50 years of Winter Games: Vancouver 2010, Torino 2006 and Salt Lake City 2002
Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Paralympic Winter Games, take a trip down memory lane 19 Feb 2026
This year marks 50 years since the inaugural Paralympic Winter Games were held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Each of the 13 editions has been special in its own way, filled with extraordinary athletic performances and unforgettable moments.
With less than a month to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, now is the perfect time to look back at the remarkable growth of the Paralympic Winter Games over the past five decades.
Are you ready to take a trip down memory lane?
Vancouver 2010
The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games attracted 502 Para athletes (381 men and 121 women) from 44 countries.
Three nations made their Paralympic Winter Games debuts: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Serbia.
The USA boasted the largest delegation with 49 athletes, followed by hosts Canada (46) and Japan (41). Germany finished atop the medal standings with 13 gold medals and 24 overall.
Canada’s Lauren Woolstencroft and Germany’s Verena Bentele were the most successful Para athletes at the Games, each winning five gold medals.
Bentele excelled by winning gold in all her individual Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing events, while Woolstencroft became the first athlete in history to win five gold medals from five events in alpine skiing following the addition of super combined to the programme.
Torino 2006
The previous Paralympic Winter Games held in Italy, Torino 2006, saw sporting history made on snow and ice. Wheelchair curling made its much‑anticipated Paralympic debut, with hosts Canada claiming the sport’s first-ever gold medal.
Held on 10 March, the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony attracted an audience of around 25,000 and was broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world. The theme of the Ceremony was overcoming limitations, celebrating those who choose not to surrender.
Mexico and Mongolia made their Paralympic debuts. Ukraine’s Olena Iurkovska finished the Games as the most decorated athlete, winning four gold medals as well as a silver and a bronze across Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing.
Salt Lake City 2002
Six nations – Andorra, Chile, China, Croatia, Greece and Hungary – made their Paralympic Winter Games debuts, bringing the total number of participating delegations at Salt Lake City 2002 to a then-record 36.
A total of 415 athletes competed in 92 medal events across four sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing and Para ice hockey. Norway’s Ragnhild Myklebust was again the standout performer, winning five gold medals – four in Para cross-country skiing and one in Para biathlon.
Twenty-two nations won medals at the Games, including 17 that captured at least one gold. Germany topped the medal table for the first time since the inaugural Paralympic Winter Games, securing 17 gold, one silver and 15 bronze medals.
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. Specially-priced Early Bird tickets are available until 6 May 2025.
For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org
