legacy that we like, the legacy that doesn’t end with the Closing Ceremony. We want the Games to be a catalyst and an accelerator. We are already seeing that even before the Opening Ceremony.

IPC: How will Milano Cortina 2026 be different from any other Games in the past?

AP: It will be a Games that are very alive and vibrant. I’m not talking about cuisine, but there will be an ‘Italian flavour’. The Italian approach to life, the energy and the enthusiasm in which they approach their lives and everything that they do, we will see that and will feel it. 

We also have an interesting combination of some of the venues. The Opening Ceremony will be in the Arena di Verona, which was built 2,000 years ago when the concepts of accessibility and inclusion didn’t exist. But we bring them to the 21st century where accessibility and inclusion need to be everywhere in society. The municipality is investing EUR 20 million to make the Arena di Verona accessible. This is not only symbolic but also sends a strong message of inclusion that the world is different from 2,000 years ago, 200 years ago, or even 20 years ago. We need to adapt. Societies need to be inclusive, they need to open doors to everyone. This is a blueprint for not only future host countries or cities, but for every part of the world with historical sites.

The IPC President's message to athletes

IPC: With 100 days to go, do you have a message to athletes who are preparing for the Games?

AP: We are preparing to make your experience at the Games the best it can be. We understand the challenges and we understand how the Games are evolving, but we are doing the best we can with the organisers, the Italian people, to make sure that you can focus on performing at the best of your ability.

At the same time, have fun. The Games should be a fun experience for everyone involved, especially the athletes.

IPC: Can you share a piece of advice with athletes who will make their Paralympic debuts? 

AP: Enjoy every second of it. I’m not an athlete, but I remember my first time in the Paralympic Village and how magical that experience was. If you’re an athlete, it’s even more magical.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the experience, but enjoy it.  

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