Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Flame unified in Cortina ahead of Opening Ceremony
The Flame Unification Ceremony brought together Flames from the five Flame Festivals held in Turin, Milan, Bolzano, Trento and Trieste 03 Mar 2026
Ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, a Flame Unification Ceremony took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Tuesday (3 March) bringing together Flames from the five Flame Festivals held in Turin, Milan, Bolzano, Trento and Trieste. The unified Paralympic Flame will now be the focal point of the Paralympic Torch Relay, presented by Allianz, taking in Venice and Padova ahead of its arrival at the Arena di Verona.
Prior to unifying the five Flames, five groups of five torchbearers each carried one of the five flames along the main public thoroughfare in Cortina. Torchbearers included IPC President Andrew Parsons, the IPC’s two Vice Presidents Leila Marques Mota PLY and John Petersson PLY, IPC Chief Executive Officer Dr Mike Peters PLY, as well as winter sport athletes France’s multi-Paralympic champion Marie Bochet and Italian Olympic curling medallist Stefania Constantini. The final torchbearer of each group jointly lit a cauldron to create the unified Paralympic Flame.
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “The unified Paralympic Flame symbolises the spirit of Paralympic athletes, and the energy, courage and ability that every Paralympian possesses to first surprise the world and then excite the world through their sporting performances.
“The Paralympic Flame also symbolises possibility, and the transformational power of the Paralympic Games. It signifies how this event serves as a platform for the world’s best athletes to compete in sport at the highest level and showcases to global audiences what persons with disabilities can achieve when barriers to success are removed.”
President of Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 Giovanni Malagó said: "The Paralympic Flame reflects the deep bond that Italy shares with the Paralympic Movement and the legacy that began in our country in 1960.
“The Flame represents not only the responsibility we embrace as organisers of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, but also the passion and commitment of the extraordinary athletes who are preparing to experience the Games on our soil. They are, in fact, the compass that guides our daily work, inspiring us to offer an event in which inclusion and opportunity are essential elements. As it approaches Verona, the Flame shines as a reminder of what we can achieve collectively: Games that honour our past, strengthen the present and inspire a more inclusive future for all, where every individual can find the space to express their talent.”
On 4 March, the Paralympic Torch Relay, presented by Allianz, will carry the Paralympic Flame to Venice, continuing on to Padova on 5 March before reaching Verona on 6 March for the Paralympic Opening Ceremony. In total, 501 torchbearers will carry the Flame.
The Paralympic Flame was created on 24 February in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. From there, it travelled to Italy, with Turin, the first stop on its national journey. The Flame's journey pays tribute to the country's Paralympic history, from the first edition of the Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 to Torino 2006, when Italy hosted the Paralympic Winter Games for the first time.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will take place from 6 – 15 March 2026, bringing together the world’s best winter Para athletes. More than 600 athletes from around 50 nations will compete across 79 medal events in six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.
