Allianz celebrates 20 years of partnership with the IPC

Allianz celebrates two decades of partnership with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and its role as the Presenting Partner of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Torch Relay with a major event entitled “Limitless Passion– Allianz and the Paralympic Journey”.

Allianz has been a proud supporter of the IPC since 2006 and the Official Insurer of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements since 2021 and will accompany all editions of the Games up to 2032. With the event organised in the Auditorium of the Allianz Tower in Milan – which will also host the Italian Paralympic Committee’s Hospitality House in the city during the Paralympic Winter Games – Allianz has celebrated sport and its longstanding commitment to the entire sports ecosystem.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee Andrew Parsons, the President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee Giovanni Malagò, the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Giunio De Sanctis and the CEO of Allianz Italy Giacomo Campora, together with Allianz’s Top Management, retraced 20 years of Allianz’s commitment to Paralympic sport, the success of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, and the continuity between the Olympics and Paralympics, rooted in the belief that all athletes are equal, men and women of sport whose athletic achievements must be recognised and valued. In an increasingly divided world, Allianz helps unite people in peaceful competition at one of the world's greatest sporting events.

The event showed the continuity of vision, values, organisation, and timing: on 22 February, the Olympic Flame was extinguished, marking the close of the Italian edition of the Olympic Winter Games that has already made history as the first widespread edition, respectful of local territories, with a strong legacy and balanced in terms of gender representation.

Two decades of partnership

On 24 February, the Paralympic Flame was lit in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, and arrived in Turin, marking the beginning of the Journey which – with Allianz at its side – will travel across Italy for eleven days, accompanying athletes and fans toward the Paralympic Winter Games from 6 to 15 March 2026. Underscoring the continuity of the sporting event is the decision to celebrate, in the same magnificent setting of the Arena di Verona, both the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games and the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games.

Giovanni Malagò, President of the Organising Committee of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, stated: “The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are about to begin, and they represent a precious moment for Italy: an opportunity to showcase not only the country’s organisational capabilities, but, above all, the strength of a movement that over the years has grown, innovated, and transformed the way we look at sport and at people.

“The journey of the Paralympic Movement, both internationally and nationally, has been extraordinary. The Milano Cortina 2026 Games are not simply its celebration: they are its driving force. With more than 600 athletes ready to compete between Milan and our mountains, the Paralympics will offer the public deeply inspiring stories, gestures and performances. Because the value of the Games is not measured only in medals, but in their ability to convey determination, courage and possibility. We are proud to host this historic moment and we are ready to demonstrate that the excellence we strive for knows no barriers: it is built on inclusion, opportunity and vision. It is built on the future.”

Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC, commented: “From 2006 onwards, Allianz’s commitment to the Paralympic Movement has been unwavering. Their support has helped us bring Para sport to millions more people around the world and has played a vital role in elevating the profile of athletes, competitions, and the stories that define our Movement. Over the past two decades, this partnership has enabled the IPC to grow into the organisation it is today.

“Importantly, Allianz’s support has reached far beyond our headquarters. It has strengthened International Federations, supported National Paralympic Committees, enhanced countless World and regional Championships, and powered events such as International Paralympic Day and the Paralympic Sport and Media Awards. In short, Allianz’s partnership has helped secure the Paralympic Movement’s future and prepared us for the best”.

Giunio De Sanctis, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, added: “The partnership between Allianz and the International Paralympic Committee has lasted for more than 20 years and represents a concrete example of continuous support for the Paralympic Movement at a global level. Thanks to the joint work with the Italian Paralympic Committee, this commitment also translates in Italy into projects and initiatives that promote the values of Paralympic sport and inclusion.

“In view of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Allianz is playing an important role in promoting the Paralympic spirit, also including its ambassadors and its support for the Paralympic Torch Relay, with the Flame Festivals and Flame Visits, moments of deep engagement for local communities. Particularly significant will be the hospitality, on the 47th floor of Allianz Tower, of the Italian Paralympic Committee’s Hospitality House during the Games: a reference point for the Italian delegation and for the para ice hockey athletes — the only discipline competing in Milan — where they will be able to gather and celebrate the achievements of the Italian Team”.

Giacomo Campora, CEO of Allianz S.p.A., stated: “These Games are already part of history, thanks to the support of all institutions, to the vision of Giovanni Malagò, to the capabilities of CONI, now led by Luciano Buonfiglio, and to the collaboration of partners such as Allianz that work to support the Olympic Movement. As an Italian, I am proud of what our country has shown to the world, and as a businessman I am equally proud of what Allianz is and has been doing – for 5 years, not just a few months - to support the organisation, safety, and magic of Milano Cortina 2026. Now the dream continues with the Paralympic Winter Games. I thank Presidents Andrew Parsons and Giunio De Sanctis for highlighting how Allianz, over these 20 years of partnership, has helped the Paralympic Movement grow and prepare at its best year after year, both globally and in Italy. The Paralympic Games celebrate Sport and the value of athletes, before disability”.

Allianz and the Paralympic Movement

Some partnerships are defined by a moment of belief, taken before the outcome is clear. For Allianz, this is how the partnership with the Paralympic Movement began 20 years ago, rooted in a clear conviction: sport can change lives. Para sports show how movement helps people build confidence and find purpose. They foster inclusion by creating spaces where people with and without disabilities meet on equal terms, learning, competing and progressing together. Para athletes, in this context, are powerful role models, demonstrating resilience, preparation and belief in what is possible.

The story starts in 2006, when Allianz first connected with the IPC)and the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS). This led to an early commitment to support the Paralympic Movement, which grew year by year into a deeper strategic relationship. In its early years, Allianz' involvement reflected the time: the Paralympic Movement was still building global visibility, and many partnerships leaned heavily on patronage. But the relationship quickly developed.

Over time, the partnership with Allianz evolved from early support to becoming the IPC's first International Partner in 2011. That marked a different model: not just donations alone, but a partnership built through shared planning, service offerings, and long-term storytelling.

Milano Cortina 2026 marks 20 years since Allianz’s journey with the Paralympic Movement began.

Eike Bürgel, Head of Olympic and Paralympic Partnership at Allianz SE, commented: “Nothing else empowers, unites, and brings out the best in people like sports – and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements embody the essence of sports and connecting people from all around the world. Over two decades, Allianz's involvement has been instrumental in increasing the visibility and professionalism of Paralympic sports, expanding inclusion, and bringing together athletes, families, and fans in a shared celebration of human potential.

“I do sincerely thank the Paralympic Movement, its President Andrew Parsons, and his teams for two decades of such an exciting, fruitful, and enriching partnership".

Allianz has grown with the Movement and is preparing to step into the next era alongside it. That era will be defined by new challenges: expanding Paralympic sport in underrepresented regions, building digital platforms that make the Movement accessible year-round and ensuring that the professionalisation achieved at elite levels extends to grassroots structures.

As LA 2028, French Alps 2030 and Brisbane 2032 approach, the partnership will continue to evolve — not by doing more of the same, but by asking what the Movement needs next, and jointly building towards that.

Activation of the Allianz Olympic and Paralympic Partnership in Italy

Allianz Italy has always recognised the inspiration behind its daily actions in the values of sport — fairness, competition, integrity, and team spirit — and therefore supports multiple initiatives and institutions in the sports ecosystem throughout the country. With the activation of the Olympic and Paralympic Partnership, this commitment has further and significantly expanded: Allianz Italy developed strategic partnerships with key national sports institutions, from CONI to CIP, from the State Police’s Fiamme Oro Sports Group to several Federations, and also selected its own “Team Allianz” Ambassadors among Italian Olympic and Paralympic athletes for both the Paris 2024 Games and the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

Valentina Sestan, Head of the Olympic and Paralympic Partnership at Allianz S.p.A., explained: “Allianz has been supporting Milano Cortina from the very beginning, hosting the Organising Committee’s headquarters in the Allianz Tower since 2021, and is the Official Insurer of the Games. Building on the successful experience of Paris 2024, we wanted to expand the initiatives dedicated to these Winter Games in Italy, involving our entire community — clients, agents, and our employees — through numerous, highly appreciated activities. We are also the Presenting Partner of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Torch Relay, a unique opportunity to tell the story of a radiant journey across Italy, connecting places, stories, and people in an emotionally engaging and deeply human collective experience”.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games

During the Paralympic Winter Games, the 47th floor of Allianz Tower — transformed into a welcoming mountain chalet — will become the Italian Paralympic Committee’s Hospitality House in Milan. Designed as an institutional and networking hub, it will be a space where athletes, institutions, partners and the media can gather to celebrate the values of Paralympic sport and inclusion.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6 to 15 March: in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Para alpine skiing and Para snowboard events will be held, as well as wheelchair curling. Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing will take place in Tesero, and Para ice hockey will be held in Milan. The Opening Ceremony will be held at the Arena di Verona on 6 March, and the Closing Ceremony in Cortina on 15 March 2026.

The Paralympic Torch Relay

The Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation and Allianz have created a project that goes beyond the sport dimension: the Paralympic Torch Relay is a 13-stage journey over 11 days involving 501 torchbearers — including 200 Allianz employees and agents — transforming Italy into a stage for inclusion and collective participation.

Maria Laura Iascone, Ceremonies Director Milano Cortina 2026, illustrated the Journey of the Paralympic Flame: “The Paralympic Torch Relay is one of the most meaningful moments of the entire Milano Cortina 2026 project. Eleven days of genuine celebration, ignited by a magic that only an experience of this scale can create. The message of the Games will fill every street and every square with emotion: Italian communities and the Paralympic spirit will merge into one powerful energy. The public is not just a spectator, but a protagonist capable of turning anticipation into excitement.

An extraordinary journey that will begin on 24 February and culminate, on 6 March, in the thrill of the Opening Ceremony at the iconic Arena di Verona”.

After being lit in Stoke Mandeville, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, the Flame entered Italy, marking the start of an initiative arranged around three celebratory formats. Five northern cities — Turin, Milan, Bolzano, Trento and Trieste — will host the Flame Festivals, large public events where the Allianz Village will transform urban spaces into experiential hubs open free of charge to everyone.

The squares will come alive with entertainment stages, interactive quizzes on Paralympic values, and interviews with torchbearer athletes, while the Challenge Zones will offer inclusive recreational activities. The Educational Area, curated by the Allianz UMANA MENTE Foundation, will present content on projects supporting people with disabilities. Each stage will culminate in the lighting of the Cauldron — a moment of unity and collective celebration.

Allianz has extended the Paralympic Torch Relay to central and southern Italy with four Flame Visits — in Rome, Bari, Naples and Bologna. In these cities, the large Allianz Truck, equipped with LED maxi-screens, will become a mobile stage, stopping in major squares where DJ sets, entertainment and the lighting of the Cauldron will bring the energy of the Relay to life, allowing torchbearers to share their stories of resilience with local communities.

Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the Union Ceremony on 3 March, a symbolic moment in which the Flames from different routes will merge to create a single Paralympic Flame. A striking transparent geodesic structure will welcome visitors and students to an immersive environment, featuring photo sets, game stations and multimedia content illustrating the values of Allianz and the Games.

The final phase will see Route Activation across the Veneto region, passing through numerous cities in the provinces of Venice, Padua and Verona, accompanied by the Allianz Truck broadcasting music, entertainment and emotion along the route, while the geodesic structure in the squares will continue to offer interactive experiences.

On 6 March, at the Arena di Verona, the Route will culminate in the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games, marking the official start of the competitions.

Stages of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Torch Relay

• 24 February – Turin

• 25 February – Milan

• 26 February – Rome

• 27 February – Bolzano / Bari

• 28 February – Trento

• 2 March – Trieste / Naples

• 3 March – Cortina / Bologna

• 4 March – Venice

• 5 March – Padua

• 6 March – Verona