Milano Cortina 2026 signs partnership with producers of Rising Phoenix

Milano Cortina 2026 has announced a partnership with Harder Than You Think (HTYT), the producers of Rising Phoenix, the Emmy-winning Netflix documentary, to create an exclusive long-form documentary dedicated to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. This project will serve as a lasting legacy, celebrating the Games and their athletes while engaging global audiences with the power of Paralympic sport.  

Building on the success of Rising Phoenix, HTYT will produce the official long-form documentary film of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the final component to a wider production partnership, with additional digital content set for release before and during the Games.  

Before the Games, HTYT will produce a social media series following Winter Paralympians on their journey to 2026, alongside a new season of the Rising Phoenix: What Does It Take podcast, highlighting the dedication required to excel in Paralympic sport.

During the Games, the team will have crews on the ground to capture athletes, their teams and the Organising Committee and document key moments and reactions at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.  

Post-Games, this official long-form documentary will bring the full story of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games to life, using exclusive behind-the scenes access to the OCOG and the world’s top Winter Paralympians.  

We are proud to announce a content production partnership with the creators of the Emmy Award-winning #RisingPhoenix, a project that will see the production of an official documentary before, during and after the #MilanoCortina2026 #Paralympics. It will represent the first… pic.twitter.com/eOdeI8YMXr

— Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina26) March 7, 2025

With six winter sports across three Italian regions in March 2026, and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the first Winter Paralympics, the project aims to expand global audiences for Paralympic sport while honouring the extraordinary journeys of Winter Paralympians.  

For Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 and HTYT, this partnership represents a unique opportunity to spotlight Paralympic athletes like never before, creating historic content that promotes the Games, its stars, and the spirit of Paralympic competition. 
HTYT will lead day-to-day production, while Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access to its archives, key moments, and the Games themselves.  

This initiative will serve as a lasting legacy for Milano Cortina 2026, reinforcing Paralympic values and inspiring future generations. Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 and HTYT are now seeking International Paralympic Committee (IPC) TOP partners and domestic sponsors to collaborate on this historic project, benefiting both Milano Cortina 2026 and the broader Paralympic movement.  

This partnership follows an agreement between HTYT and the IPC, granting HTYT exclusive rights to tell the Paralympic story through the LA28 Paralympic Games. The IPC, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 and HTYT are equally excited about the impact and reach of this collaboration. 

Since the release of Rising Phoenix, HTYT have produced further content around the Paralympic story including a documentary series on Channel 4 where the team followed Paralympians to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics as well as a podcast series in 2024 on what it takes to become a Paralympian.  

1️⃣ 🔥 ONE YEAR TO GO!​

Only one year to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics!​

In just one year, we’ll witness an incredible event that will fill us with emotion and will change our way to see the sport!​

-1 to the Paralympics! We can’t wait!​#MilanoCortina2026… pic.twitter.com/tUDbbyMP20

— Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina26) March 6, 2025

Andrea Varnier, the CEO of Milano Cortina 2026, said: "We are truly proud and honoured to present this project: it’s going to be our Official Film of the Paralympic Winter Games and we consider it as one of the significant legacies of Milano Cortina 2026. 

“By opening the doors to the behind-the-scenes efforts of the Organising Committee and highlighting the journeys of the Paralympic athletes who are actively involved in organising the Games, we aim to provide a fresh and unique perspective on the narrative of the Paralympic Games.” 

Calum Campbell, the Director of Development at Harder Than You Think, said: “For the next chapter of Rising Phoenix, we are delighted to be partnering with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee. We have always wanted to produce more content around the Paralympic Winter games and are excited to have this opportunity to work with the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee to promote their Games and the incredible winter Paralympians’ stories to the world.”

SECURE YOUR TICKETS FOR THE MILANO CORTINA 2026 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are now on sale. For more information, please visit the official ticketing platform (tickets.milanocortina2026.org).