Paralympians are fiercely proud of being known as Paralympians, writes Mary Pianta, Diocesan Disability Contact Coordinator.
The Paralympic Games represent breaking barriers, facing adversity, dealing with grief and loss, tenacity and sheer willpower.
Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games from March 6 to March 15 will open at Verona Arena, with about 660 athletes with disability expected to participate. During competition, there will be 79 medal events across six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and Wheelchair curling.
These Games will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Winter Games. One new medal event – wheelchair curling mixed doubles – will be featured for the first time at these Games.
The front face of the medals is constructed from a combination of two uneven, mirroring semicircles. These convey the hard work and spirit behind the Games in the two cities, Milano and Cortina. The two angled halves represent Paralympic and Olympic values, merging perfectly in the middle of the medal where the Agitos (Para symbol) is featured.
The mascot for the Games is Milo (from Milano), a friendly stoat, who will share the excitement and joy while working with his sister, Tina (from Cortina), the Olympic mascot. Milo was born without a right leg and learned to use his tail to walk, run and hop. Stoats are known for their liveliness, agility and speed. They are able to adapt to their environment very well and live in the challenging habitat of the mountains. These qualities underline their resilience.
The Torch Relay started on February 24 in England and will visit four Italian cities before arriving in Verona for the Opening Ceremony. More than 500 torchbearers will cover 2000 kilometres. Five competition venues and three Paralympic villages will be used.
Para Alpine Skiing – Athletes combine speed and ability while racing down slopes at speeds around 100 km/h. They compete in three categories – sitting, standing, and vision impaired – and a results calculation system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other. Equipment is adapted to their needs, and vision-impaired athletes are guided through the course by sighted guides.
In the slalom competition, each athlete completes two runs on the same day on different courses. Times are added together to determine the final order. If athletes miss any one of the many gates, they are disqualified.
Paralympians are fiercely proud of being known as Paralympians because of what it stands for; everything they have all been through to get there; all the barriers they have faced; and what they have achieved.
You can witness our Australian Paralympians as they display the determination and commitment they bring to the Winter Games, the pinnacle of world sport. You can be certain that they will be trying their best, having a good time and aiming to make Australia proud. Coming home with a medal will mean that those years of hard work have paid off.
Mary Pianta.
Disability Contact Coordinator
Diocese of Sandhurst,
